The English Woman

by Inch, Jennifer

  Another free facility near to Fran's apartment was the Sulphur Spring Pool, which she visited on a number of occasions. It was a natural spring – the waters being captured each day by a man-made pool, and the excess water flowing out into the river. The local teenagers swam in the deep pool whilst the smaller children in the shallow river. Fran swam in the river because she enjoyed swimming with the fish. These free facilities run by local authorities meant that the poor children could find some enjoyment.

  When Fran got back to her apartment Nina would often knock on the adjoining door and ask if she would like to join her for a drink and a chat. As Nina worked from home in order to look after Ruth, Fran thought that maybe she was glad of the company because she knew that it was difficult to talk with Ruth. Nina did go out a lot with Teddy in the evenings and a neighbour would drop by to sit with Ruth. The neighbour said they just watched TV. She said Ruth didn't say anything, and just cuddled up with Rip on the couch. Fran was starting to feel close to Nina; she had always wanted a sister and she felt that Nina fitted the image of the sister she would have liked.

  **********

  As Fran pulled on her best outfit in order to look good on her first night out in Florida, she reflected the events of the last few hours.

  “Which is the least frightening?” Fran had asked the bikini clad girl in front of her.

  “The Barracuda Run.” She was shivering on the hill waiting to go down the water slide. “Okay you can go” and she was off. What a sensation, gushing through the water, almost turning head over heels and being shot off the slide into the pool. How she laughed when a boy from behind her on the slide had gone so fast that he shot over her head. She then struggled out of the water and clambered back up the hill. That was Adventure Island, and Fran had certainly enjoyed the afternoon excitement.

  Fran grabbed her purse and as she closed her apartment door she spotted Glen, her Scottish neighbour, in his garden and so she called over “How can I get to the Rodway Inn?”

  In an American accent he replied, “You’ll never get there on the bus. I’ll give you a lift.” Fran humbly thanked him and was soon travelling towards her destination. “How good people are to me” she thought as she stepped out of the car deep in thought.

  “If you can’t get home” Glen was saying “just give me a ring and I’ll pick you up.”

  “No that's okay, I’ll be alright, and I’ll get a cab.”

  Fran sat down to a table and ordered an American meal, which as usual was large, well presented, very tasty and moderately priced. During her stay in the States she had found the meals to be interesting, because many of the dishes were completely alien to her. After her meal she sat in the bar.

  “How are you today?” asked the middle-aged waitress dressed in denim shorts. “What would you like to drink, ma'am?”

  “Chablis wine please.”

  “You are English; I come from Germany.”

  “I thought I could trace an accent,” Fran said with a smile. She was always pleased when an American knew that she was English. They would then be helpful and not look at her as a complete idiot. As with all foreign countries, she found everything to be interesting and became wiser as she was given good advice. For some reason everyone seemed to want to be friends with the English. After Fran finished her glass of wine the German waitress was able to recommend a variety of cocktails, therefore making this new experience a most pleasurable one. It seemed that wherever she ate or drank in the USA she always had a waitress who became acquainted by first name, and who was always very polite. She was never reluctant to give them their tips upon which they so heavily relied.

  The entertainment in the hotel was first class and was free. Fran was delighted to find that the Country & Western band was superb. The two main vocalists were brothers, one being a well-built six foot tall guitar player, and the other a midget who played the fiddle upside-down. Fran joined in the dancing and the floor spilled over with people.

  “You ordered a cab?” asked the large, young girl.

  “Yes, I would like to go to North Street, off Nebraska” Fran replied.

  “You from England? I think that’s a great country. You have a fantastic welfare system there. It’s terrible here. Last year I was ill for a couple of months and the State wouldn’t give me a cent. So now I’m doing my best to avoid paying taxes.” The cab driver obviously had a grudge and wanted to let Fran know how much better off she was in England. Fran discussed the welfare system in the States and England with her.

  This wasn’t the only time Fran had spoken with an American on the subject. It appeared that there was some sort of welfare in the States, but she was given the impression that it was not easy to obtain and was inadequate.

  “If anything happened to me and Ruth had to go into a home, then it would be like sending her to prison.” Nina had commented. Teddy had also said that it had cost him $3,000 for three days dental treatment. Fran later met a young father whose son had spent some time in hospital. He worked on steel construction during the day and had taken on an evening job.

  “Why are you working in the evenings? I thought that steel construction paid well.” Fran asked him.

  “I have this evening job to pay the hospital bills for my son’s treatment,” he replied.

  “I thought that came out of insurance.”

  “Yes, but you have to pay a percentage. If I had to pay the whole amount it would take me the rest of my life!”

  Fran collapsed into bed, but it was hours before sleep came over her. She was thinking of the events of the day, and trying not to move because of her soreness from the burning sun.

  **********

  Fran picked up a newspaper from the supermarket and turned to the job vacancies section. ‘Phone work. Part time. 5 – 8.30 pm. No selling. $3.50 an hour plus bonus. Call Bob on 8761661.' She rang the number and a man on the other end of the line asked her lots of questions.

  "I like the sound of your English voice" he said, "I think I will give you a try." He gave Fran the directions to the office, which although on a bus route was quite a long way across Tampa.

  Fran arrived hot and exhausted but she passed the interview and the manager who introduced himself as Bob arranged for her to have some training straight away so that she could start work the following evening.

  "Hi, I'm Chetan" said the beefy American Indian looking man in his early twenties smiling from the other side of the desk. “I will show you the ropes, don't worry you will do fine" he said reassuringly. Fran tried to absorb all the information he gave her but she was feeling tired after her swimming at Sulphur Springs and the trek on the bus.

  "Are you a student" Chetan asked.

  "No, I'm a bit too old to be a student" Fran said laughing, then added "I was made redundant from my job in England, so thought I would go travelling. I can only stay in the States six months, but as my money seems to be going quite quickly I thought I'd try and earn a bit more" she said wondering why she had told him so much.

  "That's okay; you don't have to explain yourself. I see from the form that you live near me, would you like me to pick you up for work tomorrow evening?” Chetan asked Fran.

  "That would be great, thanks a lot."

  **********

  Fran thought "no selling! If I have to pick up this ‘phone once more I shall scream." She paused. "No I must stick this out at least to the end of the week. I can't give up on my second evening." The first evening had been okay because most of the time was spent training. Chetan had collected Fran and taken her home and had been very friendly towards her. Fran had made one appointment for the representative to call which was a start! Now she had been ‘phoning for two hours and had not made one appointment.

  “Hello Mrs – this is Fran of International Laboratories here in Tampa. We are talking to home owners in regard to national advertising done on TV. Are you a home owner ma’am? Does your family watch TV game shows like The Price Is Right or Jokers Wild? Ok, and what brand of laundry deterge
nt do you and your family use? Ok, and does your family use fabric softeners like Sta-puff or Downy? Have you a water softening system in your home? It has been really nice of you to answer my questions. My Company, International Laboratories, has a really nice gift for you and your husband. It is not for buying anything. It is a holiday for two, two nights and three days, at either Disneyworld or Cocoa Beach. Your Gift Certificate is valid until 31 December ’81 and is transferable if you wish. And as I mentioned, our gift is not for buying anything. It is for your time and opinion of our product and equipment. We give you free water analysis and demonstration,” and so on. That was Fran's spill. If she got that far and the person was interested then she would have to make an appointment for the representative to call. A lot of Fran's ‘phone calls got as far as “Are you a home owner ma’am?” Then the person on the other end would put the ‘phone down on Fran. On some occasions she wouldn’t get any further than “International Laboratories” because the person on the end of the line couldn’t understand a word she said! The black southerners couldn’t understand Fran and she couldn’t understand them!

  After her last call hung up on her, as Fran put down the 'phone she saw Chetan coming out of Bob's office looking angry, followed by Bob who called from the doorway.

  “Come into the office for a minute” he instructed Fran.

  She walked in and before she could sit down Bob said "It's not working out. I know you have been trying." Fran felt shattered. She had been trying to be a person that she didn't like. A pushy salesman who made people spend more than they could afford.

  "I think we had better call it a day. You can collect two evening's pay on Friday." He tried to show compassion but to Fran it was totally insincere.

  "Will you send it to me please? You have my address" she said feeling annoyed and embarrassed.

  "You can get a much better job than this" one of the girls said with a reassuring smile as Fran said her goodbyes. They had all been students, and like Fran had to get what jobs they could.

  "I hate that bastard" Chetan exclaimed bitterly, his eyes on the road. "He didn't like it because you wore jeans instead of a skirt, and didn't respond to him coming on to you. I saw the way he looked at you."

  Fran turned to Chetan, "what difference should it make if I ignored his advances?"

  "I told him you weren't interested. He is just one of those bastards that only employ women for what he can personally get out of it." Chetan was obviously annoyed at the event that had just taken place. "He had a go at me and I told him what he could do with his job." Chetan looked at Fran. "I will be leaving soon any rate." He looked ahead at the road and continued, "He apologised to me after because I had made so many appointments this evening."

  “Can you drop me off at the shops, I’m going to get something to eat, and then I’ll get the bus home” Fran asked Chetan.

  "Okay, but if you don't get your money let me know. I will soon get it out of that bastard; I will challenge him to a fight; that will scare him."

  "Thanks Chetan, you are very kind. I will 'phone you if I don't get the money."

  Fran was seeing this young man in a different light now. She felt that he would really stick up for her. Yesterday he had been a talkative fun loving youth, who had hated his drunken Indian mother. He had been brought up on a ranch and was his happiest on horseback. Now he was in the big city able to take care of himself, and certainly prepared to protect her should the need arise. Fran got out of the car.

  "Don't forget to 'phone me if you don't get the money. I will soon sort that bastard out. I will tell him that Fran's a friend of mine and I won't have her messed about."

  Fran laughed, "Thanks again, I’ll be seeing you."

  **********

  Bob locked up the office and walked down the iron staircase on the outside of the building. He headed for his parked car and as he went to put the key in the door he felt an excruciating pain in his back. He bent double and his knees sank to the floor, then a foot kicked him in the head and everything went dark.

  **********

  The next day, just as Fran was about to eat a sandwich for her lunch, she heard Nina call from her apartment.

  “Fran there is a young man on the ‘phone for you” Nina called as she unlocked the door that connected to Fran’s apartment. She handed Fran the ‘phone.

  “Hi Fran, it’s Chetan, I’ve got some news and also wondered if you would like to go to Jai-Alai with me this afternoon.”

  “That’s interesting, but I don’t know what Jai-Alai is” Fran replied intrigued.

  “You’ll love it; the news and the sport! I’ll pick you up at 2 pm” he said enthusiastically.

  “Okay, great, see you then” Fran replied.

  Chetan picked Fran up as arranged and they saw Jai-Alai (pronounced highlie) in Tampa. It was a great game to watch and they bet on three games at $2 a time, but unfortunately neither of them won. It was a huge covered stadium with a restaurant and two snack bars, as well as a shop and two betting lounges, where you could watch the game on a TV screen so you didn’t miss anything. Admission was $1 and the games lasted for a total of five hours. The court was like a wide stage and was brightly lit. Wire netting went from the edge of the stage to the ceiling for the whole length of the court, so that the ball could not hit any of the spectators. The court was 176 feet long, 55 feet wide and 40 feet high. The back wall was called the Rebote and the front wall the Frontis. The Frontis was made from granite blocks at least twelve inches thick.

  All the players walked on to the court to the sound of trumpets and Spanish music, which reminded Fran of a Spanish bull fight. They lined up behind the wire netting like Gladiators. They bowed to the spectators, put on their helmets and walked back to the cage where they awaited their turn to play. The Cesta, a wicker basket tailor made to each player’s specifications, was attached to a player’s hand by a leather glove and tape, and looked like an extension of his arm. This large scoop has to be strong in order to catch the extremely hard ball, called a Pelota, which travels at speeds exceeding 150 miles an hour.

  With the aid of the programme it didn’t take Fran long to work out the points system and the betting, and what made it more interesting was that each player could be identified from his photograph in the programme. Fran certainly enjoyed her afternoon of Jai-Alai.

  After the Jai-Alai they had oysters in the half shell in a restaurant. They ate them steamed with crackers and they were very good and Fran thought they tasted like muscles. Chetan told her they were abundant in Florida and so were fairly cheap.

  “Well, what is the news you have for me” Fran asked Chetan. She had been anxiously waiting to hear what he had to tell her.

  “It’s about Bob” he said. “He was beaten up last night when he left the office as he was about to get in his car. A passer-by found him out cold next to his car and called an ambulance. He has a few cracked ribs and a massive headache and so won’t be at work for a few days. It’s no less than what he deserves, the bastard!” Chetan remarked.

  “What! I can’t say I’m sorry to hear that. I guess he has upset too many people” Fran said trying to read the expression in Chetan’s eyes.

  “You’re right. I don’t suppose he will be any different to people though. Those sort never learn. Anyway I'll call in the office tomorrow and pick up the money you're owed. Come on, time I took you home” Chetan said as he took the money from his pocket to pay the bill.

  "Thanks, I hope you don't have any trouble getting the money. Oh, and thanks for taking me to the Jai-Alai and the oysters. I've really enjoyed myself" Fran said as she was leaving the table. They left the restaurant and Chetan dropped Fran off at her apartment on his way home.

  **********

  "Hi Fran, are you ready?" Nina called out. It was 10.30 on Friday evening and she and Teddy were taking Fran out. As soon as Fran walked into Nina's place she could tell she had been drinking. Nina had been a staunch feminist in the past, she had worked hard for her movement and had re
cently met President Carter's wife at a special dinner. This evening she had attended a Barefoot and Pregnant Award Ceremony, where businessmen were made fun of by women. This was an annual event and had been televised. Apparently the award was in the shape of a foot. Nina was certainly in a playful mood. They went to the Gate Club and danced to Country & Western music, then went on to the Ramada Inn where a rock band was playing. As Teddy was the worse for drink they drank coffee in the restaurant.

  "I didn't like it, all those lesbian women running about" Teddy was saying. Fran's ears pricked up, he and Nina were in heated conversation about women's rights. The debate continued for about an hour. Fran found it amusing and joined in when she felt she had something to contribute. It was difficult to understand why Teddy felt that lesbians and homosexuals were unnatural people. He did not have any time for them.

  "We might have to stay at Teddy's for the weekend" Nina said.

  "Oh, a party at Teddy's!” Fran exclaimed laughing. Whilst Fran had been swimming that afternoon Nina had found termites in the house. The man had been spraying and when she had arrived home there were the remains of thousands of dead termites in the kitchen and bathroom. Fortunately Nina had cleaned up most of them.

  "When I turn off the lights to go to bed" Fran explained to Nina "I hear lots of scuttling about, is that the termites? I thought it was cockroaches. Also a palm beetle flew into the shower cubicle when I was having a shower; it was disgusting!" exclaimed Fran “and I check my shoes in the morning now since I found one in them.”

  Nina laughed. "Don't worry, it's only nature. Maybe it won't be as bad after the men have finished. They are going to spray again tomorrow. They were a bit confused as to know what to do. They didn't think they were termites. I told them they are termites. I have had them before. It cost me $300 to have the house sprayed last year!" Nina explained. They finished their coffee and headed home. It was 3 am.