Making his Mark?

Coping with sadness at Christmas — (Seasonal Affected Disorder) — a five-part fictional saga by CHARMAINE DAISLEY that explores the sadness, loneliness and disappointment that many endure at Christmas — and the eternal hope that tomorrow will be brighter.

Part Four
IT WAS Marcia’s second Monday at the People’s Variety Mart when it happened. Mr Rhodard approached her when she had just finished attending to a customer. “Congratulations, Mrs Marchand, you’ve outdone yourself at your job,” he beamed at her. “I’m extremely satisfied with your work. In fact, I’ve noticed that your attitude to the job has already been an inspiration to the other workers.” Mr  Rhodard kept on talking. He and his family, he explained to her, did not have a chance as yet to do any real Christmas preparations. His wife, quite the Christmas observer, wanted him home for at least one day to supervise some yard work and painting of the house. Did Marcia think she could handle the store for him for one day? He would leave for home in one hour if she could.

Marcia’s head began to whirl with excitement. Was this really happening to her? Actually, this was not the first time she had been entrusted with the running of a business affairs. At her job as an office cleaner, she had been promoted to supervisor only after three months. The pay though, did not reflect her responsibility and so, she had to move on. She wondered if this new responsibility Mr Rhodard signalled was coming would bring a raise in salary. Did she dare to dream? If it did, then she could do so many things. Proper shoes and clothes for Maria, a decent refrigerator and stove for herself. Most of all, she would be finally able to afford that eight-week Accounting course she had been dreaming about doing since September. She loved Accounts. She had done well at it at O’Levels. To practise her skills at it, she had offered Ma Melda, the neighbourhood shop owner, free assistance in “keeping her books.” This year made it her third year as the old shopkeeper’s ‘‘accountant.’’

Mr Rhodard’s voice interrupted her thoughts: “So, you’ll accept the challenge, Marcia?” “It will be my pleasure and honour,” said Marcia as she flung her arms around a very stunned Mr Rhodard. Lunchtime at the store was exceptionally hectic that day. One woman had called in an order of a dozen matching table lamps for an annual Christmas dinner she hosted. She would be in at two o’clock to pick them up. Marcia had dispatched two staffers to the backroom warehouse to locate them. When that order was organised, six orders came in, one after the next, for six-foot Christmas trees. This order meant that she needed to send to another branch of the store for two of the trees (she requested an extra half dozen just in case there were similar orders within the next few days).

With two members of staff away on that errand and a large number of in-house shoppers needing attention, Marcia and the remaining clerks had their hands filled. She was so wrapped up in assisting someone that she hardly noticed the soft tap on her shoulders. “So, you’re so busy you can’t even notice a friend, eh?” said a familiar voice. The voice belonged to the young man she had bumped into on her way to work that first day. Mark. That was his name. He had introduced himself later that same day. He was part-owner of the store two doors down — The Favourite Merchandise Store. She was reluctant to speak to him that first day. Firstly, she did not know why he felt the need to come over to introduce himself, secondly, she was on her first day at her new job, and thirdly, somehow he made her feel things she had not felt for a long time. Things that made her heart flutter with warmth and hope. She must not dare to dream. In any case, Mark was just being polite. She was reading too much into it. When Mark saw her reluctance to speak with him he had joked: “So, you’re afraid to speak with the enemy, eh? You afraid I came to steal The People’s Variety Mart’s trade secrets?”

He had said it with a childish grin. This had brought a smile to her face. There was no stopping his chatter after that smile. In fact, he came every day since then to say hello. Today though, his mission was slightly different. Would she consider having dinner with him that evening? “You serious!” exclaimed Debra when Marcia recounted the story that afternoon. “I hope you said yes, girl!” Yes, Marcia had said “yes.” She had had her first court ordeal with Gary the week before. Luckily it was Family Court so she was allowed to attend after work hours. Strangely, Gary did not appear as mean and threatening as she remembered him. Or was it that she was not as afraid of him as before? “Yes, I’ll go to dinner with Mark. I deserve some fun” she said to her reflection in the mirror as she tried yet another colour of lipstick for the occasion.

What does fate hold for Marcia? Is Mark a part of the plan? Is a promotion — and a raise — a part of her near future? 

Tune in next week to Part Five of Marcia’s December Dreams to find out.