Starting a new job is always concerning. New assignments, new rules, new co-workers, new procedures and all that good stuff.
My girlfriend Joline made it somewhat easier, comforting me with the new and unusual and rejoicing with me on the successes. We'd been a couple for about 9 months when I'd started the new job, and she was oh so helpful with the transition from old job to new by listening and not preaching!
Joline was a sweet thing, 5-6, 125 pounds, a natural red head she says. Smart.
Whatever she was I enjoyed her company and we got along famously. Along the say she hoped the new position would allow me to get a place of my own and away from my roommate, Bill, who she detested. He was dirty, off color and knew every sexist joke there was. Joline didn't like him.
In any regard my new job called for more hours as I learned the tricks of the new trade, an Analyst working directly for a VP at a mid-sized company on the fringe of the city. My immediate supervisor was Ms. Johnson, a nice lady in her late 40s who always spoke and dressed "the part".
Smooth, confident and oh so smart, making my 26-year-old brain spin with her knowledgeable facts on the tip of her tongue.
We seemed to get along well, although I did make some mistakes. She was good enough to note them in private, admonishing me while adding to not make the same mistake twice. I learned the task, and made sure I didn't make the same mistake twice.
One of my favorite thoughts of Ms. Johnson was how she dressed for success.
Smartly, professionally, and I have to admit I loved following behind her to lunch room where I could watch her hips sway. Lovely.
Bottom line it was hard work but I had the hang of it and it appeared I was successful. At least that's what my three-month review said and I was buoyed by the nice note Ms. Johnson gave me after our conversation. In a nutshell it said keep on doing what I was doing and I'd learn and produce in this position.
At home Bill and I got along well, although I didn't like it that he was a pig. Often, I had to do his dishes or worry they'd be in the sink for days. And on a few occasions, I added his on the floor laundry to mine. Look, roommates give and take, but I was somewhat miffed at having to do what he should have done on his own.
It didn't help that Joline didn't like being around Bill, so she wouldn't come over when he was at home. That meant it was somewhat harder to fool around, but we made do with the back seat of my car at the end of our street, away from prying eyes. Hey, it worked, not comfortable but workable.
On one such evening, after we'd had a quickie, we were back in the front seat arms around each other and talking. Sharing stories of the day, week, and thinking about the future. At one-point Joline said that if things were going well, I should ask for a raise. Maybe the extra cash would let me save and then get an apartment of my own. See, told you she was smart.
That got me thinking and wondering and coming up with ideas that might spark Ms. Johnson to give me a raise. Hemming and hawing it took a couple weeks, but I came up with the gumption to address the issue and merely was waiting for the right time to ask.
That time was the following Friday, a day where we have a couple of afternoon meetings that went very well. Ms. Johnson was pleased with my participation and work, and while we were both a bit tired from the client onslaught we did survive and sat in her office after closing time discussing the meetings and future needs.
The office had cleared out and we went from proposal to recommendations and upcoming steps before settling down to a couple minutes of talk about our upcoming meetings. Ms. Johnson wanted to know if I'd be seeing Joline and I asked what her special plans were. "Nothing special, just relaxation," said my boss.
"I've had a difficult week and need to decompress."
