Chapter 2: 1970s
I sat in the waiting room for thirty-three minutes-thirty-four. I was supposed to have my orientation nineteen minutes ago, yet there I sat prim and straight alone in the reception area dusting away nonexistent dirt on my plaid turtleneck dress, the receptionist not even in sight to tell me they will be right there with me in five minutes, every five minutes.
Thirty-five.
“Hi! I’m sorry, I hope you weren’t waiting long, I’m Sarah Beth” a perky blonde wearing a bright pink dress and a pink scarf around her neck paraded into a room, greeting me with her equally perky southern drawl.
“Laura, it’s alright, I don’t mind” I tried to reciprocate her energy.
“Oh, aren’t you just a sweetheart, now come one why don’t we talk at my desk” she waved her hand for me to follow her through the double doors. The brightness of the who office floor instantly hit my eyes, together with the sound of countless typewriters typing in unison. Our heels silent on the carpeted floor as phones rang every there and there, and people minding their own business not a care of what was going on around them.
“So, is this your first time working as a secretary?” she asks as she we weaved through the throngs of people sitting on their desks with their noses buried in their work.
“Yes, but I’ve been a receptionist for the last three years, so I am pretty familiar with the work” I answered as vaguely as I can. The less they know the better, I have upheld that principle for so long and I am not going to stop now.
“That’s great, speaking of receptionists, our receptionist, Lillian just quit to go home and be with her family, but between the two of us” sitting down on her chair she looked side to side before leaning down on her table I copied her looking side to side before leaning down.
“The boss’s missus paid her to leave after she got knocked up with her boss’s child” my eyes widened, not because of the beans she just spilled, but because I was wondering why she is telling me this.
“Oh my!” I whispered as leaned back against my seat.
“I know, I told Lilian was setting a bad example around the office, just two months ago, another girl left her desk pregnant with a married man’s child, it’s getting out of hand” she puffed her cheek and sighed.
“But anyway, I am not giving a good first impression am I, sorry” before I can even mutter and it’s alright, she was back to her original perky self.
“So, where you from?”
“London”
“I knew I detected a bit of accent there, were you born in England?”
“Born and raised” I smiled.
“What’s it like, London I mean” she asked
“Wet, it rains most days,” I answered.
“That’s what my sister said” Sarah Beth exclaimed.
“She’s been to London?”
“Um-hmm, can’t stop complaining about how its always cold and raining, but the people are polite, so it wasn’t all that bad, that’s why she ended up getting married and staying” Sarah Beth giggled.
“He was a particularly nice gentleman too, I bet you had your fair share of gentlemen, too bad you’re not going to find that in here, everyone’s just so cutthroat and rude, its like chivalry died a long time ago” she complained leaning against her chair to grab a mirror from under her desk and look at her reflection with a pout.
“Why don’t I show you around the office so you can get better acquainted with everyone” Sarah Beth giggled and pulled me by the wrist introducing me to every high roller.
“So, I guess here’s our stop” she said as she closed the door of Jackson Lewis’ office, also known as the father of the receptionist Lilian’s unborn child. That took most of my first day, and most of my energy. I do not think I have met a person in my entire life who is so involved in someone else life than Sarah Beth. It was my first day, but she had walked me through years of personal information of every high roller. I followed dutifully behind her as she has yet to show me to my desk, we were walking alone when I was caught off guard as she stood still, very still in front of one door.
“Are you alright?” I asked looking at the door with you.
“It’s just that, it’s his office… I just I miss him” Sarah Beth reached out her hand and caressed the door, like she would caress a lover’s face.
“Whose office is this?”
“Jay Zander, just the kindest, smartest, talented and most handsome man in the whole entire world” Sarah Beth swooned right there just thinking about the said man.
“And where is Mr. America?”
“He took a yearlong assignment in the west coast so he can be closer to his parents for a year, isn’t he so sweet, and a perfect gentleman, always opening doors he even makes sure every woman is already on the elevator before entering himself” Sarah Beth continued to swoon.
“Just thinking about him is getting me all hot and bothered, why don’t we get some lunch, my treat” Sarah Beth insisted dragging me along with her once again.
Finally, after lunch and several more office gossip, Sarah Beth finally showed me to my workspace. Work was simple, someone drops papers on my desk, I type it out on the machine, someone asks for coffee, make them, when someone says they need something done I do it. Just like that I started my first day as a secretary in a newspaper company in New York City.
Life as a secretary passed by without much hitch, I did what I was asked, spoke when I was spoken to, and I kept my head down and stood hid in plain sight. I kept my hair dark and down and my clothes simple and plain. I also made sure to join out of the office events just enough so no one would think I was avoiding anybody, I made sure to mention my parents calling every once in a while, and I listened to office gossip from Sarah Beth.
A year later, I was staring at my reflection on the elevator doors, inspecting my hair, making sure that there was no spot untouched by the hair dye. The elevator doors opened, and I was pushed in by someone behind me rushing to get in.
“Oh my gosh Laura, I am so sorry darling, I didn’t see you there” Sarah Beth apologized halfheartedly.
“What has gotten into you Sarah Beth” I made sure to enunciate her full name remembering the time she blew up at another secretary for calling her ‘Sarah’
“He’s back he’s back, he’s finally back, I’ve waited a whole year, and now he’s back” Sarah Beth squealed in glee.
“I am very happy for you Sarah Beth”
“I stayed up all night choosing the perfect outfit, the perfect shoes…..” I pretended to listen to Sarah Beth as she regaled me with all the steps, she did to make sure she was polished to perfection for the return of the illustrious Mr. Jay Zander to the head office.
“You think he’ll notice my new perfume, I don’t think I have enough perfume on,” Sarah Beth wondered as we exited the elevators to out office floor in matching pace, until she took a left instead of going straight forward.
“Where are you going?” I called out.
“To bathroom dear, I have to powder my nose” Sarah Beth answered already rummaging her purse for her cosmetics.
But you just got here I wanted to call out, but I knew better than to antagonize Sarah Beth on a day she has been preparing a year for. I reach my desk and begin sorting out the pile of papers already situated on it, a concept not unfamiliar with me except for the sheer amount of it today.
“I guess this is what it means to have another man back in the office” I muttered. I was three pages into the pile when I realized that these stacks of papers were not in order.
Crap. I leaned back and took a deep breath, this could take forever so I collected the papers in disarray and carried all of them into a vacant conference room, resigning myself to have my nose buried in paperwork for the day. The pile began to consume the whole in just thirty minutes, by the time lunch break came around, the pile of paper was spread out across the room, on the floor on the chairs, some are taped on the walls and on the window.
“Laura, what are you doing? Let’s go the company is holding this welcome back party for Jay Zander, there’s food, punch, there’s even muffins” Sarah Beth barged into the room, sending a few papers flying in her wake.
“You go on ahead, somebody left a pile of random papers on my desk, and I want to get them done as soon as I can” I smiled at her looking sadly at the papers that went flying.
“If you say so sugar, tell you what, why don’t I fix you a plate, I’ll bring it to you once that party is done so you can have your own piece of the party” Sarah Beth offered.
“That would much appreciate, thank you Sarah Beth”
“Oh, you don’t have to thank me sugar” she giggled and left the room