Page 58 of The Midnight Bakery
‘Youalready have a job,’ replied Frankie, grinning.
‘Oh yeah… good point.’
‘Actually, I don’t have a job,’ said Tam quietly. ‘They’ve let me go.’
The room became suddenly hushed.
‘What?’ Frankie looked between the two men. ‘How have you lost your job? That can’t be right.’
Tam took a deep breath. ‘It came as a surprise to me as well. But I had my review meeting earlier – my probationary period has come to an end – and, as far as I was aware, everything had been going well. I was expecting to be offered a permanent position, not have it taken away from me.’
‘Well, I hope they had the decency to say why.’ She frowned. ‘It’s not more cutbacks, is it?’
Tam shook his head. ‘No. It’s because some kind soul let them know I don’t have a permanent address and am sleeping in my car. Apparently, that doesn’t fit with their expectations of a model employee.’
‘But can’t you complain about it? Take it further?’ Frankie ushered him to the table to sit down. ‘That’s disgusting.’
‘It is, but there’s nothing I can do,’ he said, laying down the flask and hot-water bottle he’d been carrying. ‘That’s exactly what a probationary period is for – so they can get rid of you if they need to. My manager’s a bit officious, but even she had the decency to look embarrassed. Said she has a duty of care and had to act upon the information she’d been given. Not that she took the decision lightly – she wanted me to know that. She’d gone to head office and consulted with HR, but their advice was clear. She was sorry, but they wouldn’t be offering me a permanent contract.’
‘That’s bullshit,’ retorted Frankie. ‘Sorry, but it is.’ She looked at William for agreement.
He nodded, joining them at the table. ‘Of the worst kind,’ he replied. ‘But legally, I expect they are in the clear. Morally, I hope they find it hard sleeping at night. That doesn’t change the situation though.’
‘No, besides, it’s too late for that. The deputy manager’s a decent sort, and she’s made a complaint, saying the company should reconsider their decision. She reckons I stand a good chance of being reinstated. But I wouldn’t go back, not now. I walked out, actually – I couldn’t bear to be there knowing what they thought of me.’
Frankie studied him for a moment, such a kind and gentle man, and began to feel angrier than ever. Tam was exactly the sort of person theyshouldbe employing, and yet they had tried to disguise their spineless action as being in the best interests of their residents. They should be standing up for people like Tam, not grinding them further into the mire. ‘This is just the kind of shallow-minded behaviour that infuriates me,’ she said. ‘That good, honest people get treated so appallingly because they don’t fit perfectly into the little boxes we’re all supposed to occupy. It’s short-sighted. And cowardly, too. Plus, you should have a choice, not have to be so snivellingly grateful for a jobthat you put up with working for people like that,’ she added. ‘And if you have the audacity to have any principles, well, you need to forget those pretty sharpish. It’s very easy to have morals and principles when you’re wealthy, and virtually impossible if you’re not. It’s just plain wrong, on every level.’ She shook her head in disgust, catching William’s eye as she did so. He looked astonished by her outburst. ‘Sorry,’ she said. ‘I’m ranting. Things like this make me so angry.’
‘Oh, I agree with you,’ replied William, giving Frankie a curious look which, unaccountably, made her blush.
‘I agree with you too,’ added Tam. ‘It’s an impossible situation.’
Frankie smiled. ‘And me ranting doesn’t help you either. I wish I could think of something which would. What will you do?’
Tam shrugged. ‘Look for another job. And keep myself busy in the meantime. I’ve been over to Beth’s today, giving Jack some help with the farm. There probably aren’t enough hours in the day for everything he wants to do there, but at least now I might be able to give him a few more.’
‘Beth mentioned you’d been over,’ said Frankie. ‘In fact, mentioned isn’t quite the right word. Talked about you in very glowing terms would be more appropriate. You’ve made a big difference to Jack’s life, you know. I’m not sure if you’re aware quite how much it means to him, and Beth.’
‘It’s made a big difference to me too,’ replied Tam. ‘Losing my business was like losing the most important part of myself, the part which sustained everything else. And the fact that it was ripped out from under me…’ He broke off, and Frankie could see the rigid tension in his jaw. ‘So, getting back out on the land has been a joy. Despite what’s happened today, I’m really looking forward to going back there. I’ve missed that sense of optimism, of excitement.’ His face suddenly fell. ‘Don’t mention the job thing to Beth though, will you?’
‘I won’t if you don’t want me to,’ replied Frankie. ‘But why ever not?’
‘Because I know she feels she ought to pay me for the work I do, and I don’t want her to feel awkward about it. They can’t afford it and they’re going to need every spare penny if they want to make the farm a going concern again. But I know Beth – if she finds out I’ve lost my job, she’ll feel even worse, and I don’t want to put her in a difficult situation. I don’t spend much, and I still have some of this month’s salary left. I’ll be okay.’
‘But what will you do for food? I know you used to have at least one meal while you were at work.’ She watched as Tam tried to formulate an answer, knowing that he would want to spare their feelings by insisting he’d get by. She frowned. ‘Wait a minute…you said you walked out. What time was this? Tam, have you actually hadanythingto eat today?’
He looked up, mouth open, but then glanced away, too embarrassed to reply.
‘Tam…’ Frankie felt terrible. ‘Why didn’t you say something? You’re among friends here, and in case you hadn’t noticed, countless loaves of bread and an abundance of pastries too. What would you like?’
‘You honestly don’t have to do this, Frankie. It’s very kind of you, but?—’
Tam didn’t get any further as his stomach suddenly let out a loud growl. Frankie’s hand went to her mouth and for a moment she wasn’t sure what to say. She glanced at William, only to see that he was trying desperately hard not to laugh.
‘Well, that’s your argument right out the window,’ he said, grinning. ‘Betrayed by your own stomach…’
Tam groaned. ‘I don’t believe that just happened,’ he said. He shook his head in amusement. ‘Talk about timing…’
‘Your stomach obviously knows what’s good for it,’ said Frankie.
