Temporary Secretary

Part 60

26 August 1981

Wednesday 8:00pm

—--

You'd finished up a shift at the library that afternoon.

It was one of your last. September, the first of September, you had to take off.

They already knew about it. You made sure to let them know, before you'd started, before you were on any payroll, that you were expecting. Seemed more fair, and they took you on despite it.

Wasn't so serious a position, really. Inconsistent part time hours, alright pay. It wasn't as if you were supporting yourself.

It was at least some way to occupy yourself during this strange transitionary period. Wifely duties at the flat, short low intensity shifts at the library. It was hardly work for you, that. You'd always found libraries to be relaxing. All you mostly did there was shelve books, sometimes you took over reception. It was nothing compared to a corporate office.

Despite your physical shortcomings, you weren't finding it too difficult to do your job. You were a little short of breath, a little fuzzy in the head, but you could still walk about, remember where to shelve things. It wasn't short term memory, that. You knew the system.

Your work used to be your whole life, you'd go to the office, complete routine and productive tasks, go home, repeat. Some would consider it dull and suffocating, but you didn't find it so bad. It was something to occupy yourself with. Better than wasting away with idle hands. (Maybe a Puritan way to look at life, despite never being particularly religious...)

Well, whatever the case was, it seemed, for a good two decades anyway, you were expected to do the wife and mother thing. Your bad, forgetting the pill and getting knocked up, but Paul wasn't so bad.

Still, it was a transition, and a surprise.

Paul was less on your case about the library than your previous job. He'd been worried about the health of the baby, and you'd been pushing yourself. Some were able to handle it from what you knew, but it'd take a strong sort of woman. You couldn't. The fast pace, the workload, long hours.

It was bittersweet though. You'd miss the library. You weren't sure if you'd have a chance to work there again. Would you be too busy? You couldn't bring it along, likely, depending on whether it'd sleep through the shift, or scream. You didn't truly know what it'd be like, despite what you read. All children were different, too. There really was no way to prepare.

Maybe when it was older, it'd be happy to spend hours sat in the children's section, reading. That's how you were as a kid, you'd have to be dragged out. Though, that was also variable. Paul wasn't much of a reader, despite having to for work. Maybe he got tired of it by then.

Your doctor had said 31 weeks was a recommended time to take your leave by. 32 weeks would be the eighth month. You couldn't believe it was almost Autumn.

Paul had been taking the car to work. He'd offered to drive you, attempting to figure the logistics in his head (you could see it in his expression). You assured him it was fine. It was a rather short walk, and you were better off not being stationary. The doctor had said that, too.

The change itself was making you uneasy, still. It was an end to the routine you'd been accustomed to since May.

At least the flat would be the same, so would being around Paul. Deep down you knew this was only a transitional period, the real change would be having this kid.

As much as he assured you, you couldn't help but be nervous, especially as the due date neared. He'd gone and talked you into thinking it was good idea to go through with this.