"You are up shit creek, David. And I don't mean without a paddle. I mean without a canoe."
Mike had been David's accountant for years and was extremely concerned for his friend. As they studied the numbers from David's car audio business, all the trends were down.
"Its the Internet. All these low margin fly-by-nighters. And new cars come out with such good hi-fi systems that the owners don't need to upgrade them."
Mike looked at his friend and was even more worried. The David he had known two years ago wouldn't have complained about his problems, he would have done something about them. David's appearance also concerned him. He had put on a lot of weight, his clothes were old and increasingly disheveled. Mike knew that David lived by himself in a rundown room above his car audio business. He had stopped inviting David for meals after his wife complained that he was half drunk when he arrived.
"David, we've got to get your sales on the up. I know a marketing consultant who would do a great job."
"Mike, you know I can't afford the fees those people will hit me for."
Mike nodded. "There is an alternative. At the college the graduate students in marketing have to put in three months practical experience part-time. I know they are looking for positions for students right now."
David and Mike interviewed three applicants. The first was a confident young man who took one look around David's premises and said that he was looking for a position with a multi-national. The second was another young man who sent and received text messages throughout the interview.
The third was Gabrielle. After the first two interviews David wasn't confident. Gabrielle was tall with orange-red hair tied in a tight unflattering bun. She had a gaunt look.
She was thin and gawky, had prominent cheekbones and large green eyes which were accentuated by her white skin. She wore an ankle length loose dress. It seemed to David that she was all skin and bones with no figure at all.
Gabrielle was extremely nervous and didn't smile during the interview. Her lips were tight and narrow. At times she looked almost haunted. She spoke in a very measured, restrained way.
"It'll have to be Gabrielle," said Mike afterwards. "She likes music, she's bright and is recommended by her professor."
"Mike, she's so nervous she can hardly talk. And what the hell can a kid like that teach me about this business?"
Mike was fed-up with David's negativity.
"Someone's going to have to teach you about this business. And Gabrielle is the only one you can afford."
Mike's irritation was aroused. "And lay off the booze David. It's killing you."
David didn't know what a marketing student would do, but gave her a desk and computer in his office. Each had politely said good morning to each other and David had shown Gabrielle his very basic facilities. Gabrielle wore a another long, loose skirt and a shapeless jersey. He did notice two slim ankles.
Gabrielle settled down to work at her computer. Her golden-red hair was drawn into an untidy bun so tightly that her hair seemed more like a skull cap.
She asked David about his computer file structures. He started to go into a detailed description but quickly she interrupted.
"I can see how it works," she said and turned her back to him.
He noticed how she tried to avoid looking him in the face.
David was busy tidying his showroom. When Gabrielle arrived he had been embarrassed at how untidy everything was. When he returned to the office, Gabrielle was gone.
"What the hell has she done for all that money I'll be paying her?" wondered David.
Later in the afternoon Gabrielle's professor came to David's workshop.
"I just wanted to talk a bit about Gabrielle.
"Gabrielle is one of the best students I have taught for years. She will be a great asset for your business.
"But David," the professor looked at him sadly. "Gabrielle is a troubled young lady. It's none of my business, nor any of yours, to know what has happened to her. Just please understand that she is very fragile."
"Holy hell," thought David. "Two emotional cripples in the same place. And it has to be my place."
GABRIELLE'S STORY
Gabrielle couldn't remember her father. He had left when she was two and had soon remarried and moved to the other side of the country. Her mother was a withdrawn woman, who always seemed to feel she was suffering life's worst misfortunes and blamed other people for it, usually Gabrielle.
She had a constantly harassed expression which made Gabrielle feel guilty, as though her mother's unhappiness was her fault. Her mother reinforced this, often moaning at her, saying that Gabrielle should do more to help, how she should understand how difficult her life was.
Gabrielle had a lonely childhood. Her mother's miserable demeanour meant that other children didn't like to come to her house. Whenever Gabrielle said she wanted to visit friends, her mother said she didn't approve.
When Gabrielle was 12 her mother gave her some very explicit sex advice.
She showed Gabrielle a life sized picture of an erect penis.
"This what every man will want to stick inside you Gabrielle. However nice you might think he is, whatever he says, rest assured. All he wants to you is stick his disgusting thing inside you. Then dump you when he's had his way. Just like your father did to me."
Gabrielle was horrified by the picture. The vein covered lump of flesh revolted her.
She agreed willingly to her mother's demands that she did not go out with boys, let alone be touched by one.
But in her last year at school a change occurred. Gabrielle's girl friends were interested in boys. When Gabrielle met them in a group at cafes she enjoyed the company. She started to mistrust her mother.
These boys were nice and good fun to be with. She went to the movies with a group, telling her mother it was just with girls.
Her best friend was Maxie a a vivacious girl who always wore shorter skirts than the others. Maxie was in a steady relationship with Bob and Gabrielle felt envious when she saw them holding hands.
She was surprised when Maxie told her how she had been on holiday with with Bob's family, how she and Bob shared a bedroom with Bob's parents' encouragement and how Bob had "done his best to fuck my ass off for two weeks."
"Gay, it was so great," breathed Maxie. "I had orgasms every day."
"Didn't Bob's parents mind?"
"God no. From the groans coming from their bedroom his mother must have come as many times as I did."
