Review, Edit and Update:
The first few sentences in this little piece just needed some better word crafting. Other than that, it seemed a fairly well written piece about the possible shift in power balance from Brigitte as Emelina's (her boss) caregiver, to a very unknown role with her boss.
Tipped
10 a.m. That was the time Emelina and Brigitte had agreed upon. Brigitte had no idea what would unfold. She hoped she was up to the task, except she didn’t know what the task or tasks would be. Always up for a challenge, Brigitte was also excited by the opportunity to learn and grow. She had worked for Emelina Beaufort for four years. Now that she thought about it, those four years had been a breeze. Come to work, keep Miss Emelina’s schedule on track, clean and keep dusted the upstairs and go home. She really was her own boss. Although she did help with the cleaning downstairs, it was not her main job. She even had uniforms that she was to keep cleaned and ironed. When dressed, she smirked at herself in her full length mirror. She looked the image of an Upstairs Downstairs maid. Black dress with a lacy white collar, black shoes and stockings and a fussy little white cap. Since the pandemic restrictions and isolation, all those uniforms had been relegated to the back of her closet. Should she be wearing one today? Living out at her parent’s cabin on a quiet little lake, she’d not had to worry about such silly things as dress codes. In the last while, when she came into work, she dressed in leggings and long t-shirts. No one said a thing, not even Miss Emelina.
But this morning was different. She would be working for the same person but in a very different capacity. Pulling one garment out after another, she held them in front of her as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Casual but business like? A dress? She owned one dress and only wore it if she felt she had to to make some kind of an impression. Maybe her coral capris and white shirt. If she put a vest on as well? With her best sandals? That would look fairly smart. Brigitte was just not a clothes horse so didn’t have much to choose from. She was quite annoyed with herself that she had not asked her boss how she should dress. Too late now. She’d just have to wing it and hope for the best.
Brigitte slumped down on the rattan basket chair by her bed. She leaned forward, elbows on knees, head in her hands. She knew she was overthinking this situation. Clothes were not her thing, so she’d just go with the capri outfit and if it was wrong, she would fix it. What on earth is wrong with me?! Brigitte stood up, looked herself in her eye in the mirror and said “‘Get over it and get on with it’. ~ That’s what my dad would say. Then he would say ‘do you still want this job and with this person?” That’s where Brigitte took over. “I’ll ask for a job description…no no that won’t work. Miss Emelina doesn’t even know what the job is yet. Ok - here it is and I’m talking outloud to myself. I will bring paper, pencils, a clipboard, my self and a heathy dose of open-mindedness. Brigitte suddenly realized that she was afraid of the tipped power balance. Once she had been in control, because Miss Emelina didn’t want any control. Emelina was now trying to assert herself as the Lady of the Manor, for lack of better words. She had to let go of all the trappings of that old, and very dated life. Brigitte needed to support her in that role, in a similar manner as she supported her in the past. This time, however, would be much more challenging. To watch someone stumble and grow, over and over again is much more difficult than doing all the work for them. “Not going to happen, Miss Emelina! No way. You want to find a purpose for this place, then that’s what we’ll do.”
Brigitte showered and dressed, earrings on, face powdered, had coffee and her breakfast. Briefcase in hand, she got in her car and drove to the mansion. It was just 9:55am when she arrived. Emelina was just coming out the door as Brigitte got out of her car. “I see you’re all ready for the day. Good. Because the first place I want to go is the garden. Then it will be on to the university. We have some history to find before we can make a plan. Giles has the car ready. When we’re done talking with Samuel, Giles will drive us out to the university library. After some research, it should be lunch time and we can take a break. We’re meeting Dez after lunch at her apartment.”
“You need a balance in life between dealing with whats going on inside
and not being so absorbed in yourself that it takes over.”
~ Nigella Lawson
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