Page 59 - ДЛЯ ФЛИПЕРА_Neat

when he enters the agency and talks to a guy who has been doing this same sort of thing
for months.

Alexbeginstowalktowork.She’snotsurehow longitwilltakeher,butthebusrideto
and fro is $1.30,and they just can’ta"ord it.Morgan is given a job and gets a ride with
one of their workers. He talks to Gerald, a man who has been living on minimum wage for
more than 40 years, who says he used to be making much more than he does now back
when he was a kid.
Morgan,in a voice over,explains thatsince costofliving has risen since 1997,the current
minimum wage is not enough to supporta lifestyle respective to the cost ofliving.Despite
Congress’attemptto raise wages,itjusthasn’thappened due to opposition from business
pundits who believe it would derail many businesses.

Forthe day’s work,Morgan is todrywalla smallhouse.“Liftwiththe legs,”he jokes,
moving some furniture around. His boss is joking around with him as he works. Finishing
at 4:10 PM that day, he’s given a ride home. Alex, meanwhile, walks home and enters the
apartment amazed that their stu" is still there. She complains about the fact that nobody
tips at her job and she’s only made little over $3 in tips for the day.

Meanwhile, for an 11 hour day, Morgan made a bit over $45 and technically earned less
than a minimum wage job, even at $7 per hour. Alex gets frustrated talking about her day
and ends the conversation. “Let me tell you why I’m grouchy,” Alex says, “I haven’t been
warm since I’ve got here. So, everybody can just step o".”

Day 4

They wake up to find their apartment infected with ants. Ants are crawling over their
toothbrushes, their floor, everywhere. “If I wake up with even one ant on me, I’m going to
freak out,” Alex says.Alex has broughthome leftovers,crackers and whatever else she
could pilfer from work. She wants to get furniture, because they have to eat on the floor.
While government programs help poor get the things they need; Morgan discovers that a
church-run store located close by helps give out free items for the poor. “We are
supported by donations that come from the backdoor,” the church supervisor explains.
“We got some stu" for our apartment and some clothes to wear for work,” Morgan
explains. “It provides such a valuable service for people struggling to get by.” Alex begins
to tear up at the thought of what these church people have done for the poor.

They manage to wrangle up some furniture, including a kitchen table and a bed for their
smallapartment. “Who cares if it’s rice and beans for the night? I have a table and a chair,”
Alex beams.

Day 9

Morgan was o"ered a landscaping job for more money, and he took it. “Definitely more
physicallaborthan Idid on thatconstruction site,” he says,having hurthis wristfrom the
work. “I was thinking I should go to a doctor, but I can’t go to the doctor tomorrow.” He
doesn’t have the money or insurance to do it. Alex worries if he hurts himself badly he
mightnotbe able to work atall.Since they stillhave to make more than $900 forthe
month, he decides not to take the risk of wasting money at a doctor.

Day 10

Today Morgan realizes his wrist is stillsore and that it’s only going to get worse no matter
what he does to try and prevent it. He decides to go to the doctor to be on the safe side,
despite what the loss of money might do for their budget. “I had to go to the free clinic to