Chapter 4 - Employment

It had been four years since Tracy’s phone had rang with the call to start work. Nothing fancy, just a cleaning job, doing various buildings on rotation around Albany. All she could hope for really. She wasn’t paid by the hour, a certain area was assigned for them to clean. If they got it clean before the workers started the next shift they kept their job. If they finished early they went home early.

It was hard at first and Tracy was glad of the netball practice she put in while she was at school. Things got easier after a couple of months, especially the mopping. Sure she could mop softly like the other women and spend all night at it. But if you wanted to get off early then it was damn hard work, but worth it.

Word soon got around that she was good at what she did and began accepting private work from the better off around town. Sweeping the pavers was hard going. They were sunk at their edges so the dirt would gather between them and you had to push down hard on the broom to catch that dirt. After a while she got used to that. As a child she had a strict mother, especially when it came to food. She was glad of it now, it made her strong enough to do this shit.

That was four years ago, these days Tracy wore long sleeved tops to cover herself. At 180cm she felt she was too tall but some were taller. She guessed she would just have to find herself a really big guy.

She was doing the yard for a new client in Yakamia. She was just finishing off when the side door opened and she saw him for the first time. A young man in his mid twenties of about her height. He was of slim build, light brown hair and green eyes. “That’s a pleasant view.”

“Thank you sir. I always try to do my best.”, her mother had always told her that if she ever had to deal with the public when she grew up then its always better to be over respectful than too casual.

“The yard’s not bad either.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Have you got time for a coffee?”

She liked the way that he smiled. “That would be nice, thank you sir.”

He turned to prepare some, then hesitated and turned around. “Oh by the way there’s no need to call me sir. Andy is the name. I have people call me sir all day long so I barely noticed.”

Tracy was suddenly excited. This was like her fantasy come true. She working hard all day and then some rich guy notices her and sweeps her off her feet. She kept herself in check and she could hear her mothers voice in the back of her head, “don’t let them have things too easy or they will get bored and lose respect. Give them a doable challenge.

“Do you need a hand with, uh, making the coffee.”

“Well … now that you mention it, do you know how to use a barista.”

She looked a bit doubtful, “No, what’s one of them.”

“It’s used for making coffee.” He went on to show her the ins and outs of using it and then it was her turn. Tracy picked it up in a straightforward manner and within a few minutes coffee was served.

Andy continued choosing his words carefully. “I work in, was born into a superannuation business. Finance and law are brutal industries to be in. From where you’re standing you, correct me if I’m wrong, would think that all my staff are successful people.”

“Goes without saying.”, she gave a quick chuckle, wondering where this was going.

“Well I hate to burst your bubble, but most of my staff are stressed out on medication, because I’m the heartless bastard that overworks them while promising them respect but treating them like shit. Why is that necessary, because if I gave them enough slack to be creative and realise their potential they would usurp me. I want their brains but have to stifle their genius. Life’s tough and I’m the last bastard standing.

Here you are, chugging along with your broom in the sunshine and fresh air and enough spare mental capacity to have an interesting life when you get home. You get to sleep at night. You’re hardly the loser here. Tell me, do you have any hobbies.”

“Crochet. Not that you’d be interested in that Andy.”, she gave a submissive chuckle.

He looked thoughtfully. “I had an Aunty that used to do that. Always had some pattern on her lap. … But you don’t use them much?”

“Oh it just seems to click with me. Read it once or twice and in the draw it goes.”

“You know you learned that barista machine faster than most of the staff I have. They’re a bunch of degree holders so that’s quite a compliment.”

“Thank you”, Tracy beamed. “I’ve never thought of myself as clever before.”

“This is something for you to think about. The world of finance will cave in on itself one day. I need people of, how shall I put it, uncommitted intelligence, to help with some kind of a plan B.” He passed her a dog eared textbook. “Any suitable team that are able to cope with a collapse of society will need to be physically, emotionally and intellectually fit. You’re obviously fit enough,”, he said with his eyes turning to the abandoned broom outside, “ you have the memory. That’s a Year 11 math textbook and here is a laptop with a USB 4G internet modem, giving you portable access. Google what you don’t know, work all the shit out in six weeks and we can take our conversation to the next level.”

“What is the next level?”

“Giving you a decent education, albeit an unofficial one.”