She Been Drankin’

Click! Click! Click! On my way up to my office, I hear the front door open.  As I look over the Victorian cherry oak balcony that curves from top to the bottom step like that of Gone with the Wind, I see a disarrayed, but beautifully familiar face.  She stood about 5’4,” slender, but not lanky.  She had dark features with honey-ombre hair.  I look at my Bulova watch my daddy got me years ago for Christmas.  I have had this watch for so long that the center diamondoid just above the 12 o’clock has fallen out.  I have yet to replace it and I don’t really think I ever will.

“Good Morning, Sunshine!” I say in my chipper, energetic tone!

“Good Morning, Ms. James.”  Salina blurts back with a smile and just as much enthusiasm as I tossed her way.  Salina Chavez and I have an awesome relationship.  I really don’t hound her about punching her time card (although, today, she was there by 11 o’clock, which has to be a month’s best).  It is hard being a single mom of one–Salina is a single mother of two.  Her oldest child is a little boy just turning three years old.  Now, Salina has just had her second child–a little girl.  Both are my god-children.  Salina and I went down, together, to have birth control inserted.  Nothing is 100%, but at least we can increase the odds in our favor.  With her current situation in mind, I allow her schedule to be more flexible.  I refuse to punish her based upon her mistakes.  it is hard enough to get adults to run like clock-work.  It’s darn-near impossible to get babies to.  So, I trust her on her own honor to ensure that I get my 40-hour work week from her.  She has been faithful and true for the past 3 years.  I refuse to let her go now.

Salina runs up the stairs to catch up with me. “How’s everything going? Where’s the boss lady?” she asks in an out of breath voice.

Without looking up and still sorting mail on my way down the hall to my office, I reply “The boss lady isn’t here.  We know this because the boss man isn’t doing any work.”

“You mean he actually WORKS when she is here?”  Salina said sarcastically.  We both let out a chuckle and continued to our respective offices.  Salina’s office is not so much an office as it is the vestibule of my office.  In order for me to enter, or leave, my office, I must venture by Salina’s desk.  Salina is still considered a new mom.  However, she loves her children.  Her office is decorated with family-of-three photos in collages all over the walls.  Periodically, you can pass by her desk and see a withered dandelion her son has picked for her and given to her.  She places it on her desk as if it was a bouquet of fresh-cut, long-stem roses.  I think that is why I adore her so.  We have the heart that cherishes the little things in life–the free, thought-gifts are far more priceless and valued than diamonds picked up along the way.

Ring! Ring!  

“Howell, Howell, Keith and Knotch.”  Salina answered the phone. “Uh huh.  Yes.  Ms. Howell is unavailable at the..Yes..”  Whomever is calling is really giving Salina the what-for.  “I’m sorry, Ms. Miller, Ms. Howell is not in at the moment.  I will give her your message.  Can you please give me your number?” pause “Was it male or female? Okay, that was Ms. James.  Wait.  Let me check. (paper rustling) I have your message right here.  I will be sure she gets it as soon as she gets…Uh huh.  Yes, Ma’am.  I promise I will. Yes Ms. Miller.  Yes..okay.  Bye Bye.”  Salina places the phone on its base and sighs.  I can hear her chair move, so I know what is about to happen.

I stop typing and look up awaiting Salina to enter my office. Salina stands in the door and stares at me with a look of total bewilderment.  I look at her.

“Ms. Miller sounds like she’s been drankin’,  don’t she?”