Page 41 of It's Now or Never

‘Nothing personal, you understand, but it’s company policy. I’d be grateful if you could put your phone away until your allocated break time.’

Ten minutes at 10.50, half an hour at lunch to be taken between 12.30 and 13.00, and ten minutes at 15.20. My life had become regulated by breaks and ball bearings in such a short space of time.

On my phone I could see a text message from Angie mocking me. Flashing at me insistently, urging me to tell Kelly to jog on and hurry up and pick up the message. I could almost hear Angie’s laughter permeating the room. I turned round and faced Kelly.

‘I haven’t actually used my phone since I’ve been here, but I do like to have it at hand just in case there is an emergency at home. My granddad has been very ill and my best friend is about to give birth so I think you’ll understand why I feel the need to keep my phone close by.’

Kelly took a deep breath and clasped her hands in front of her as though she was about to deliver a sermon.

‘In those circumstances what we suggest you do is give the main switchboard number to your friends and family and then if there is such an emergency they can contact you that way. Otherwise, what we’ve found is that people, especially those working unsupervised, can abuse the time they’re supposed to be workinghere by texting their friends, going onto Facebook and scouring the internet. You’d be surprised at how much company time is lost through such things. Obviously, I’m not suggesting you would do that, but you know, just to be on the safe side, I would be grateful if you could respect our company policy and put the phone away.’

Her mouth smiled sweetly but everything else remained coolly disdainful.

My phone, as though it had been listening to this whole conversation, leapt into action again, this time its insistent ringing made Kelly’s over-manicured eyebrows arch skywards. Angie was impatient at the best of times, but today especially so. I grabbed the phone and stabbed at the green button, much to Kelly’s dismay.

‘Angie?’

‘Jen! There you are! I’ve been trying to get hold of you. I think it’s started. I think I’m going into labour.’

‘What? Nooo! You can’t, can you? Not today. Isn’t it too early?’

‘I know that, but try telling that to the sprog. I’ve got pains, Jen. Really bad ones. Can you come over?’

‘I’ll be straight there. Hang on! Do some puffing and blowing or whatever it is you’re supposed to do.’

I hung up and grabbed my handbag from the floor, before turning to Kelly, who was hovering beside me like an impatient bumblebee.

‘Sorry, I’m going to have to go.’

‘But it’s only three o’clock. You’re never going to finish those entries if you pop out now.’

‘No, you’re absolutely right,’ I said, with a couldn’t-care-less shrug of my shoulders.

‘Well, when will you be back exactly?’ The hackles were clearly visible on the back of her neck.

I glanced at my watch, my gaze travelling round the little room and landing on the poor little pot plant that was looking as worn down and defeated as I was feeling.

‘I won’t, I’m afraid.’ There had to be some perks to temping and I’d just discovered the biggest one of them all. I didn’t care what Kelly thought and I didn’t care what Polly thought. Life was far too short to be worrying about ball bearings. ‘I won’t be coming back.’

‘What, today?’

‘Nope. Nor tomorrow. Or any other day come to that. Sorry. I’ve had enough of this job. Ball bearings aren’t really my thing, I’m afraid.’

I waltzed out of the door and was three steps down the stairs when I remembered something I’d forgotten. I ran back upstairs, past Kelly who was standing there looking as though she was still trying to figure out what had just happened, and into the office – snatching the little pot plant from the windowsill. I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving it behind, alone and forlorn, in that miserable office. Like me, all it needed was the opportunity to flourish and grow.

‘I’ll take this with me, if you don’t mind,’ I said breezily, not hanging around long enough to hear whether she did or not.

I sprinted to the car park, jumped in my car and zoomed through the streets of Casterton, cursing at anyone who had the audacity to get in my way. I just hoped to goodness I wouldn’t be too late. What if she’d already given birth at home on the kitchen floor? My stomach churned. I really hoped not – I wasn’t great with blood and the thought of all that mess made me regret the oozing pulled pork roll I’d had for my lunch. I took a shortcut throughManor Road, avoiding the high street, but quickly came to a grinding halt behind a white transit van that had decided to stop in the middle of the road, its back doors flung open.

The driver had climbed into the back of the van and was rummaging through his parcels as though he had all the time in the world. I tapped on the steering wheel, trying to remain calm, but the longer he faffed about the more I could feel my blood pressure rising. I wound down the window and poked my head out.

‘Are you going to be long? It’s just that I’m in a bit of a hurry.’

‘Only doing my job, love. A couple of minutes at the most.’

I wound the window up seething, absolutely furious that he could think his time was so much more important than mine. What was it with men and their overriding sense of entitlement? I could just imagine Mr White Van Man’s reaction if I’d done the same to him. He’d have been tooting on his horn and calling me every name under the sun. I sighed and looked into my rear view mirror. This was ridiculous. Now there was a queue of traffic lining up behind me so there was absolutely no means of escape. I beeped my horn three times in quick succession, a car behind me joining in with the melody.

When White Van Man simply laughed and waved, clearly taking great pleasure in my growing annoyance I leapt out of my car and confronted him.

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