The Ministry Child

A Clerk In Training

A Clerk In Training

Chapter 13!

July 1994

Albany's footsteps echoed down the hallway, she had been running errands for the higher ranking members of the Clergy for most of the day. Her clerk training had began the minute she turned eighteen, it had been arranged years ago by her Father. The tasks were not hard, her training was administration based. It mostly was photocopying documents and typing up invoices, the odd coffee run for her boss. She enjoyed her work, she was learning a lot from her co-workers. But today she had something for her Father, he had called her management for a little favour. He wanted financial statements, risk assessments and direct procurement invoices. She had no idea why he had asked for them, but she would never question his requests. 

Stopping outside of her Father's office she knocked on the door twice, it wasn't long until she heard his voicing telling her to enter. Opening the door Albany peered into his office, the room was silent. All she could hear was the ticking of the office clock. Her gaze soon focused on her Father, he was sitting at his desk with a cigarette between his fingers. His gaze was lingering on the window, he looked lost in his own thoughts. He was dressed in his causal clothes, he had no important meetings that she was aware of today. She entered his office and closed the door behind her, she soon caught his attention when she cleared her throat. Their gaze soon met, he smiled at her before he stubbed his cigarette out and got up from his seat. 

" Hello, Papa." She said.

" Good afternoon, my child." He said while he approached her. " Did you get what I asked for?"

" I did, I have everything you need right here." She replied.

" Let me take a look." He said.

" Certainly, Papa." She said.

Nihil took the files from her before he returned to his desk, he then beckoned her to take a seat. Albany sat across from him, she watched him going through the files. Pulling her chair closer towards the desk she rested her elbows on it, cupping her hands together she brought them to her chin. Page after page he turned, his finger tips running down the page he took one of the documents from the folder. He took a sip of his coffee before he used his pen to cross something out in the file, he was changing the contents of the documents. She was curious about what he was doing, her voice soon broke the silence of the office.

" Papa, what are you doing?" She asked.

" Nothing that concerns you..." He replied.

" Are you allowed to change things in those files?" She asked.

" Yes." He replied.

" Can I ask if I got you the right files?" She asked.

" Mm-hm..." He replied.

" Well?" She asked.

" Well what?" He asked.

" Did I do a good job?" She asked.

" Your work is satisfactory." He replied.

" Papa!" She sighed.

" Okay, okay!" He said, his voice was humorous. " You did a good job, I'm very happy with your progress in the working world. But please don't bother me while I'm reading through these files, I may lose my place."

" Am I really doing a good job?" She asked. " I don't get much feedback from the Clergy, but they report everything I do back to you right?"

" Albany, please. I'm trying to work here!" He replied with a sigh. " But if you really want to know they are satisfied with your work, but there is room for improvement."