Leaf flips the toggle switch forward and says, “Number, please.”
She can’t possibly do this for hours straight without a break. Can she?
It turns out, Leaf truly can.
And she’s exceptionally good at what she does. I know why Louise placed me with her today. Once we remove our headsets and stand from our chairs, I realize how sore my backside is. My eyes are burning from the intense focus it takes to stare at the board. A small headache is building, making my temples pulsate, and the silence in the large room doesn’t help the situation. It’s rather severe. Every movement sounds far too loud.
If I wasn’t so focused on watching Leaf and learning everything she did, I would’ve fainted out of fear for breathing too loudly. But not once did I think of the past or look for Asa. So I’ll take my watery eyes and headache and wear them like badges of honor.
I follow Leaf down the first-floor hall. We pass numerous closed doors. One has Louise’s name on it, although I don’t know why she has her own office, considering she appears to spend the majority of her time on the floor, slowly walking up and down observing the ladies with a sharp eye.
“You’re very good at what you do,” I say.
Leaf beams. “Thank you. It’s exhaustin’, but I enjoy makin’ my own money.”
I nod. “How long have you worked here?”
“Six months.”
My eyes widen. I was expecting her to say something different; she controlled the panel as though she’s been here since the building opened.
“I’m not certain I believe you,” I say with a hint of humor.
She shrugs sheepishly. “I’m quite fascinatin’ by the mechanics of objects. I took apart my first clock when I was nine.”
“My goodness.”
With earnest eyes, she looks at me. “I’d love to be a technician for Southern Bell.”
I nod at her, my eyes just as earnest as hers. “That’s wonderful.”
“I heard someone from the second floor say that by 1921, the first Bell Laboratories Panel Switching System will be installed. It’s a technical wonder. It will greatly help the dial system.”
I don’t know what she means, but, once again, I nod. The two of us are quiet for a moment, with only the sound of our heels clicking on the ceramic tile floors. The ivory walls are bare, with only cast iron radiators placed against the wall.
The environment in this location of the building is peaceful. People walk at a slower pace; smiles are earned far easier.
Leaf stops in front of a door that has papers taped to the frosted glass. One is a poster from World War I of a woman holding a receiver to her ear. She has a golden crown on her head and is draped in a Grecian robe. In bold font are the words: HELLO! This is Lady Liberty Speaking.
Another is a handwritten sign that says NO SMOKING.
Leaf spots me reading the posters and sighs and says, “Oh, you will want to smoke after a long shift here. Trust me.”
She breezes into the room, and wordlessly, I follow her. The sitting room where the ladies come to relax and eat is surprisingly nice. There are tables and chairs scattered throughout and a single couch in front of the one lone window.
I’m surprised to see there’s close to thirty ladies sitting in the room. Most are quietly talking to one another. Others nibble on their food while they read books or newspapers. I can’t say that I blame them for wanting a bit of silence. My brain feels so contorted; I don’t think I could carry longer than a five-minute conversation even if I had to.
Upon entering the room, Leaf goes directly to the table pushed against the left wall. Spread across it is a humble assortment of food and drinks. Sweet tea, water. There are beans, bread, grits with butter right beside the large bowl.
I could eat the grits alone and be plenty full.
I follow behind Leaf, grabbing one of the plates stacked on the side.
“The ladies will usually bring dishes in each day. So there’s a variety of food to choose from.”
I nod, my gaze on the food. The amount of food is surprising and makes my stomach grumble. I make my plate and follow Leaf to a table where two ladies are eating.
Rather than sitting down to eat, Leaf walks over to a board that’s covered in pages and intently stares at a paper in front of her while she slowly chews on a piece of bread.
“What is that?” I ask.
Leaf never takes her eyes from the board as she replies, “If you want to keep this job, watch this board.”
“Why?”
“Because you discover what rule the last girl broke that led to her bein’ fired,” a lady says to my right as she places her plate on the table.
She holds her hand out for me. “I’m Susan.”
“I’m Na—”
“Nathalie,” Susan interjects. “Yes, we all know. Louise informed us yesterday that you would be joinin’ us.” As she sits down, she gestures to the lady beside her. “This is Judy, my cousin.”
The girl next to Susan nods, eyes wide. “We like to call that the warnin’ board.”
“The warnin’ board,” I repeat.
I want to laugh, but the way Susan and Judy solemnly nod at me make me think better of it. Leaf snorts and walks back to the table.
“What was the infraction?” Susan asks.
“Two minutes late to her shift,” Leaf says.
Susan and Judy exchange looks, before Susan looks at me. “There is leniency. A five-minute grace period, but Louise has become less tolerant, and firin’ this last girl is an example.”
I nod, eager to listen to whatever advice they might give me.
A short, skinny man with spectacles walks into the room. He has a frantic energy about him, as though he has so much he needs to do and far too little time.
Immediately, Susan walks right up to him. From the way his eyes bore into the assortment of food, I’m guessing this isn’t the first time Susan has accosted him and he’s doing everything in his power to avoid her.
“Floyd, I cannot work next to Holly. When she reaches for the switches, her elbow nearly takes my eye out.” To make her point, Susan points below her left eye. “I think I have a shiner. Right here.”
“I understand, but you’re such a great worker. No one can handle Holly like you.”
“But I’m takin’ less calls.”
“I understand, I understand. I want to speak about this more, but I have to go.”
“But—”
“Truly, we will discuss this. But for now, let’s just put a pin in this.” He pretends to hold a sewing pin between his fingers and stabs the air. “Boop. There we go.”
“But—”
“Boop,” he repeats louder, with the same wide smile on his face. It escapes none of the ladies that the entire time he’s slowly retreating toward the door.
Before Susan can state her case further, Floyd slips out of the room. He’s probably running down the hall, back to his office.
No one seems all that surprised by Floyd’s abrupt departure. Susan merely shakes her head, as though she’s a mother who’s disappointed in her child’s actions and everyone else continues eating.
“Floyd is Louise’s boss. But…” Leaf lets her words fade and shakes her head.