Author: tq1695

It was like a book
with a beginning and end, but no middle.
The women of the town were too young
or already wives.
Availability :
fundamental prerequisite for a relationship.
They weren’t ….
going from high school to the marriage
or education in distant centres often returning,
married or divorced,
nest- building or past abandoning.
Or dented by the inattention of neither.
And older – too old.

I had come young,
hoping for adventure
settling for time out.
Career had found me.
It has come as a surprise,
an opening bid hoped for, but not expected.

Conspicuously single and lonely.
Gay? Many thought so,
before time was liberal ….
when gay was still vice and precarious.

Wanted :
for young professional male
an Intelligent intelligent, attractive, loving, vivacious, outdoorsy woman.

Wanted,
an intelligent, attractive, loving, vivacious woman.
Wanted,
an intelligent, attractive, loving, woman.
Wanted,
an intelligent, attractive, woman.
Wanted, 
an intelligent woman.
Wanted
a woman.

I loved going to work
it made me feel useful and appropriate,
and not lonely.

Mr James,
sounds like a character from a PG Wodehouse novel –
Public School,
military,
foreign service.
He was – all of the above,
finished university just in time for war,
then to Africa.
The winds of change blew to New Zealand.

He’d been the boss,
before the takeover
and push from grace.
Lost everything,
even the original computer only he could tame –
moved to the new admin block,
where it was never used ….  and he never went.

The sign on his door still said Superintendent ….
it had been left –
everybody knew Superintendent to be lower than Director.
He introduced himself –
the air of a grandfather, wondering
exactly how many this new one made?

I wasn’t quite sure what he did.
His days were spent in his office with files
apparently some project for head office.
Full-time and part-time
arriving 8:30 am departing at 4 pm –
indifference seemed not to mind.

Keys. I was never given any.
assuming after, when on permanent staff –
fair enough.
Eager to please … I was often early –
most mornings the building already unlocked.
If not, arrivals would,
chirping greetings and opinions on the weather.

It was a surprise to see Mr James so early.
“Hello,” he said unlocking the door,
“forget your key…?.
Hmm….
why….? ” .… Then realized I didn’t know.
He took me to the hiding place, and the spare key.

An old joke –
three New Zealanders stranded on a desert island.
First course of action –
form a committee of three.
Second course of action –
nominate a chairman.
Third course of action –
form two subcommittees of two

At university
in my major department
committees – everywhere!!!.
Safety committee,
staff student committee,
academic committee,
research committee,
social committee,
try to get anything done. Frustration.

We met monthly,
scientists and technicians,
to plan and discuss.
After several months
I’m asked to be chairman. Affirmation.