Pat

"Hi May!" said Pat, the cleaning staff, as she walked into my wee office this evening, like she always does since i got acquainted with her.

"I'm going to leave you May.." this sounded tragic and made me turned around more quickly from the PC screen to face her, ".. this Friday's my last day here."

"Oh? That's soon, I thought you won't leave until December?" i asked, feeling slightly confused and disappointed.

Pat emptied the contents of my waste bin (consisting of the foil i used to wrap my homemade sandwich; tissue napkins; perhaps 2 tea-bags etc... why am i telling you guys about my trash?!) into the large plastic bag that was already filled with other people's unwanted trash.

"We all got shifted out.. the evening staff. I've gotta go opposite along those old buildings now. They're getting morning staff here next week." Pat explained.

"Oh? that's a rather short notice" i responded.

"Ay, and the boys are angry with the arrangement and are blam'in the supervisor, Aileen. one of 'em's been rude to her. and she's just pass'n on the notice from the boss." she continued.

"Hmm" was all i could offer. of all the staff in the university, i think the cleaners get treated really badly. ... and they do the difficult chores... i feel sorry for Pat and the others; perhaps more sorry that i could be of no help to their plight and their being pushed about under the whims of the administration....

"At least you still have the job" i remarked. Pat's turning 65 on Thursday and the new rule is that none of the cleaners are allowed to carry on after their 65th birthday even if they are fit enough to do so. Fortunately for Pat, she was asked to stay on for the next 6 months (afterwhich another 6 months' contract might ensue, but nobody is certain) and she's glad for it. i admire her zeal for wanting to carry on until she feels she can't.

"Ay!" she beamed, clearly grateful for her situation., "my daughter and her husband was wondering if i could take Thursday off.."

"Ahh, yes it's your birthday, no?" i asked, not being absolutely sure... although i remembered her having mentioned it to me last week.

"yup... they're wanting to take me out for dinner, but i dunnie knoe if i can; y'see you need to giv a week's notice." she continued.

"that's a shame" i said, "but it's nice of them to ask!"

Pat smiled and then after some thought said, "i'll ask Aileen and see what she says.."

i nodded my head in agreement. she was about to leave my wee room but stopped to say "well, I'll still see you this week!" before darting into the neighbouring rooms to empty the bins.

"yup...see you Pat!" i shouted out to her, feeling yet another tug on my chest.

posted by ~overacuppa~ on Monday, 14 June, 2004 at 20:33 hrs