Honest To Good Tailors

Inspired by a jumble of expectations, I tapped some thoughts into a note on my phone as I walked into the elevator. Burnished marble reflected off every surface, and gold leafing seemed to be growing in this place. It was colossal, sophisticated, and corporate. Whatever was about to happen surely needed to be documented.

Am I finally stepping into the role of my dreams? Ha, did I finally get a ‘big girl job’?

I was sure the elevator was waiting for me as it closed its doors and lifted me up. I saw myself disappear in the mirror across the hall and smiled at myself; I fixed my posture and humbly settled into the feeling that I could fit in here.

When I got dressed this morning, I neatly laid options for myself on the bed as the term business casual rang in my mind. People go shopping for this sort of thing...right? But a collared t shirt and jeans felt too routine to me. A restaurant girl, I jumped at the opportunity that I could show off my fashion sense; because in the movies, the new hires that stick out like a polished thumb rise to the top. Even those working in the packaging warehouse.

So, I slipped on my finest top: a Japanese silk turtleneck handed down to my mother from hers. I was proud that I could give it a life where it would be appreciated once again, happily socializing among other expensive fabrics and embroidered jackets. I felt elevated as soon as I paired it with my loose, silk trousers from London and a pair of black pointy flats with just enough heel. I clanked down the driveway to my car. I could get used to ‘business casual’.

Simply put, we are tailors. Real, authentic, genuine tailors. -- Bay and Bay

I imagined a tall, strong, boss with a resplendent gait introducing herself to me, showing me the ropes. She runs the business, the warehouse, the operation. Her taste would be impeccable but not over the top or distracting as her incentives were to push fashion into the world; to educate and beautify. Her knowledge would be impressive, not condescending, and she would be ready to take me on as her apprentice. She would teach me everything.

My expectations followed me all the way to the fourth floor and I stepped out of the elevator. Excited and so nervous.

Just be yourself. No, be more than yourself! You are so ready for this! 

Fashion company seeking assistant. Duties include packaging, sending emails and answering the phone. $16/hr, overtime $24/hr. Experience requested but not required.

I couldn’t wait. I imagined myself telling them I was a writer, as I sat up straight at my new desk. Suddenly my fashion warehouse became the New York post. 

...But I’m also an artist! And boy, would I love my designs on a suit some day. Can you imagine? Color everywhere! Oh, and the musician thing would simply slide in when they asked me about my weekend plans. 

Would I be understood? Would I find a new career?

“Hi! I’m Ari,” I clasped my hands on the stone counter. When the receptionist didn’t immediately know who I was, I followed with: “I’m here to start training.”

She had a tiny crumb on her lower lip and on her eyes looked like they were about to sink into the heavy bags underneath them. 

“Uhm, ahem, I’m with Office Team. This is Bay and Bay, right?”

“These are all executive suites, hun, they own one of the offices here. We’re not Bay and Bay. But I’ll ring somebody to come get you.” 

“Oh, okay!” Executive suite. That sounded nice. I walked over and took advantage of the ice cold water dispenser then sat down to wait. I worried about the fluorescent lights above. They also warn about those in the movies. Keyboards clicked and phones rang down the hall.

The second receptionist, small, young, and happy in comparison, took off her ear piece and smiled up at me. “How long have you been with Office Team?”

“Oh, I only applied a few weeks ago. This is my first assignment. Are you with them, too?”“Yeah, I’ve actually been with them, oh, about a year now! But I’ve been in this office since...Wednesday. I’ve done a million jobs with them!”“That’s cool! How are…” I paused and looked up to see a young man walking toward me. 

“Ariana?” He held out a hand to shake. He looked too young to be this confident. 

“Yes, hi! You must be with Office Team?” They had told me I’d be replacing their last hire. 

“That’s me. I’m Jack. I’ll be training you today.” 

“Great!” He had good vibes. Jack was lanky but sturdily tall and had dark hair. He had a boyish face but a strong jaw, and eyes that seemed to be all pupil.

“You find everything okay?” “Oh yeah. But man, parking is rough around here!”“Totally. Did you park in the library?” 

I nodded.

“Good, me too. We can go move our cars in an hour together. They usually validate with no problem.” He paused. “Here we are.”

After a long hallway of cubicles, ear pieces, and a pink box of donuts, Jack pushed open a door to a small closet. It was dark inside. I immediately felt suffocated.

“So, it’s pretty simple. All you have to do is package these deliveries and send them off to Hong Kong,” He placed his hand on a stack of UPS boxes. “It’s mostly fabrics. Super easy. Then you--”

CRASH. A premium wire rack collapsed on top of more boxes. About seven thick suit jackets went down with it. 

“Oy…” Jack stepped over some cardboard and began reassembling the rod.

“Is that what we’re packaging?” I asked, pointing to the suits.

“Oh no, this was already here when I got in. Vish leaves stuff in here all the time.”

I turned around and felt up the wall for a light switch. Found it, flicked, but nothing happened. Found another, flicked again. 

“Yeah, the lights are tricky. I usually leave them off and just chill in the dark while I package. The lights are intense.”

I took a deep breath and noticed the difference in our clothing. He was wearing a grey cotton shirt, like the one I wear to bed, and some jeans. His shoes were trendy, at least. 

“You know, my first day here I showed up in a suit.”

We both laughed. 

“Yeah, I was super excited, but you know it’s all good. I can do this!”

My smile kinda faded with that sentence as I looked around the room. Heaps of empty boxes and packaging guts were strewn about. There was practically no floor, only bubble wrap and other plastic that suffocates fish. 

Maybe I could make overtime if I cleaned up this office.