Once I’ve accomplished everything I need to do here, all will be peaceful in my life.
And I’ll never need to pretend again.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Nathalie
“Number, please.”
“Young lady, lady! Stay on the line,” says a deep voice. It’s a thick, yet remarkably fictitious English accent. It can only belong to one caller. I’ve dubbed him ‘the Duke.’
“Number please,” I repeat, my tone cordial as though this is the first time we’re having a conversation and not the sixth since I’ve been working as an operator.
“I need the number to the White House.”
Oh, this one is new.
“I know the date when the world will end,” the Duke announces.
“Is that so?” I say, my tone amiable.
“Yes, I’ve known for quite some time, and no one has listened to me, therefore I need to speak with President Wilson.”
“Of course,” I say in agreement. “Central or eastern time?” I ask.
“Central, of course.”
From the corner of my eye, I look to the clock on the wall. I have five minutes until my shift ends and it can’t come soon enough. My lower back is aching in places I didn’t know it could hurt. My buttocks went numb hours ago. I’m fairly certain if I stand, my legs will wobble for half a second before I get my bearings. Tension gathers in the back of my neck and travels up my skull. I know I’ll be falling asleep with a cool cloth over my eyes tonight. And when I do, I will feel a sense of satisfaction because I went out and did something productive. I know I’m not on the exact path I should take, but I’m keeping one foot in front of the other and that’s far better than what my existence was at Brignac House.
“Bother it! It’s far too late now. I shall call back tomorrow,” the Duke says. Without a goodbye, the line cuts off.
With a brief shake of my head, I remove the line from one jack and place it into another and flip the switch. “Number, please.”
As I listen to the caller, I watch the switchboard and the lights. All day it remains this bright. You would think closer to the night it would dim, but people come home for the day. That’s when they want to make their calls. We receive more calls at night. I think that’s the overwhelming part. You can answer a hundred calls in a day and it’s not enough.
For not one second will I admit that Étienne was right.
This job is excruciating.
And it only took me two weeks to come to that conclusion.
Quite honestly, I’m surprised I’ve lasted this long. I believe it’s determination to understand every requirement of this job that keeps me going. Like everything, the newness is wearing off. And the realization that I will have to do this, day in and out, for hours is sinking in.
But if I quit, I can clearly see Étienne’s smile. He can be quite smug when he is right.
Serene’s words echo in my head, loud and clear, The greatest act of rebellion a woman can make is knowing her worth.
I am worthy of this work. Every protest from my muscles is proof of that.
Besides, there is a part of me that is far too stubborn to quit now. I still need to win the approval of Louise. She leaves no room for error. When you think she’s not looking, she still manages to see your mistakes. How? I don’t know. She doesn’t take kindly to having to repeat herself, and I’m convinced she was born with her light brown hair pulled back in a tight bun, and brows drawn together.
However, she says nothing to anyone if everything runs smoothly. I’ve begun to realize those days are few and far between and when they happen, I should cherish them.
I take two more calls before I hear Louise’s voice. “Shift change.”
If ladies are taking calls, they remain in place; if not, we take off our headsets and push back our seats, making as little noise as possible.
The moment I stand, my entire body uncoils and sighs with relief. I roll my neck and stop myself from sighing. Leaf, who looks just as tired as me, stands beside me. We follow the rest of the operators, passing the ladies who will take our positions for the night. The moment we’re out of the large room and in the hallway, conversation erupts.
Leaf immediately turns to me. “I think I might fall asleep on my walk home.”
“You are not givin’ me much hope that this job gets easier.”
“Because it doesn’t,” Susan dryly chimes in.
Crossing her arms, Leaf leans against the wall and yawns. She looks as though she’s going to fall asleep right there, before she jerks upright.
“Are you walkin’ home with us?” Leaf asks me.
For the past week, I’ve been walking home with Leaf, Susan and her cousin, Judy. Livingston takes me to work and offers to pick me up, but I feel as though I am a burden.
“Of course.”
“Although, your brother can pick you up if he feels ever so inclined,” Susan says. Beside her, Judy nods, with wide eyes.
Leaf nudges her. “Her brother is an engaged man, you hussy!”
Susan smiles wickedly. “He’s engaged. Not dead!”
“Ladies, over here!” Louise raises a hand and snaps her fingers. We all quiet down as Louise quietly begins to pass out envelopes to each of us from her trusted clipboard. When she stops at me, I’m so exhausted that for a moment I accept it without knowing what it is and then it occurs to me. Another paycheck.
Around me, the ladies begin to disperse, but I’m far too excited not to see what’s inside.
I rip open the envelope, my lips curving into a small smile. I look at the amount. It’s the same as last week.
Fifteen dollars.
My smile fades. I worked over eleven hours a day. I’ve had one day off a week, for the last two weeks, and I only have thirty dollars to show for it. My bones feel heavier than they did sitting in front of the switchboard, on the uncomfortable chair.
“Should be fifteen dollars a day,” I mutter to myself.
“You think so?”
I turn around so fast, I become off-balance and stumble to my left before I right myself. Asa stares at me solemnly. His briefcase in one hand and suit jacket in the other.
Quickly, I look down at the measly sum on my paycheck. “No, no.” I wave my check and smile. “Fifteen dollars is perfectly reasonable for the week.”
When I raise my head, Asa’s brows are puckered. “You just said you believed it should be fifteen dollars per day.”
I put the check out of sight by placing it in my handbag. I give him a friendly, yet distant smile. “Well, I don’t know what I’m sayin’ because I’m delirious from exhaustion.” Before Asa can say a word, I point a finger at him. “Say a word to Étienne and I’ll deny it.”
He lifts one hand, palm up. “I will say nothin’.”
Most of the ladies from my shift have left, apart from Leaf, Susan and Judy. As Leaf puts on her coat, she turns to me. “Nat, are you still walkin’ with us?”
“I’ll take her home,” Asa volunteers, his eyes on me.
My three friends turn in unison. They look between me and Asa with wide eyes. At that moment, I want the floor to open up and swallow me whole. I see the questions in their eyes. They’re more than curious. I can’t explain the relationship I have with Asa or how I know him. There’s not enough time in the world for that.