Mmm, negligence

Jennifer hasn’t spoken to Barbara in a week or so.  Jennifer called Rachel last night to see if she could babysit.  Barbara was on the phone and neither of them knew it.  Jennifer said it would only be until ten, then Rachel could leave.  The thing is, Jennifer wasn’t going to be back at ten.  “Well, they’ll just go to sleep after that,” she explained.  Then Brenda cut in and blew up at her about not taking care of her kids.  Jennifer got defensive, said, “I’m not talking to you about this.  I got somebody else to watch them.”   

 This has court case written all over it.

Cs make degrees

Barbara was talking to Rachel about her failing grades.  Rachel’s excuse was “I was tired, I didn’t feel like doing it.”  And Barbara accepted that.  I’m not saying she was happy about it, but she didn’t scold her or anything.  Granted, none of this should be happening on the phone while she’s at work, but…

That's why teachers earn the big bucks

Barbara’s talking about a five year old that she knows who “talks big.”  Barbara was surprised to hear her say that school was going to be “exciting.”  Eventually, Barbara said that she doesn’t even think the little girl is in preschool.  “I think her mom teaches her stuff.”  She said it like she was shocked at the concept.   

Concerned for the wrong reason

Barbara is giving Rachel the third degree about why she got a B on her AP Econ test.  She is wondering how she was able to get such a high grade when she is doing so poorly in the class.  I’m glad it was always the opposite with my parents. 

Machine Gun Eileen

An older co-worker speaks like machine gun bursts.  She won’t wait her turn.  I find conversations go like this;

“Hey, older co-worker,”

Yessir

“I finished with the”

Oh you finished awesome

“stuff you needed me to do but”

Uhoh is there a problem

“I have a question about this address on”

Which one? That one?

“The last one.  Should I use”

Whyntcha just do it as is and I’ll let them correct me?

“The full P.O. box or just a partial since it doesn’t fit?”  

It's exhausting 

Tidbits

Barbara thinks her fish is smart because he floats to the surface when she gets the food out at the same time every day.  

So Jennifer left her kids alone the other day.  One of the neighbor kids came over and Sebastian ended up with two staples in his head because he "fell off a stool."  Now there is talk at the apartment complex of calling CPS.  

We just taught Barbara how to copy/paste on her computer.  First we had to teach her how to right click.  Forget about keyboard shortcuts.

Barbara is asking Rachel about her grades.  The funny part is, Barbara can’t even pronounce most of the classes she’s asking her about. Microkenomics?  Not sure I’m familiar with that one.  

Terry showed us some family photos he had taken at a department store.  I could have taken more appealing pictures of salted meats. 

Down goes Sherri

Barbara - Sherri sprang [sic] both her ankles!

She did, according to at least one doctor, sprain both her ankles.  This is round one of what will go on to be a very rocky relationship between Sherri and her employment. 

Character Introduction

Sherri

The receptionist.  A strange position for a department that has no other contact with customers directly, she answers phones and possibly greets visitors.  Sherri is a short woman with long, poofy, gray hair and some children who are too old to be living at home.  If she misses a day of work, Barbara fills in the role.  I've already seen two new receptionists in the time I've been here.  There's friction. 

La sal de la tierra

The guys who came to clean windows in the office, not the outside windows, but the windows that separate us from our superiors, they have interesting conversation.  They were talking about how strange it would be to see the people they work with in a suit.  Apparently, they think the only places you should wear a suit are funerals.  One of them said, “Like, what if Hector fell off the roof tomorrow and we all had to go to his funeral.  Do you think Dave would wear a suit?  I just can’t picture it.”

The other one chimed in, “No, but Hector wouldn’t have a funeral.”

“That’s true.  He doesn’t exist.  What do they do with illegal Mexicans?”

“I don’t know, man.”

“They prolly just throw ‘em in the river.”

This is a quiet office.

A regular June Cleaver

Over the phone, Barbara is telling Jennifer to be a better mother.  That seems like appropriate work conversation. 

This is what Jennifer said, “How am I supposed to make my kids sleep.  I put them in their rooms so how am I supposed to know if they’re sleeping or not?”  What a mother.  And yes, she talks loudly enough for me to hear her. 

She says CPS “Won’t find nothin’” on her.  She’s a “good” mother and always there for her kids.  She went out to eat (drink was implied) last night and left the kids alone. 

“My friends are the only ones who keep me going?” Jennifer said.  What about her children?

Character Introduction

Jennifer

 

It's not unusual to know things about coworkers' families.  For example, the name of her oldest child (Jennifer), how old she is (30 something), where she lives (a block from Barbara), how many children she has (four; 11 (Kaylee), 8 (Daniel), 4 (Felipe), and 2 (Sebastian)).  
There are some things, however, that I was surprised to find out.  For instance, the father of Jennifer's children has been deported because he was here illegally.  Or that these children are often left to fend for themselves when Jennifer goes out.  It seems, or rather seemed, that these were things that should be kept to one's self.  Luckily for me, this isn't always the case. 

Not here, not like this

 Terry got a call from some sort of collector.  I didn’t know what kind because I didn’t ask.  But he was very short with her and told her to stop harassing him at work.  The call ended quickly.  Apparently, this woman had previously been rude to his wife.  And I don’t know his wife, but from what I know of her, I am pretty sure the rudeness went both ways.   

A couple days later, he was on the phone to the newspaper to cancel their subscription because they are being overcharged.   He got snippy like he does so I told him so.  For somebody who worked in a call center, he was surprisingly rude. 

Then

His wife emails him and tells him to cancel his cancellation.  So now he has to call back the same person and reopen his subscription.  Immediate karmic revenge.