Before leaving the lunchroom, I poured two cups of coffee and took them back for Ms. White and me. On the way, Julie said, "That was something. I've never seen those girls so aggressive. You're going to be the talk of the place before five. I don't know whether it's good or bad, but you're going to have a rep real quick."
Ms. White smiled happily and accepted the cup of coffee. I told her, "I've caught up on correspondence and filing, what do you have for me until it's time for me to give breaks."
"You've done everything? I thought you had more to do before we did the time cards?"
"No ma'am, I'm done with everything pending. There's really not that much to do. I'll ask Julie, perhaps I can help her for a while."
Ms. White looked a little funny, "My regular secretary is always snowed under. Are you sure you've done everything?"
"Come on out and help me look. I think I've done everything, but I might have missed where more work is kept."
Ms. White came out to my desk, looked in the drawers then looked at the work pending file cabinet. All my in boxes were empty. My transcription files were complete and all of the weekly reports that were due Monday were done. I said, "I did everything according to the operating manual for this position."
I pulled the little flip chart out and went through each of the cards.
Ms. White said, "Julie, do you have some work that you could use some help with. Chuck is caught up on his stuff."
"Not really, Ms. White. Chuck is so quiet, we both get a lot more done than usual. I was going to offer to help him get caught up."
"He's already done all the Monday reports. The only thing he'll have to do Monday is the payroll and that doesn't take long. Come with me, Chuck," Ms. White said, "let's go see someone."
We walked through the office to the far corner where Ms. White told a secretary that she wanted to see Mr. Harkins. The lady used her phone then said, "Go on in, Mr. Harkins can see you."
"Hi Metarie, good to see you, what can I do for you," the man said, then turning to me extended his hand. "I'm Jordan Harkins and you are?"
I said, "Chuck Johnson."
Jordan Harkins said, "Please, sit down and tell me what I can do for you."
Ms. White said, "It's what I can do for you, Jordan. I want you to get to know Mr. Johnson. He came on board Wednesday as my temp secretary. You know my girl has been out on maternity leave since last week. My department puts out a lot of paper. I dictate a couple of dozen letters a day and I know I push out fifty or so pieces paper a day to be filed. In the short time he's been here, Chuck has learned the counter to give breaks, plus he has totally caught up on my dictation, all the filing, and all of the reports due out from my department through Monday. My office has never been this caught up. I've already stepped Mr. Johnson, but we need to find him a job with more responsibility, Jordan. Chuck is doing far more than could be expected."
"I see, Metarie. Um, perhaps you could talk to some of the other department managers and your man could assist their secretaries and catch them up."
"Yes sir," Ms. White said. "I can do that but I think we might wish to use Mr. Johnson for some of the outside positions that are open."
"Does he meet the qualifications?" Jordan asked.
"That's the problem. All of those positions require a degree and Mr. Johnson has not attended college. He was recently released from the military because of an injury. I think we should find him a demanding position and waive the degree requirement. You can do that, Jordan."
"Oh Metarie, you're always bending some rules for one of your people." Jordan folded his fingers together on his desk then said, "I have an investigator position that reports directly to me that I haven't been able to fill. You know it is a delicate job that has to be handled discreetly, but is necessary some times. Do you think he could fulfill that position?"
"Easily, Jordan. If you want, I'll spend the rest of the day briefing him on the job. He could begin with some of your backlogged small investigations to learn the way."
Jordan turned to me, "Chuck, this position I'm talking about is to investigate hiring practices of some medium-sized companies that may discriminate by sex, race, or disability. You would quietly interview their HR people, gain their confidence, and report your findings. The important thing to do is to fully report your interview so you can follow up often with those companies that you might perceive having some prejudice. You will also make sure some of our large companies are completing the proper federal forms and reports required. This can be a very sensitive position and you will be reporting directly to me, with copies to Ms. White. She maintains your reports personally and they do not go through her secretary. You will be a busy man as we are over six months behind on what we are doing. You will be provided an agency vehicle during the day, and if you have to travel, you will be reimbursed of course."
He paused for a second looking at me and asked, "What do you think?"
"Sounds interesting. Will I still be a temporary employee?"
Ms. White was shaking her head no, but Jordan said, "Yes, you will for at least sixty days. That will give me time to evaluate you performance."
I had to ask, "If I am still a temporary, that means I can still look for employment? I mean this will give me an opportunity to do some job shopping, if I'm correct."
Jordan huffed a little, "Well, ah, you would be employed by us during this time. You should be giving a hundred percent effort and not job shopping if I put you in a position like that."
"But sir, if I'm but a temporary employee, paid like a temporary employee, with no guarantee of a possible future here, wouldn't I be dumb not to look for a permanent position somewhere?"
The man leaned back in his chair then said, "Mr. Johnson, if you will excuse us, I'd like to speak to Metarie for a few minutes."
Ms. White said, "Go back to the department and perhaps assist Julie. You'll be relieving for breaks in a few minutes anyway."
I left and since it was really time to be on the counter, I passed by Julie and told her I was on the way for relief. She came with me, as she relieved four people as well.
I saw some of the fabulous five down in that area. The five girls came to mind and I automatically began thinking of them in a happy way as the fab five. They were pretty funny and obviously fed off each other when they were in a group, one trying to be more outrageous than the other.
When the breaks were over, Julie took me to the break room. "You're supposed to take your break when you finish with the counter. I noticed you haven't been taking a break lately. That's an extra half hour a day you're using to get work done. That's why you're so far ahead."
Back in the department, Ms. White called me into her office. "Close the door and have a seat, Chuck."
She leaned on her desk and said, "What you just witnessed is what you would be investigating. You just witnessed discrimination. Jordan wants a man of color to have this position, but we haven't found one to fill the spot yet. He felt he could put you in the position temporarily, then let you go when he found another man to his liking. I've just finished telling Jordan exactly what I'm telling you, so it's no secret that I'm letting you know. Now he's embarrassed that he's been so obvious about his prejudice. I've already heard how you interacted with Tiani and Nancy and are going out this evening with the group of them. I'm proud to know you, Chuck, you are a gentleman, and you are not prejudiced. You would make an excellent investigator and should be paid the normal salary and not temp wages."
"Because of Jordan's prejudice, I don't want you to work for him. He's agreed to let you have the military human resources job and waive the degree requirement. That might be a better place for you anyway. The job pays decent too. Remember this is a federal job with federal benefits. One, you get a clothing allowance as you are to dress impeccably to impress prospective employers as well as the ex-military people you will assisting. Two, you will be given a per diem for meals, and expenses for prospective employers as well as the people you will be finding jobs for. Three, you will be issued a cell phone, for work only, so you can be reached while you are in the field. That's how the lady who was working here scammed everyone. And fourth, and probably the most important to you right now, your annual starting salary is $45,700, about $3,800 a month. Do a good job and you can go way up from there."
She looked me right in the eye and asked, "Would you work for me in that position?"
The thought of how important a job it was going to be had my head spinning. "Thank you for the confidence in me, ma'am. There's no way I can turn down a job like that. Ah, I think I'll need a lot of your help for a while to figure out how to do a good job."
"You would have that anyway, Chuck. That is one of our more important positions, considering all of the men and women coming out of the service right now. If the new president cuts the defense budget very much, there could be a lot of men looking for work. The neat thing is that you can work with all of the other advocates, in all of our offices nationwide, to find available positions for them. You should be a perfect match for the job considering your history."
"I want to work for you, Ms. White. Teach me and I'll make you proud."
She sat back in her chair smiling and said, "I'll teach you, but you'll have to call me Metarie. You and I will be a lot less formal now that you are in this new position."
Metarie leaned forward and began typing into her computer. When she finished, she smiled at me, "You are now an official employee of the USA, with all of the benefits that go with it. In ninety days you will be offered health insurance, but you already have federal benefits for that. Ours may be easier to use, you'll have to choose. Also now that you are a federal employee, you will be eligible for any other federal position you may be qualified for. I do suggest that you begin night classes or some form of degree course. You will progress faster within the agency and any other government office if you were to do that."
It was as if another big weight was off me. This was more money than I really was going to need, but it was enough that if I wanted, I could find a better place to live. Right now I should just save some money and that felt good.
As some paper spit out from her printer, she pulled the sheets to her to read, Metarie said, "Okay, here is your first six months clothing allowance, and two weeks per diem. Any extra you have to spend on others, please document everything, and be sure to get receipts so you can be reimbursed. You'll have a credit card soon, but this should hold you for now. Go out to the cashier and present this to her. She'll give you cash or a check or some of each, however you want. Now, since you are a salaried employee, get the hell out of here, get your money and run. Go home and enjoy your weekend."
"I'm going to need some help buying the right kind of clothes. I'm not very fashion conscious and I haven't bought lots of clothes for dress. I've been a uniform guy with just jeans as my casual dress."
Metarie looked at me a second, then wrote something on one her cards. This is my cell phone. Call me tomorrow and I'll go with you to pick out some clothes. We'll get you some nice clothes at a discount. I know where the smart guys go to get quality stuff. Perhaps my husband will come along. He's a real classy dresser."
"I'll do that. It should be reasonably early tomorrow, okay? I'd like to get that out of the way. Thank you for helping me so much."
"It's my pleasure to help someone progress. I'm going to have you help me anyway, so don't thank me too much yet."
I left, said goodbye to Julie then headed toward the cashier. The lady looked at my letter then asked how I wanted the funds. I told her I didn't know how much it was so she said, "You get a fifty-four dollars a day per diem, but you should only draw like forty until you get your personal accounting set up. Your clothing allowance for your first six months is thirty-two hundred and seventy dollars."
I was staggered, "Ah, how about twenty-five hundred in cash and the balance in a check so I can deposit it."
"Coming right up. Do you need some money to take those girls out tonight?"
"It's not my money. I have to buy clothes and have money for expenses. I can't use that money for tonight. I can use some of my savings though, now that I have a real job."
"That you can, Chuck. Have a good time with those girls tonight and be safe. Don't be drinking and driving. I heard what you were telling them and that was good to hear. Congratulations on the new job. I'll look forward to working with you.
I signed for the money and check and headed to the bank in my '95 Chevy S-10. Funny isn't it, Goodwill to Gucci in a week.
The bank posed the next problem. I asked for the head teller as I figured she would help me the quickest. After explaining my problem, she suggested I get a bank debit card. She could have one issued to me immediately that I could access just like a credit card. When I filled out the form she suggested I apply for a credit card as well. If I were to go over my deposits, the credit card portion would kick in so I wouldn't be overdrawn.
I told the head teller that I had just gotten out of the service and had only been employed a few days. I told her my new position with the salary and that the money I was depositing was clothing allowance and per diem.
All of a sudden I was being shown a lot more attention and a lot more courtesy. It was "Right this way, sir," and "Can I get you something, sir," and "How else can I help you, sir." It was almost too funny for words.
They gave me the debit card that had a five thousand dollar credit limit. I didn't care about the credit limit, but now all of my money in both the checking and savings was available when I needed it.
Before I left the bank, I asked the branch manager if he had any positions open, and who I could contact at their home office for job opportunities for veterans returning to civilian life. The man gave me several names, plus a hand-out with the corporate hiring information. He said, "Confidentially, if you have anyone that might me interested in a starting teller position, I have openings, plural, right now. Send me some good people and let me get them started in the banking industry."
I took his personal card and said I would get back to him. Knowing that a teller position was not the highest paying position around, I understood how they could be open, but it just goes to show you. There are jobs available, just not a bunch of big buck jobs. Hmm, that's not true either. I was just given a big buck job just for doing what I was being paid for and was supposed to do.
At the apartment, I noticed a filthy Harley setting outside apartment twenty-five and wondered if this was as a result of last night. The front door was locked, but Shirley was at the counter putting something together for supper.
"You're home early, how come?"
I opened the fridge and pulled out a beer. "Got a new job today and was sent home early."
"Is it a better job?"
"You betcha," I smiled. "It's going to be a good job. They even gave me money to buy clothes."
"I won't be able to help you for a couple of days. My old man showed up this morning."
"I saw a bike out front. He should but it in the back. Take the chain so he'll have it and I'll go to Home Depot and get another chain and lock."
Shirley nodded, "You don't mind if I feed him too do you? I'll eat less to make sure okay?"
"No problem, Shirl, around here we all eat. Should you go get him so I can meet him or what?"
Shirley thought a second, "No sense in waking him yet. He rode all night to get in. He'll wake up and I'll get him a beer and feed him. He doesn't know I'm cooking for you to get fed myself, but I'll tell him later. It's a good enough deal he ain't gonna bitch. Thank God he slept soundly enough that I was able to get all the laundry done I needed to do."
Shirley put a big pan in the oven, then stood up and said, "That has to cook for an hour, then we can eat. I'll get him up soon, but you go to the store and get your chain and lock and I'll take this back to the apartment. You ain't going to have a bed warmer for a while. Get used to it or get some auditions."
I laughed at the audition reference. "Actually a bunch of girls from work are taking me out to the Hard Rock tonight on them. I told them I couldn't afford to take myself out there and for sure not a bunch of women, so they are taking me. I might get lucky, who knows."
"Are you a gambler?"
"No way, I don't gamble my money, not when every day of life is a gamble and probably higher stakes."
"I'm glad," Shirley said. "Gamblin', drinkin', whorin', drugs, that's how a body gets in the poor house. That's why I'm doing laundry and turning tricks. That's why I'm ashamed of myself all the time." A tear ran down her face.
"Don't be hard on yourself, Shirl. You said it the other day. You do what you gotta do. Just keep doing a little more for me like keeping the house and keeping my clothes up and I'll pay you decent. Don't be turning any tricks while I'm around. Do your laundry and housekeeping and there will be enough for you. Perhaps your man will settle down and stay this time."
Shirley was sitting on a stool with tears coming hard. "The other day, one of the guys that uses me came by and I just spread 'em for an easy fifty. I should have sent him to see one of the other girls, but I just hated to pass up a fifty. That's why I made you use a rubber. The guy won't use one, so now I have to go to the health department to get checked again. Damn, I'm one miserable whore."
"Stop feeling sorry for yourself right now. Get yourself together. Take a six pack with you with the chain and lock and go wake up your man so he can get cleaned up for supper. I'll go to the store for mine and pick up some more beer. It shouldn't take me more than twenty minutes."
I left locking the front door knowing she would be watching the back.
It took all of the twenty minutes to get the chain and lock because the checkout line was so backed up. I got home and immediately chained up my bike running the chain around the cases and through the wheels.
I walked over to liquor store and bought another case of cold beer. Hate to run out on a weekend.
Back in the apartment, I popped a beer and turned on the TV to watch the news. There was a lot about the jobs being created by all the federal projects, but as I saw today, they are jobs, just not people willing to do them or people qualified to get them. I wondered where Jordan was going to get his investigator. Who cares, I had a great position now that might even be better, especially with the clothing allowance.
Shirley came in the back door followed by a big burly guy with a full beard and balding head. Shirley pointed at me and said, "That's Chuck Johnson the guy who owns that bike out back and the guy that's been trading out my cooking for my meals. Chuck this the Bart Simpson. I ain't jokin', it's his real name."
I nodded and reached out to take his offered hand. I went to the fridge and took out a beer, offering it to him. He took it and I got another one out for Shirley and offered it to her. She took hers then I got another for myself.
Pointing at the bottle on the counter I said, "You want some Jack to go with that?"
"Naw, this is good," Bart said.
Shirley went to work on dinner while Bart sat on the couch and I sat in the big chair. Bart appraised me and said, "Shirley said you were a crip, hurt in the service?"
I nodded and pulled up my pants leg to show my metal leg.
"You get around pretty good, but I see you have a cane and a crutch by the door. You need those?"
"The cane more'n the crutch."
Shirley said from the kitchen area, "He don't talk much. He'll answer but like I said, he don't talk much."
Bart chuckled, "Probably a good man for it too. What were you in, the army?"
"Marines."
"If you don't mind my asking, how'd you lose your leg?"
"An RPG didn't miss."
"I hear that all the time, what's an RPG?"
"Rocket Propelled Grenade."
"How close was it?"
"My leg was stuck out behind me when the grenade hit the track I was hiding behind."
"Track?"
I smiled, "Field name for a tank or APC, you know, armored personnel carrier."
"Well, at least you had others with you to help."
"They all died but one guy who lost an arm."
"How'd you keep from getting killed?"
"We killed the other guys."
"But you were both badly injured."
"We patched each other up and took the dead guys and track back to the base. The radio didn't work, so that's all we could do unless we wanted to just lay there and die."
"That's some story. How long were you in the hospital?"
"Over there a week, Germany a month, and back here almost eleven months."
Shirley had set the table and said, "Supper's ready. Come get it."
"Hey thanks, ah, Chuck, for letting me eat with you. I guess I should thank you for feeding Shirl too. I ain't too good about sending money."
I nodded then said, "When I eat, others get to eat to. It's the way I was raised. Besides, your lady does my laundry and I pay her to keep the place clean too. She needed the money, I needed the help."
"You're pretty talkative tonight, Chuck, is it because it's to a man?"
"Like you said, Shirley, he asks, I answer."
We ate the roast with potatoes and carrots, then had some of the cake with the creamy icing for dessert. Shirley washed up the dishes real quick, then I said, "I gotta a date with a bunch of women so I have to get ready to go out. I best shave and take a shower, so I'll see you guys tomorrow. If there's something happening somewhere tomorrow, let me know. I'd like to get to know more of the riding community."
"I'll meetcha to my brothers, that's the ridin' community I know. It's a good club, but I like to roam. I don't do good stayin' in one place."
"See you tomorrow. Shirley, if you guys go to Jonah's ask around to see what's going on. Let me know in the morning."