black sweater over a white collared shirt, and braided her hair. In her bag, she found an old tube of Maybelline mascara and a little blush, and counted herself successful when she smudged the mascara on only one eye. Convinced she looked presentable, she slung her gym bag over one shoulder with only a little ouch , and her tote on the other, and opened the ladies locker room door a crack. From there, she looked furtively about, saw no Brits anywhere, and made a beeline for the parking lot and her car.
AT the employment office, she filled out all the paperwork to request assistance in finding a job, then handed the paperwork to a woman who never made eye contact, and proceeded to pass the time waiting for an employment counselor to see her by perusing a list of jobs posted at the bulletin board.
Wanda Dennard called her name after a wait of almost an hour. She introduced herself, showed Rachel into a tiny cubicle, and invited her to sit while she looked over Rachels paperwork.
Rachel sat. Wanda read. And read. And read so long that Rachel wondered if she maybe hadnt fallen asleep.
Wandas desk was very neat. She had a half-dozen pictures of children around her desk, and her screen saver was a picture of a row of sleeping kittens. The binders on her shelves were obscured with various plastic green plants and one very odd-looking marble sculpture of some sort.
Rachel was trying to figure out what that sculpture was when Wanda looked up over her reading glasses. Youre way overqualified for our jobs, she said. Theres nothing here to fit you.
That was not what she wanted to hear. But I need a job, I really do. Ill do anything, Rachel earnestly assured her, inching up on her orange plastic chair.
Wanda frowned, looked at her paperwork again, then sighed and punched a button on her computer, instantly bringing up a listing of jobs. Lets see theres a position for a short-order fry cook.
Is there? Rachel asked with a wince. Im not really overqualified for that , am I? she asked with a laugh.
Wanda did not laugh. Wanda gave off another sigh that sounded like she thought this was going to be a very trying task. Sacking specialist?
Sacking specialist?
Wanda gave her a sidelong glance. A grocery sacker.
A grocery sacker ? Was this woman for real? Not that Rachel had anything against grocery sackers, of course not, but didnt those jobs usually go to teenage boys? She could just imagine herself on checkout nine between two sixteen-year-old boys who amused themselves by hurling lugies at her when the boss wasnt looking. Just the image made her shudder.
Wanda frowned. I told you youre overqualified!
What about teaching jobs? Do you have anything like that? I really like teaching. Even an assistant position would be okay. Do you have that?
Oh, sure ! Why didnt you say so? Wanda said with a bright smile.
A ray of light ! Really?
No, not really! Are you crazy? Wanda snapped. This isnt a placement program at Brown, Miss Lear. We have the jobs that no one else will take. Now, if you want me to sit here and rattle off all the jobs no one else will take, Ill do it. But if you think you will be underqualified for them all, why dont you do us both a favor and just say so now and we can each get on with our lives?
Wanda had no idea how badly Rachel wanted to do just that. And she came very, very closebut she had to go and think of her bank balance, and the utility bill, and the tree on Mr. Valicielos fence, and then Dad , and smiled meekly. I wont say that anymore, I promise.
Wanda rolled her eyes, sighed again, only a lot louder and longer, and turned back to the screen. How do you feel about cleaning downtown offices at night?
Frankly, not that great, but she forced a smile for Wandas sake all the same.
Chapter Seven
WHEN Rachel arrived home that afternoonundetected by the Valicielosshe found a note from Dagne stuck in the door. Hi. Stopped to find something. Call me later .
Probably a toads wart or something.
She let herself in
AT the employment office, she filled out all the paperwork to request assistance in finding a job, then handed the paperwork to a woman who never made eye contact, and proceeded to pass the time waiting for an employment counselor to see her by perusing a list of jobs posted at the bulletin board.
Wanda Dennard called her name after a wait of almost an hour. She introduced herself, showed Rachel into a tiny cubicle, and invited her to sit while she looked over Rachels paperwork.
Rachel sat. Wanda read. And read. And read so long that Rachel wondered if she maybe hadnt fallen asleep.
Wandas desk was very neat. She had a half-dozen pictures of children around her desk, and her screen saver was a picture of a row of sleeping kittens. The binders on her shelves were obscured with various plastic green plants and one very odd-looking marble sculpture of some sort.
Rachel was trying to figure out what that sculpture was when Wanda looked up over her reading glasses. Youre way overqualified for our jobs, she said. Theres nothing here to fit you.
That was not what she wanted to hear. But I need a job, I really do. Ill do anything, Rachel earnestly assured her, inching up on her orange plastic chair.
Wanda frowned, looked at her paperwork again, then sighed and punched a button on her computer, instantly bringing up a listing of jobs. Lets see theres a position for a short-order fry cook.
Is there? Rachel asked with a wince. Im not really overqualified for that , am I? she asked with a laugh.
Wanda did not laugh. Wanda gave off another sigh that sounded like she thought this was going to be a very trying task. Sacking specialist?
Sacking specialist?
Wanda gave her a sidelong glance. A grocery sacker.
A grocery sacker ? Was this woman for real? Not that Rachel had anything against grocery sackers, of course not, but didnt those jobs usually go to teenage boys? She could just imagine herself on checkout nine between two sixteen-year-old boys who amused themselves by hurling lugies at her when the boss wasnt looking. Just the image made her shudder.
Wanda frowned. I told you youre overqualified!
What about teaching jobs? Do you have anything like that? I really like teaching. Even an assistant position would be okay. Do you have that?
Oh, sure ! Why didnt you say so? Wanda said with a bright smile.
A ray of light ! Really?
No, not really! Are you crazy? Wanda snapped. This isnt a placement program at Brown, Miss Lear. We have the jobs that no one else will take. Now, if you want me to sit here and rattle off all the jobs no one else will take, Ill do it. But if you think you will be underqualified for them all, why dont you do us both a favor and just say so now and we can each get on with our lives?
Wanda had no idea how badly Rachel wanted to do just that. And she came very, very closebut she had to go and think of her bank balance, and the utility bill, and the tree on Mr. Valicielos fence, and then Dad , and smiled meekly. I wont say that anymore, I promise.
Wanda rolled her eyes, sighed again, only a lot louder and longer, and turned back to the screen. How do you feel about cleaning downtown offices at night?
Frankly, not that great, but she forced a smile for Wandas sake all the same.
Chapter Seven
WHEN Rachel arrived home that afternoonundetected by the Valicielosshe found a note from Dagne stuck in the door. Hi. Stopped to find something. Call me later .
Probably a toads wart or something.
She let herself in
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