21st Century Feminism

“He looked at me and held his gaze… And I’m tellin’ ya’, he was holding it real firm… know what I mean?”

“Real firm, love it!” Christa cackled over her shoulder as she swung out of her parking space. “Then what happened?”

“So, I said, ‘Thanks for that.’ And I go to turn away. Far as I’m concerned conversation’s over, right? I’ve got the answers I need; I got work to do.”

“Hell, you both do!” said Christa, unnecessarily reminding Anna which of them had a seat on the Executive Leadership Team.

“Right,” said Anna, deferring slightly.

“Go on, what happened then.”

“’Cept he’s not moving.”

“He’s not?”

“No. He’s got this sassy little smirk on his face.” Anna pulled heavily on her cigarette. “Sassy little smirk, twinkle in his eye, and a tight pair of black 501’s.”

“About to get tight-er.”

Christa’s tyres squealed their excitement as they pulled out of the office car park onto the freeway.

“So,” Anna continued, blowing smoke out of the passenger window. “I faced him down. I didn’t say shit, but I’m like… well? C’mon, man, show me what’ya got.”

“Bring it!”

“This ain’t my first rodeo, cowboy.” She cracked an invisible whip.

“You’ve herded bigger steers.”

“And herded ’em more than one at a time, sugar.”

They erupted in laughter. Behind them a horn sounded.

“Aw, fuck you!” She flicked her spent cigarette at the overtaking car and flipped up a finger.

“Asshole,” Christa chimed in. “So? How’d you leave it?”

“That’s what I want to talk to you about. Fucker’s on the hook. Wants to know if there’s a spare ticket for tonight.”

“Can’t.” Christa winced. “It’s a work event.”

“Yeah… Well… he works for us… technically.”

“No, I mean it’s a team building – our department only – no hunks from the shop floor allowed work event.”

Anna’s shoulders deflated.

Christa knew the situation, knew it only too well from their 1-2-1 sessions. Anna had been single for over a year and had been working on this guy for months. Truth be told, he was the only reason she was in town. Tonight’s team building event was a smoke screen, Christa’s attempt to help the two hook up.

She couldn’t afford for other people in the business to see that though.

For a few minutes the only voice in the car belonged to Celine Dion, but at the next set of traffic lights, Christa picked up her cell phone and got to work. Soon Celine was silenced by a ring tone.

“Whadyathink?” asked Christa, picking up.

“Jacob’s not interested in soccer,” a woman said over the car speaker. “Maybe you can ask him for his ticket.”

“Did he really say that?” asked Anna, rejuvenated.

“Thanks,” said Christa, cutting the call. The lights were green, but she ignored them. She tapped some more on her phone.

Another horn sounded behind them.

“Fucking go around,” shouted Anna, flailing an arm out of the window. “Assho-”

The phone was ringing again.

“Well?” asked Christa.

A tepid voice answered. “I do… and I don’t.”

“Meaning?”

“Well, I’m not a massive fan of the team, I watch the odd game… but I was looking forward to the night out, y’know?”

Christa’s eyes narrowed as Jacob continued to fight his case.

“I mean, we’ve been talking about it for months… and this is my first time out with all the guys and-”

“Don’t fuck around, Jacob,” Anna cut in. “You just want to sit in the corner and bitch about everyone. We got someone who actually follows the team wants to come.”

Christa slapped her silent.

“Listen, there’s going to be other nights, Jacob. I just need you do me a favour on this occasion.”

“But everyone else is going to be-”

“They are,” Christa thought for a moment. “But see here, they’re all full-time employees.”

“Full time? But, I – I’m full-time.”

“You are… you are… but see, you’ve not completed your probationary period yet, so technically…”

Christa let the sentence hang.

Silence.

“OK” he said, clearly dejected.  

“Thankyou Jacob,” said Christa, reaching out to end the call. “Speak tomorrow.”

As soon as it was clear Anna punched the air. “Yessssss!”

“It’s rodeo time, girlfriend!” said Christa.

“Saddle up, cowboy!”

The pair started to shriek, like two virgins anticipating their first sleepover, but were cut abruptly short by a man clearing his throat. Suddenly remembering that they had two visiting male colleagues in the back seat, the women froze.

“Don’t mind us,” one of the men said.