At a shabby temping agency desk with a beige CRT computer, a woman in a navy blazer holds up a Polaroid photo she just took while a long-haired young man sits across from her with a polite curious look in 1990s Australia

Four Tests at the Temping Agency (Part 2)

Views: 16
This is an excerpt from a real diary entry from the Diary of a Mad Chaos, written on May 8, 1999. Learn more about the history of the diary

Interview at the Temping Agency

Crossing the small length of busy road and saying goodbye to the finely tuned vision of that girl’s ass, I began my trek into the worn-down temping agency. My first impressions weren’t so great at all and when I walked into the agency it looked way too industrial for my liking. Despite that, I had a little chat to the Receptionist about my visit, was given a horde of paperwork to complete and sat down to do just that. Arriving there at 11:30 a.m. I started diligently upon the paperwork, you know, the usual shit.

Half an hour later I approached the incapable receptionist again who then gave a message to the lady I was being interviewed by, Beatrix. There was no hint of worry in my limbs as the lack of proficiency of this company that appealed to the baser of my needs had me unalarmed. Casually I did shake Beatrix’s hand as she walked out and took me into a room where she had asked me questions I had already thought answers up for. That little stage of the interview lasted ten minutes and it was so uncoordinated on her behalf that I had to hand her my résumé.

Paperwork seemed to be the brunt of my problems as we stepped out of the interviewing room and continued on some more pen with paper. There was a test I had to complete, full with calculated questions, grammatical queries and the likes of stupid trick questions. When this was complete I handed it to the Receptionist and then Beatrix headed back out to interview me again. This time we moved to the room next door where there was a computer to test me on all facets of my expertise. She placed me on four tests which I thought was a bit overboard.

As she left, the first test I had to complete was for Microsoft Word where I had to answer 40 questions, you know the deal. That was continued with Microsoft Excel (The same jiff), a typing test and then an alphanumeric typing test. After more than an hour I finally completed the lot and particularly liked my typing speed test hoping that it would be a good result. As they started to print out I pointed out some more inconsistencies of the company. For one, the printer was the oldest you could find with tear off sides and you could hardly read due to the almost drained ink cartridge.

A Polaroid and Parting Words

Pressing a buzzer, I waited patiently for Beatrix to head back in and overlooking my results she favored them to be very successful. Some more chatting, explaining all the procedures, what not and then she took a Polaroid picture of me. “You can always remember a person by their face” she uttered to me as she took a snap shot and then proceeded to explain the fanatics of our partnership as she waved the photo around for development purposes.

All in all, the interview lasted until 2:00 p.m. and with the conclusion of those four tests and the Polaroid I was on my way. Her last words being “Now we like to hear from you a lot so give us a call three times a week so that we can find you a position, however we don’t guarantee ongoing work”.

Wandering the Carriages

Making my way back to St. Peters Station I was lucky not to find a ticket collector and I was lucky to assume there would be no collectors at such a forlorn station. Making my way to Sydenham Station I sat there for a couple of minutes with only my blankness to accompany me. Catching the next available train to Campbelltown I didn’t even think about trying to head to the City for some relaxing sun, it was too late.

The seats on the train were medium-filled and not being able to find my own seat I kept wandering carriages until I could. There, stepping through a corridor did I find a good looking girl that did attract me more with her dress sense than anything else in the dominant first glance. Looking Egyptian or some darker bronzed nationality I fell in love with a look oft seen and admired. Wearing black joggers with a white sole, she had black pants on that looked work orientated and had a shine to them.

Her hair was black, to her shoulders and curly. Her hands and skin were pure marvel but she wasn’t the most gorgeous I had seen but her younger look designed by the youthful shoes mixed with ripe clothing did mix my likes well. Deciding not to sit across from her as she was sitting on the seats near the doorway I made my way downstairs and from there glanced upon her on occasion.

Glances All the Way

The Egyptian looking girl sitting within my view made me believe that she could in some way be related to Mina or Sonya. This question of course would never have arisen as I have a knack for keeping to my modest self. Nevertheless, my glancing up at her and her glancing down at me caught our eyes more than I could imagine and yet, even as where she was sitting emptied everyone leaving only her, I made no move.

Our glances were equal as she like me showed a humble and yet distraught attitude when our glances became too incessant. For that I remedied to look out the window and away from her as she leant her hand onto her face so that I could not see her eyes and her mine. This continued for many a mile and as we came closer to Campbelltown I was starting to wonder where she would jump off.

Usually when I spot a beautiful girl in the City and catch a train with her she ends up jumping off at Campbelltown. So do you call that coincidence or faithful luck begging me to make a new beginning? Each length of time with looking and without was equally unbearable and when finally in Campbelltown we were both to jump off. Let me just note, there was one time earlier in our trip where we both pretty much glued our eyes to each other for at least a minute.

I wavered my sight on occasion not knowing how to react to such staring but that soon did relent to cause the both of us to be such reticent creatures. Making my way up to where the exit doors were I placed myself to the side of her, her hand grasping the same pole that I was. We glanced once but as the doors opened I allowed her first to depart so that I could glance her swaying body from behind.

It wasn’t too bad a sight but I feel she was younger than I had initially thought with her wearing underwear as opposed to a G-String. Her skin was firm, tight, like that of a young girl so I thought nothing of her as I passed her as she used the payphone and made my way to the bus stop.

Bus Stop Crowds

There was no shortage of the Campbelltown community as I made my way to the bus stop. From the walks of workers to the majority of school kids heading home, they were all there. Walking past the horde I sat myself down on the rare availability of seats and surveyed the area before looking forward and keeping to myself. Some little girls from school decided to sit next to me and I knew their perving intentions.

That reminds me, when I was being interviewed by Beatrix she was one of the sparse people to ask me about my necklace. Beatrix thought it had to do with ‘Pisces’ but I straightened her out with the genuine truth. Anyway, as the first bus came for Ruse I noticed an extremely gorgeous girl around my age or one underneath jumping on the bus. These days I am beginning to welcome girls of many different backgrounds and diverse colors of hair.

Black and brown hair are starting to prevail with the lengths of golden locks I so love in these solvent adulations. Eyeing her step up to the bus, her cheeks tightly gripping to the shimmering fabrics, her luscious lips tentatively entering my hearts fondness as quickly as she left. Following her beauty through the obscured window, I watched her sit, chat with her equally beautiful friends, only undermined by hers.

School Girl Beside Me

The next bus arriving after my heart had left was mine. Standing near the front of the line I found myself to be near the last person to jump on the bus because of all the school kids cramming themselves on. Luckily I found myself a lone seat and I found it amusing when a school girl sat next to me. She must have been five years before my age and as we turned corners and our elbows exchanged senses I wondered what she was thinking.

On occasion she would glance over my way and sneak a look so I thought to make a whimsical occasion of this pick and begin my play upon her. Slightly I would edge our corners and my elbow to her touch, to tease her curious mind. It would only be a slight touch now and again but as she jumped off the bus, it was enough for her to take a look back inside to try and spot me before the bus departed again. Next came a more attractive girl with natural blonde-brown hair.

Being around the same age I didn’t need to be so whimsical as the corners done it all for me. Being playful was my only intention and you would never have thought me to deliberately find their touch as I had such a motionless and austere look about me. Jumping off at my stop I made the rest of the walk home and arrived near 3:30 p.m. Having myself something to eat and then cleansing what little perspire had eventuated of the day, I sat and relaxed for a while.

Next Post
Tony grumbles about his shrinking circle, loses at Gridiron to…