|
She had grown to hate coming in to work. The atmosphere was absolutely dead, and she had nobody to talk to.
It was bad enough at home. Her husband Charlie didn't bother to talk to her anymore and her son just spent his life clubbing.
Basically, Joanne Andrews, aged fifty-four, had a sad and lonely existence.
She saw so many people at work each day, and not one of them ever bothered to pass the time of day with her.
Joanne had never been much of a looker...some might have said that she was quite
plain; but she had a heart of gold.
She had been pregnant with James when she had married Charlie. Poor Joanne, aged thirty and spinster of the parish...destined for a life spent on the shelf. That is, until Charlie had felt compelled to marry her. After all, it was the thing to do. He had always fancied a petite little wife with stunning looks. Instead he got Joanne...as wide as she was tall with that strange moon face. Oh, they had struggled on all right over the years. Charlie had even grown to be quite fond of her. His numerous affairs kept him happy, and he would never leave Joanne, because he basically cared for her...he just couldn't love her as she wanted him to.
Joanne whistled to herself as she flicked a duster around the little room. In the corner was Enid Jenkins. They had gone to school together and hadn't really got on then. Now she had a pious look on her white face as if to reiterate that she still thought she was worth more than Joanne.
Joanne sniffed and walked passed her, saying nothing. What did she care anyway...she still had her
bingo; at least people spoke to her there.
Mr. Shuttlewood was in the other room. He never had said much even when he was younger...obviously nothing had changed.
The time was dragging slowly today; she still had an hour to go before she locked up.
James was coming for his dinner tonight, and then going on to some 'rave'...whatever that was. Honestly, the youngsters
nowadays; it was a wonder that they weren't all walking around with giant hearing aids. They appeared to only listen to music if it was on top volume and ready to split your eardrums!
Charlie was evidently working late. Probably with the blonde from his office. Oh, Joanne knew of his many indiscretions...always had done.
Let's face it; he had only married her to do the 'right thing'. To be truthful, he had been a good provider, and he genuinely cared for her...she knew that. He just needed and wanted more. Over the years, she had learned to live with his dalliances...the strange perfumes on his clothes. The thing that got to her most was when she received sympathetic looks from neighbors in the street. She hated them thinking that she didn't realize what was going on. So she made a joke of it...maybe some thought she was brash, but it was her way of dealing with the pain...the humiliation.
Nearly time to go now. Joanne looked at the clock. It's ticking was so loud amidst the silence. She picked her coat up and put it on.
Walking out of the door she called out, "Goodnight all...thanks for being so chatty!"
Joanne chuckled to herself. She always called out to them all when she left work, and each day there were different ones coming in. Sad thing was, they never spoke...and why would they anyway?
That was the price that she had to pay for working as a cleaner at the
mortuary.
©2002 StoriesByEmail.com
|
