At the Airport
He was at the airport, again. The company was expanding, staff was being imported from
all over the world.
For the past three weeks he had been virtually operating a shuttle service.
Now today, (he looked at his order list) he was to collect a Miss Eva Robaznik.
He had no idea what she looked like, her age, anything. But then, he was only a lowly driver. Respect was in short supply when one dropped below the Office.
He was wearing the cap and thin jacket with the company's logo and had a small banner (actually an old ping pong paddle )with the same logo artfully pasted.
He was to lift the paddle when passengers began to file into the arrival lounge. This was the part of the job he found the most odious.
Not the early mornings, the late nights or weekends, but having to prove to the world that he, Jeremy Nunes, was a chauffeur.
Without the jacket he could lounge and people might assume he was picking up a family member or friend. Without the jacket people might assume he owned the SUV.
Without the jacket and the cap, people might think he was somebody.
When he was....
He'd always imagined being 'something' when he was growing up, and because he was bright, he had no limits. But then, he had no money and school wasn't free, and soon enough he'd met a girl, and soon enough she was pregnant.
Because he was responsible, he married her and sought work. The only job he could get was a 'driver' so he took it.
He took it, thinking there was better to come. Thinking it was only temporary. Thinking...
Thinking that one day he would not be a driver.
But he was a Driver.
Yes, now he worked for this prestigious company. As a Driver.
Now, his wife had long dumped him because she not only made more money than he did but had a fancy title, and didn't want to be connected to a mere 'driver'.
As bad as this was, her mother lived in a lovely house not a crappy apartment. And her mother always felt, and said that her daughter had married down, that her daughter could do better.
Saying it enough times it hadn't been difficult to fracture the marriage.
Hence he got the crappy apartment and she moved in with her mother. She and their daughter moved in with her mother and were quite comfortable.
He stayed in the crappy apartment. And didn’t know what comfort was.
Imagination
As Jeremy waited for the plane to touch down he imagined Miss Eva to be one of those excruciatingly chic European women. He didn't think she'd be Miss World category or second tier beauty, but 'striking'.
His thoughts went from one version to another as he waited.
The plane was on the ground, the passengers would be coming through the gate and as she was traveling first class she'd be one of the first off.
His eyes were scanning the women and he raised his paddle.
He searched and hoped, and imagined...
then, when she was six feet from him, he looked at the female version of the Pillsbury Doughboy.
Yup, that's Eva.
And he repeated his Mantra; It just keeps getting better.
Here She Is
Eva Robaznik finally came through Customs and found herself on the hot pavement just outside of the terminal. Being sent here, almost last minute, she hadn't known what to pack so took almost everything she owned, save winter coats and boots.
She had one huge suitcase onwheels she pulled, another she wore on her back.
It was quite hot, she had never felt such heat. Further, the trip had been long and uncomfortable, and though she'd travelled many times before, she always had the momentary discomfort of being in a foreign country where she knew no one.
She scanned the crowd for the driver, She was told that he would be at the airport to collect her.
Ah! There he was. Big.
Very big.
Buff, very buff.
Eva had expected a wizened older man or a non-descript, not someone so striking.
She stood a few seconds just staring at the driver, then realising how pathetic she must appear, moved quickly (as quickly as she could considering her burdens) towards him.
In a loud clear voice; "I am Eva Robaznik," and put out her hand.
He shook it, without a smile or word, took her luggage, and led to the car. He put down the bags, opened the back door, and she got in.
Shutting her door he turned to her luggage, and piled that into the boot, then moved to take the driver's seat. As he drove out of the airport he stated; "I was told to take you to the office first..."
As she balanced herself in the backseat, enjoying the air conditioned interior of the car, she asked the driver; "What is your name?"
Eva spoke in her usual commanding way, not soft nor flexible.
"Nunes." The driver muttered.
"Is that First name or last?"
"Last." He chipped as he maneuvered through traffic.
Since he was being unfriendly there was no sense in trying the egalitarian approach she occasionally used with previous drivers. If he wanted to keep the barriers, she would comply.
Turning on her Cell phone, Eva rang the Office. She spoke to the person in charge of her arrangements.
As there was no reason for her to physically go to the office, she was informed of her accommodations. Verifying the name and address of the Hotel, she requested the driver be called and directed.
Eva was not one to allow herself to be 'managed' by an inferior. If Nunes was going to be difficult, she could be distant.
Doing his job
As the conversation between Eva and the office was not being conducted in English, Jeremy didn't know precisely what was being said but caught the words "Spanish Court" .
He developed the impression that he was to take her to that hotel.
When his cell rang and he received that information he agreed as expected. And as expected he would be told;
"Please stay with Miss Robaznik and whatever she wants or needs please ensure that she receives it, she is Very Important to the Company."
Yup. Friday night.
Friday night and he's going to spend it running errands for the Pillsbury dough girl.
It just keeps getting better.