My name is Gwyneth--Gwyn for short--and for lack of a better term, I am a caregiver.
Before lockdown, I used to work in marketing. Every morning I would get up and commute to one of those big glass and steel buildings down in the City. It was a horribly stressful job that I hated, but the money was fair, and everyone always nodded approvingly when I told them where I worked. However, when things collapsed during the pandemic, I, like millions of others, found myself with plenty of free time to question my life choices. This is when I decided to become a caregiver, sort of.
At first, I tried to become a proper caregiver--you know like the ones who work with old people in care homes. So, I volunteered to work at a care home down the street from my flat, but the work was physically and emotionally hard, not to mention that the management was terrible and the pay even worse. I only lasted a month there, before I quit and had to rethink my plans again. There must be some way I can help people while enjoying what I do and making a decent living at it to boot. Eventually, after a somewhat awkward trial and error period I wouldn't want to bore you with, I hit on my current job.
I got off the bus with my work bag in hand and made my way through one of the many green leafy parks that dot North London to my first stop of the day. It was still early, and aside from a few people out for a run, I had the whole place to myself. Overnight, a heavy dew, left the endless green lawns slick and wet--which in my profession is always a good sign.
'Beep, beep, beep,' my watch sounded.
"Mrs Addison hates it when I am late," I chastised myself before I began to walk a little faster. I quickly crossed the park and exited onto a residential street lined with large, red brick, family homes.
"Ah, there it is, number 37," I said to myself as I nonchalantly as possible turned and walked up the carpark to the house door and rang the bell. In the reflection off the glass panel set in the heavy wooden door, I quickly checked my appearance, smoothed down my shoulder length dirty blond hair and reapplied my red lipstick.
A few seconds passed and from inside the house came the sound of what sounded like someone arguing.
I braced myself to run, or at least lie if I needed too.
With a swift jerk, the front door of the house was pulled open and there stood a tall thin, serious looking woman, with dark hair and sharp features. She wore a white silk, work blouse and black skirt that stopped just above her naked knees. It was Mrs. Addison.
"We have a signed contract, and if you, and your damn employer cannot meet the terms of the contract you two signed, then I am afraid you leave us no choice," she barked into the headset she wore that was attached to the phone in her hand.
Without breaking stride, Mrs. Addison reached out and grabbed me by the back of my arm, pulled me into her house, and slammed her front door.
"No, we are not interested in arbitration," she barked in a short clip tone, before motioning with her hand that who ever she was talking too must be crazy by twirling her finger around her ear.
"I can come back," I mouthed silently.
"No," she mouthed back and wagged her index finger at me. "Of course, we've read the contract! Have you?" she shouted down the line. Mrs. Addison rolled her eyes and then beckoned me to follow.
As quietly as I possibly could, I followed her through her immaculate house to her home office. The room was easily the size of my whole living room with a full desk with several monitors, book lined walls, several leather chairs, and a full leather couch. She took a seat on the couch. "No, no, no. I am not calling the port authority on your behalf," she rolled her eyes again and pointed towards a notepad and pen on her desk.
I set my bag down and grabbed the notepad and pen off her desk and handed it to her.
"Just give me the damn number, but I am charging you for this," she grumbled, before she jotted the phone number down.
I stood awkwardly in the middle of the room and waited for her call to end.
"Yes...Yes...Of course not...." She rolled her eyes at the caller on the other end. It went like this for several seconds before she motioned for me to take my jacket off and hang it up on the coat hook near the door.