Someone is knocking on Amanda’s door. Amanda is home, but she does not answer. It is the man who owns the
house where she lives. His name is Mr. Campbell. Amanda calls him the Rent Man. He has come by to get the rent
money Amanda owes.
Amanda does not have the money to pay him. Amanda lost her job at the auto factory three weeks ago. “I worked there
for 15 years,” Amanda thinks to herself. She is bitter. “But it took them just one day to take my job away.”
Amanda has no idea when she will find another job. Lots of other people from her factory lost their jobs three weeks ago
too. She looks for work every day. She looks for work at a restaurant. “You have never worked at a restaurant,” the owner
tells her.
“This job is not for you.” She looks for work at the bookstore. “We don’t have any jobs right now,” the clerk tells Amanda.
She looks for work at the grocery store. “I will call you to let you know,” the manager says. Amanda is worried.
She is running out of money quickly. There is another loud knock at the door. Amanda sits quietly in her kitchen. She
hopes the Rent Man will go away soon.