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‘I’m still not sure, Ava. I imagine it’s a pretty macho working environment. They’d probably just stare at my chest all the time and expect me to make cups of tea.’
‘That’s the second thing you’ve got wrong. You would probably be the only woman on site, I grant you, but builders have come under fire a lot lately for catcalling and wolf-whistling. Ben says there’s a zero-tolerance policy about that sort of thing on most sites now. Yes, they’ll probably eye you up a bit, but think of it the other way round; there are going to be a lot of physically fit men doing manual labour around you. That’s not a bad view from the office window, is it?’ She waggles her eyebrows and we dissolve into fits of giggles.
‘Show me the advert,’ she continues when the laughter has subsided.
I open the browser on my phone and navigate to one of the many job sites I have bookmarked. After a quick scroll, I find it and hand the phone over.
‘I can’t read this out here; all I can see is the sunlight reflecting off your phone. Do you want another cup of tea? I’ll read it while the kettle boils.’
‘Yeah, why not?’ I hand her my mug and she disappears inside.
While she’s gone, I consider what she’s said. I’m really not sure a building site is me, but she does have a point. Maybe, if Ben gives me some coaching and I can at least use some of the terms and sound like I know what I’m talking about, I might at least get an interview. I haven’t a hope of being offered the job and, despite her assurances, I’m not sure I’m desperate enough that I’d take it even if it were offered, but it would be good interview practice if nothing else.
‘Your phone’s locked itself while I was filling the kettle,’ Ava calls from the kitchen. ‘What’s the code?’
‘Two-two-oh-three,’ I reply.
‘What’s that?’
‘Lee’s birthday.’
‘Nice. I must remember to send him a card,’ she says sarcastically. ‘I’ll be out in a tic.’
When she finally returns a while later, she’s beaming from ear to ear. ‘What?’ I ask her.
‘It’s got accommodation included, did you see? You’d be mad not to apply.’
‘They probably won’t even offer me an interview. I can’t pretend I have experience when I don’t.’
‘They definitely won’t offer you an interview if you don’t apply. Go on. Give it a go.’
I sigh. ‘Fine.’
She’s right, of course she is. After all, what have I got to lose?
12
It’s after nine when I wake the next morning. Three weeks out of a job and I’m getting worryingly used to sleeping in. After all, it’s not like there’s a lot to get up for. Ava delightedly agreed to let me have a crack at her garden, so I’ll borrow some of Dad’s tools and head over there in a bit. After Ava’s nagging, I sent off an application for the building site job late yesterday afternoon. I’m not expecting to hear anything, but it’s another iron in the fire at least.
Before heading down for breakfast, I automatically reach across and check my phone. There are two new emails, one from an address I don’t recognise, and one from Sharon White at Orchestra. Sharon’s is probably some boring procedural stuff to do with my redundancy, so I decide to open the other one, from Deborah Smythe. As I scan the text, I’m suddenly fully alert and sit bolt upright in bed. I read it several times, just to make sure I haven’t imagined it.
Dear Ms Mackenzie,
Thank you for your application for the post of project manager with Atkinson Construction. We have reviewed your application form and CV and I would like to invite you to interview with myself and the CEO, Christopher Atkinson, at your earliest convenience.
Please contact me on the number below to arrange your appointment. I look forward to meeting you.
Deborah Smythe
I leap out of bed and rush downstairs clutching my phone.
‘Mum, Dad, I got an interview! Look.’ I hold the phone out excitedly, but of course they have to potter off to find their reading glasses and there’s a lot of humming and hawing before they’re ready.
‘Is that the one Ava persuaded you to apply for yesterday? They got back to you very quickly, didn’t they?’ Dad observes.
‘Of course they did,’ Mum tells him. ‘They could see she was quality and wanted to snap her up. This is great news. Have you called them yet to arrange a time?’
‘No. What do you think I should do? I don’t want to suggest a time that’s too soon in case I come across as desperate, but I don’t want them to lose interest either. Even if the job isn’t right for me, it’s good interview practice, so I don’t want to put them off.’
