To the staff.
The public.
Stakeholders.
Anyone and everyone.
This guy works in a public botanical garden, and I have never seen an ounce of dirt on him. He’s got a way of managing from a distance, always present but never quite accountable.
“Um, hey,” I say, stepping into his office, feeling that low, familiar wave of anxiety that usually arrives when I talk to Mark. He’s not exactly the type of manager to raise his voice, so I don’t fear him in that way, but he’s one to ask a lot of his staff. Usually me.
Always you, Elodie.
And if you asked Sam, he would tell you I’m a pushover, but I would say it’s more… keeping the peace.
“Sam said you wanted to speak to me?” I ask him, taking a seat in front of his desk. I fold my hands under my legs and feel my shoulders hunch in on themselves.
“Right, yes!” he says, wheeling his chair over to a stack of papers.
“So,” he turns to face me, “Kate’s phoned in sick for the rest of the week."
I nod, waiting.
I know what’s coming before he even says it.
“I’m a bit stuck for cover,” he continues. “I know it’s short notice, but I was wondering if you’d be able to come in tomorrow. You know, just for the day.” He continues writing something down on the sheet in front of him. Not even glancing at me to gauge my reaction.
Tomorrow.
My day off.
And it’s not like I had any plans. I mean, I rarely have any plans, really. That’s probably why he always asks me.
I hesitate only for a second. Long enough to feel the weight of it, enough to remember that I had actually been looking forward to doing absolutely nothing. Itisextra cash, though, and God knows I need it. And if I say no, like I tried to do last time, he will give me hell for a week and make life miserable.
“It’s fine,” I hear myself say aloud. “I can do it.”
And I wonder, not for the first time, what it would be like to choose something without weighing how it might inconvenience someone else.
The thought passes as quickly as it comes.
Wondering changes nothing.
Mark looks at me. Relief crossing his face immediately. “Brilliant! I knew I could count on you.”
He always says this. I think he believes I take it as a term of endearment. But I know he’d replace me in a heartbeat if he needed to.
“Same hours?” I ask.
“Perfect,” he’s already turning to his laptop screen.
“I owe you one, Elodie,” he winks at me. I smile because that’s what I always do. The number of times he’s told me he ‘owes me one’ is likely higher than my weekly pay.
But I love my job. I do, so it’s worth it.
“No problem.” I stand up from the chair, making my way towards the door before Mark adds,
“Oh, one last thing. Kate was supposed to cut back the overgrowth at the outer boundary today. Do you think you can handle that?” he says, connecting his hands together and resting them on his desk.
