Losing Jack

Chapter 4

A buzzer going off in the distance startled Mary-Lynn White; she was so engrossed in paperwork she almost jumped out of her chair. Composing herself she fumbled picking up the phone trying to stop the incessant noise.
“Mary-Lynne speaking” she said, her heart still pumping wildly.

The nasally voice at the other end of the phone, which belonged to the receptionist on her floor said, “Bob - from upstairs wants you to go to his office for a meeting, can you be there in about five? He didn’t say why though,” she half whined.

“Sure.” Mary-Lynne silently ended the conversation with the notion of how horribly nosey receptionists could be.  She had not expected Bob from upstairs, to divulge confidential information to the receptionist at any rate.

Discarding the paper she had been reading minutes beforehand, Mary-Lynne stood up from her desk, and instinctively smoothed down her work clothes.

At 30 she looked no older than 20, with long blonde hair tied sleekly back into a stylish bun and a figure that looked as if it might have been chipped out of marble. She was dressed in a white shirt, long black skirt with a generous split up the side and matching black and white buttons. She looked professional, but at the same time extremely attractive.

Mary Lynne worked as a field case worker for the department of disabilities. Often people had asked her why she got into disabilities, and not something more adventurous or exotic. On these occasions she would turn away and say wistfully that it was the right thing for her to do. To give something back. What she didn’t add was that she would most likely spend the rest of her life trying to repay a debt that she could never pay in full.

Although she hadn’t been briefed, she imagined that she was being sent on a field trip to assess and write up a report on a situation between a disabled person and their carer. Were they being cared for properly, did they need extra assistance and so the list went on?

She had been a case worker for almost seven years now and could tell a few crazy stories about her adventures. Like the time she had been chased out of the house by a wild haired angry lady, who had stopped taking her medication, wielding a grass broom casting spells on her. Or the time she had gone to check on a client to find he had suddenly acquired 500 new cats, claiming he was the cat saviour commissioned by god himself… if only she wasn’t bound by confidentiality.

“Wonder where it will take me this time, she whispered to herself as she entered the lift and pressed the button headed straight for the top floor where Bob was waiting for her.
Knocking quietly on Bob’s door she waited for him to answer.
“Come in” he called out.

Walking inside his office Mary-Lynn shook Bob’s hand from across his desk and took a seat.
“Mary Lynne, over the last seven years you have been a valuable asset to the department,” said Bob. He looked at her over the rims of his half reading glasses, which seemed to defy gravity as they perched on the end of his nose.
Blushing like a schoolgirl Mary-Lynne nodded.

“I am sure you would have heard of Antoinette recently retiring? Because of this we would like to offer you a promotion to Senior Regional Case Manager. Apart from you being a reliable asset to the department, you are more likely to be available to attend regional assignments without making provisions for children and partners at this point in time.”

It was true, Mary Lynne was unattached without children. And she loved the thought of getting out of the confines of the office building, and the city. It would be like semi-vacations all over the region. It was an exciting prospect.

“I would be delighted to take on the role Bob,” she said unable to contain the smile that was rapidly making its way from one side of her face to the other.
“Excellent then, we have an urgent assignment that needs our attention, are you up for the challenge?
“Absolutely,” She gushed already imagining herself flying off down the highway into the sunset with briefcase in hand.

“We have a severely brain damaged male in his 30’s, his elderly mother who cared for him has passed away. She has stipulated in her will that she would like the man to be sent to an institution to be cared for the remainder of his life."

"However," continued Bob, "a close family friend who is caring for him at the moment has said she is willing to be a full time caregiver for the man. Her reason for the offer is the client has lived at the family home for his whole life. His condition requires both stability and routines, without this structure he is likely to regress."

Bob paused, shifting in his chair before continuing.

“It is also important to factor in that the nearest medical facilities large enough to cater for the client’s needs are over 50km away. So, although this lady is willing to care for the client, is she able to provide for his medical needs as well as they could be here in Perth?"
Bob paused, “basically that is all I can tell you, there are a few notes in the case file. The local disability services department down there have a support aide who has had a long affiliation with the family. I imagine he will be of great assistance to you.”
Mary Lynne nodded.

“So to sum up, client Jack Harper, small town 4 hours away towards Albany, called Mt Barker. So, just check it out, make a report, with a recommendation and that’s it,” breezed Bob.

The room began to spin suddenly. Mary-Lynn could not remember quite what had happened after Bob had told her where her assignment would take her, and who it was. She felt dizzy, as though she was going to be sick, right there in Bob's office, all over his plush white carpet and black patterned upholstery. Maybe even a few splatters would reach his perfectly black shiny shoes, and heaven forbid his perfect, expensive looking business suit trousers. Her mind screamed out to her to hold it together - just long enough to get herself out of there.

Taking the case file folder that had been in Bobs hands, Mary-Lynne mumbled a polite goodbye. Dismissing herself she made straight to the safety of the nearest bathroom stall, and threw up.

The rest of the day seemed to go in a daze. All she could do to stop from bursting into tears was to push everything from her mind, to occupy herself with anything other than her conversation with Bob. Even that was difficult with the never ending barrage of co-workers who were excited about her new promotion.

“You're so lucky Linney, your mum’s going to freak.” said one of her co-workers Jess, who was a friend of the family
“Thanks Jess.”
“Hey why don't you come out for a few bevvies and catch up after work, you know to celebrate?”
“Sounds good Jess, but maybe another time, I have a ton of things to do before I leave on my first assignment so…”
“No sweat, maybe when you get back then?”

Mary Lynne smiled and nodded. She was lucky, this was more than she could have hoped for. It was a really big promotion and a perfect opportunity, but right now she just didn't feel much like celebrating.

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