Getting Organised. Carolyn Caterer

this was where her skills lay and was more than a little relieved when the three days were over.

      A couple of more weeks passed by, with jobs in a plumbing shop, an electrical goods shop and finally a builders’ merchant. Abi decided that temping wasn’t for her and told the agency that when she went to collect her pay packet.

      It wasn’t that she didn’t like the work, it was pretty basic and the people were nice, but it was the fact that she never knew when, or even where, the next job would be. Abi needed some stability in her life at this time, as so much of what she had believed in had been shattered with the ending of her marriage and the subsequent realisation that her life had not been what it had seemed.

      It was while she was getting out of her car that afternoon that Mabel had dashed across and asked her if she would like to pop in for a glass of wine and some nibbles. Abi jumped at the chance of some company and, said she would be right over once she had changed out of her work clothes. Fifteen minutes later she was knocking at Mabel’s door with a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc in her hand.

      Chapter 9

      ‘Come on in Abi it is so lovely to see you.’ Mabel’s sincerity always endeared her to Abi. She loved the way that Mabel always managed to make her feel so welcome. When she had walked over to her as she arrived home, Abi had been contemplating a rather miserable night in as she reconciled her bank statements and perused the paper to update her on the local job market. Recession was not a word she wanted to hear at this stage of her life and, the thought that her house was already worth less than she had paid for it only a few months ago according to an article in the Daily Mail (which one of the girls at work had insisted on reading out at lunchtime) only served to dampen her spirits further.

      She was therefore very pleased to be distracted by Mabel’s invitation to join her. If anyone could help shake Abi out of her current mood then Mabel was the one. She had never known Mabel show any signs of being fed up or depressed. She was the kind of formidable woman you would always want to have around you in an emergency and, whilst her financial situation had not reached that stage so far, Abi knew that if anyone could help her foresee a rosy future, then Mabel was that person.

      Mabel ushered her through to the living room and into one of her deep sofa’s which immediately had a relaxing effect, and offered her a bowl of assorted nuts whilst she proceeded to fetch the chilled wine from the fridge and put Abi’s bottle in there for later consumption.

      Abi settled down into the sofa and began to munch on the bowl of nuts. Her hand automatically kept delving into them as she always found eating a good way of getting her to concentrate on the thoughts that were rushing through her mind when something was troubling her. In the short time that Mabel had been out getting the wine glasses and the bottle of wine, Abi managed to consume three-quarters of the bowl she had in her hand.

      ‘Goodness, didn’t you manage to have any lunch today?’ Mabel enquired with amusement.

      Abi glanced down and blushed.

      ‘Oops sorry Mabel. I was so deep in my thoughts I hadn’t realised that I had been eating. They are delicious, though if I think about the calorific content of what I have consumed so far I will have to starve myself for the next couple of days or I won’t be able to get into my work suit the next time I have a job interview.

      ‘How is the temping working out?’ Mabel’s question was innocuous enough but she had planned this conversation and was pleased that she had managed to start it off so soon in the evening.

      ‘Dire. I am just not cut out for all the chopping and changing. I told the agency that I wouldn’t be carrying on after this week. Thank goodness we no longer have personal bank managers as mine would most certainly not be impressed at the diminishing state of my account. I had a quick look in the local paper but there is nothing there that is really grabbing my imagination at the moment. Maybe I am just being too fussy and expecting too much for this area. What do you think?’ Abi looked up at Mabel hoping that this question would prompt Mabel to come up with some words of wisdom.

      Mabel, meanwhile, couldn’t believe her luck. This conversation was going better than she had imagined it could. Abi hated the temping work but was certainly in need of employment and yet didn’t want to settle for just any old job. The first part of her plan was coming together perfectly. She smiled encouragingly at Abi and then began to speak.

      ‘Abi, I know that things have been pretty tough for you recently, but you are an intelligent woman and I believe you need to be in a job where you can start off slowly and then perhaps, when you feel up to it, take on more responsibility.’ She could see Abi was perking up at her words and taking a real interest. Trying to conceal her excitement Mabel paused, and then continued, just as she had rehearsed in her head a hundred times over the last week.

      ‘I think I may have found you the perfect job opportunity.’ As she looked across at Abi she could see her eyes brighten in hope and anticipation.

      ‘I believe I may have mentioned very briefly in a previous conversation my former daughter-in-law, Imogen?’ Abi nodded but sat silently, her eyes fixed upon Mabel and her attention so focussed on her neighbour that her hands now held the bowl of nuts on her lap without moving.

      ‘Well, Imogen runs her own business in Old Basing. It is very successful. I may have mentioned she has a degree in psychology and her clients are extremely successful in their chosen field of work. They come to Imogen because they need an outlet from the pressures of their working life and that is what she offers. She has built up a thriving business over the last twenty odd years and recently she has decided she needs an assistant as, in the past, she has only had part time help.’ Mabel could see that Abi was interested in what she was saying and so she continued.

      ‘Finding someone who can be as discrete as Imogen is has not been an easy task. In fact so far she has found it easier to just handle it all herself, but she would much rather concentrate on doing her job well and give the responsibility of handling the office work and appointments diary to someone else, to free her up so she can either see more clients or have more time off. When I met you I just knew that you were the kind of person that Imogen would really get on with and who would be an asset to her, so I have spoken with her and agreed to talk to you to see if you would be interested. Now Abi, I don’t want you to feel pressured in any way to take an interest in this job, simply because it is me who is asking……’

      ‘When can I start?’ Abi had practically leapt out of her seat, which had surprised even Mabel, who had never thought it was going to turn out to be this easy to grab Abi’s attention and persuade her that this job with Imogen could be an option. After all the description she had given her so far was not exactly drawing a picture of the most exciting job in the world, but this had obviously not deterred Abi one single bit. Mabel could only imagine that Abi’s temping experiences had been the driving force behind her interest in what had so far seemed to be a pretty straightforward opportunity.

      ‘Really I mean it. If you think it is a good job Mabel then I would be more than interested in giving it a go. OK I know I obviously need to arrange to meet Imogen and have an interview to demonstrate my PA skills, but I am more than willing to do so. When can you arrange for me to meet her?’

      The doorbell rang and with a big smile spreading across her face Mabel stood up.

      ‘How about now?’

      ************************************************************

      A minute later Mabel was leading a woman into the sitting room that Abi recognised from some of the photographs that were placed around her. Imogen was attractive and stylish and yet seemed very friendly and down to earth. Abi took a liking to her before she had even opened her mouth to say hallo. Mabel did the introductions before dashing off to fetch another glass of wine (Imogen called after her to make it a spritzer as she was driving) and returned a short while later.

      Introductions over, Imogen was soon asking Abi about her previous work experience, although her line of questioning was not at all focussed on her typing speed or the kind of filing system she was used to working with but rather her ability to be extremely