Page 6 of Autumn at the Oak Leaf Café
‘I’m fascinated. At my age my next haircut will probably be my last, so I want to get some mileage out of it first. You look like a bit of a hair person. Why don’t you come in and give me some tips?’ She glanced up at the sky and frowned. ‘Looks like it’s going to rain. Your only other food options are Pete’s van down on the south side, but he’s probably gone home, or that hideous fast-food place up around the corner. I’ll trade you lunch for some beauty tips.’
‘I don’t know any beauty tips—’
‘Oh, you do.’ The woman grinned. ‘Look at you. I can see the world in you, and that’s more beautiful than anything else.’
Madeline choked back a sudden, unexpected sob. ‘Oh.’
‘Dear, what’s wrong? Come inside and tell Angela your problems over something filled with sugar and maple syrup.’
Two and a half hours and several cups of sugary coffee later, Madeline was leaning over a window table, telling Angela in intricate detail about a bus journey down through the hills of Vietnam.
‘And we were like, this far from the edge of this ravine,’ she said, hands held close together. ‘It was like a computer game. It’s this dirt road, and we’re just hacking it round these corners, swinging out over the sides, and no one seemed remotely concerned. And then we suddenly come to a stop in the middle of nowhere. The driver just gets out and wanders into this wooden shack, so one by one we all get off. And I swear, all they had inside this shed place was a big freezer filled with ice-cream.’
Angela gave a fluttery laugh. ‘Oh, that sounds so exciting. I’m going to have to get Greg to take me there after we’re done with India. He wants to go up to Norway and see the fjords. I think he’s only doing the hippy trail to humour me. He just wants to spend three months buying jackets and sunglasses. Men, aren’t they so dull?’
‘I don’t currently have one. That’s one of the tragedies of moving from country to country.’
‘Ah, love them and leave them. That’s the way you want to do it when you’re young. Play the field and all that. You’ve heard of the secretary problem, haven’t you?’
‘Ah, no.’
‘It’s a statistical theory. It used to be called the marriage problem, but then people got a little gas in their bellies about that. Although perhaps these days it should be the P.A. problem, ho hum.’ Before Madeline could reply, Angela held up a hand. ‘You’re interviewing for a job, and you have to reject or select based on each person’s ability, without knowing the ability of the rest. You only get one chance, and you can’t go back.’
‘Right….’
‘So, the way the formula works, is that you should reject the first thirty-seven percent, regardless of how impressive they are, then you should hire the very next person you interview who is better than anyone in the first thirty-seven percent.’
‘So what that means is—’
‘Let’s say you’re looking for someone to marry, and you’re willing to … let’s say,investigatea hundred people in total.’
‘Oh, my—’
‘Well, dump the first thirty-seven, regardless. Then pick the first one after that, who’s better than the first lot. And that person will be the perfect person to marry. It’s a proven theory.’
‘I’m not quite sure I’m there yet.’
‘Oh, if you’re a little shy, you can divide your totals a little, perhaps date three people and give the fourth just a peck on the cheek. But, as someone a little higher up the age tree than you, I’d suggest you play the field a little longer. Enjoy yourself.’
‘Right.’ Madeline finished the last of her latte and made to stand up. ‘It’s been so lovely to talk to you, Angela, but I’m staying with my dad and he’s going to start wondering where I am. I haven’t sorted a phone out yet, so I’d better get back.’
Angela rubbed her hands together. ‘So, I’ll see you tomorrow?’
‘Tomorrow?’
‘For your training. I can’t leave my café in the hands of someone untrained, can I?’
‘Oh, about the—’
Angela tilted her head and smiled. ‘That’s why you came, isn’t it? To apply for the job? You were staring at the advertisement in the window so hard I thought you were trying to move it with your eyes.’
‘Yes, that’s right, I did. I just need something to tie me over for a while. But don’t you have to interview other candidates? Uh, like thirty-seven or so?’
Angela shook her head. ‘Nope, you’ll do. See you tomorrow.’
5
Training
