Manual Labor

When I arrive at the office, everyone is busy. Running about. Shouting. And acting like the world is ending. What in the hell is going on? “Please, everyone, calm down. We need to get the lobby cleared as soon as possible to start the process for renovation”. I looked around. I don’t know who said it, but he’s right. I need this place cleared so that I can get it painted so I can bring in the furniture and such. I walk to the elevator, trying to ignore the chaos.

Once I reach my floor, I walk to my desk and sat down. I began contacting the paint company to make sure they have the supplies ready. And to my surprise, it’s already been delivered. Sweet. I make my next call, to the workers to make sure they’ll be ready to start working today. The lobby should be cleared in an hour or two. They said they’d arrive in 3 hours to begin. I kill time by making a building structure and floor plans on my programs. I can do much more than interior design, but I don’t let anyone know that. That’s my secret.

When the 3rd hour mark was about to hit, I saved my work and started heading down to the lobby so that I could over see my project. It had to be executed perfectly. But when I got there, there were less people than I expected to see. I wonder what’s up with that.

“Hello, I’m Miss Blackwood, I’m in charge of this renovation project” I state to the gentlemen. “Ah, Miss Blackwood. Pleasure to meet you. I’m Jacob” a man about my age, 25 or so, shakes my hand in greeting. “Hi. So, Jacob. I was wondering why there are less employees here today compared to what the company had stated there will be. Are there any problems I should know about?” I ask.

He looks at me, an unsure look on his face. “Well actually, two of our workers got into a car accident on the way here and another called into work requesting paternity leave. His wife is in labor at the moment. So it’s just the three of us”. “I see, give me a moment would you Jacob, I need to check on something real quick”. I leave him alone to discuss with the employees for awhile.

I make my way to Atlas’ office. His assistant notifies him that I’m here. “Mr. Jones, are you aware of the situation that is happening downstairs?” I ask while standing before him. He looks up from his computer and grins at me. “Actually yes, I am. But this is your project. There’s not much I can do to help. So what is it that you want or need and I’ll see if I can assist you”. “Well, if you could, would you be able to release me from my duties for the rest of the day. The only way that I can see to help this project be completed on time is to join them. So if need to go home and change into my coveralls”. He looks at me with a quizzical look on his face. “I’ll have them be delivered to you shortly, no need to go anywhere” he said and dismissed me.

Once my coveralls and tshirt arrive, I quickly change into them. But boy did I look awkward wearing them with heals. So once I got to the elevator I took them off and left them inside. They won’t be going anywhere anyway. I joined the men painting. Instructing them to not just paint accent walls and such. It need an artistic view. So we began using painting tape to map out the designs and colored each block of area with a different shade of green. Leaving only thin lines of grey as the boarder. Perfect. But as I was working, I couldn’t help but get the feeling I was being watched. I turned around and it was just me and the other painters.

After the painting was done, we all ordered food food and sat outside on the steps of the company. Enjoying our conversations. The sun was setting, and soon I’d need to go home. Back to the apartment that I was gifted. By the man that treats me as a friend, even if he’s my boss. My thoughts linger on my dream. The way he looked at me. Touched me. Something I’ve never experienced. Literally. NEVER. I’ve never been with a man. And everyone back home assumed I liked girls because of it. But, living there, not like there was much in the sea for any gender. Everyone’s so…stuck in their ways. I never fit in. And, despite my dream, I doubt my boss would be interested in anything. After all. I am no one. A nobody.