Eva Gets A Job
- By Tracy Ames
- Published April 30, 2011
Tracy Ames
Mrs. Ames is an international bestselling author of interracial erotic fiction and a former columnist for several newsletters and magazines.
A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Tracy currently split time between Greenwich CT & New York City with her husband, children and a host of pets.
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Three weeks ago, Eva texted me ‘I need to talk to you about something I didn’t feel comfortable talking to dad about’.
*Cue me freaking the hell out and speed dialing Switzerland*
“I’m not coming home this summer…at all.” Eva says meekly. “I have a job.”
I collapse and thank heavens my child’s virtue in still intact while she tells me about the job she’s acquired at a retirement home where she’d be working three days a week and weekends. Her duties would be reading mail, mingling with residents, and other light chores. She also announced she’d have to reduce her summer classes to two rather than the four we’d anticipated.
For the untrained eye, let me point out the glaring problems with the abovementioned: First, Eva has cut two classes, both of which were extracurricular but still. Second, GREG AMES DAUGHTER HAS A JOB!! Third, she went to Momma Ames who, in what I can only imagine was a state of catastrophic delirium, gave her blessing. Fourth, GREG AMES DAUGHTER HAS A JOB!!!
Back to the story…
I calmly informed Eva that her ass was mine for circumventing us. At the very least she should have come to me. The she started crying that Greg won’t let her grow up. I completely understand where she’s coming from; Greg should allow her to be ‘normal’. You see, her friends are trust fund babies, like herself. The only difference is Eva is grounded and has an uber-strict allowance and there’s not an ounce of self-entitlement in her. She’s as comfortable on the Ames’ farm as she is jetting off to Nice. Most of her friends wouldn’t know one end of a cow from the other.
Eva is Greg through and through. Though not as young as Eva, Greg rebelled against his family’s wishes and charted his own path of normality. This is why I believe she went to Momma Ames before coming to us. Greg and MA don’t talk about those years of separation, but its right below the surface.
If my last statement makes no sense to you click here. Everyone else, keep reading.
I promised I’d let her break the news to her dad after she arrived home last week. By then MA and I had hammered out our defense strategy and escape plan. Well, Eva came home and told him. Below is the trajectory of my husband’s reaction (more or less):
Denial: You were dreaming, Sweetie. You don’t have a job.
Endorphins kick in, numbing the harsh reality slowly seeping into his frontal lobe: I’m going to forget we had this conversation and pretend you have common sense.
Endorphins wear off, looks for culpable adult(s): Who gave you permission? You didn’t do this on your own!
Misdirected anger: Who the hell gave you a job!? Who flouts my authority? Call them NOW!
Vein in forehead pulses, launches into a Viking rage: Have you lost your fucking mind!?!?! *Lots of yelling and swearing. I ran for cover*
Two days later, tempers cool. But Eva didn’t drop the subject. She pressed him, backed off, and then pressed him again. For days she’s been poking the bear!
Neither is giving in but at least Greg’s speaking in full sentences and the vein has stopped throbbing. Although Greg views are extremely liberal, he’s still a traditional WASP. He can’t fathom his young daughter working. Volunteering a few hours here and there is fine, but not working. In his autocratic eyes, Eva’s only focus should be getting a proper education in preparation for college. His daughter was raised to value education, which she does*. This working business isn’t to be born.
Greg has forgotten how much has changed since we were young. At her age, our summers were carefree save brief stints in summer school. However, our children don’t enter school; they enter an arms race where everyone is hoping to out arm the person beside them. Little Billy isn’t a classmate; he’s a future competitor for college enrollment and career slots.
It’s easy to look at the high tech gadgets at their disposal and discount their plight, but make no mistake they’re under pressure to digest vats of ever changing information. Trouble is they become desensitized because, good and bad, everything is felt immediately, baying for instantaneous processing. Learn this now! Download this now! Why don’t you know this by now! Your kitten just died, get over it now!
They’ve lost their innocence too soon. That in mind, I don’t blame Eva for wanting to take a break even if it means hanging out with the elderly. Convincing Greg isn’t going to be easy. In WASPsville, young daughters don’t seek employment; summer or otherwise. So Eva has a fight on her hand. As far as her tiptoeing pass the permission button, MA and I resigned ourselves to our fates, confessed to having prior knowledge of Eva’s wickedness, and threw ourselves at his mercy. All is well on the front. But Ms. Eva got the bullocking of her life from me!
I’ll let you know how things pan out.
* I’m beginning to wonder where I factor into Eva's existence.
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9 Responses to "Eva Gets A Job"
said this on 30 Apr 2011 10:15:37 AM CDT
I love Eva!!! Congratulation to her. she prepared for war before entering the battle, that’s my girl
I’m beginning to wonder where I factor into Eva's existence-your duty is over TA! You gave birth to her (oh the bear will get over it!!! poke away Eva, poke away!!!!) |
said this on 30 Apr 2011 1:32:56 PM CDT
Lady, Eva almost lost her life! I forgot to mention how the cot attached to her grand plan. ALOT! But she thought ahead and is using the money in her school account (she had a balance because she attended a partial summer term last year) and she asked Momma Ames and my mom to make up the differance. They agreed. Aren't parent and grandparents supposed to stick together!
This child might be yours. I wouldn't have dared pulled this with my folks. I rebelled once but quickly fell in line, lol! Greg is calm now but she keeps poking him and reminding him that he did the same thing. Very dangerous move but she knows how far she can push him. At least they're talking. The poking continues... |
said this on 30 Apr 2011 1:08:33 PM CDT
I can't wait to hear the outcome of this one. My daughter is in her second year of college and she is talking about getting a part-time job . Mind you she is also going to summer school, so I am trying to understand how she will be doing all of this. I really want her to focus on her education. She feels the need to do something else, because it is not about her needing money for school. She got a full ride to go to college, and money in excess.
Why didn't Eva come to momma first? Our duty is never over! |
said this on 30 Apr 2011 1:18:52 PM CDT
Wanda, you understand perfectly well. It's kinda like the 60s where educated youth from stable familes sought something more even though they had (by all standards) everything.
Eva said she went to Momma Ames first because I was overworked (which I was)...and she didn't want to brag me into the line of fire. I'm still wrapping my head around those two points. |
said this on 30 Apr 2011 2:02:30 PM CDT
Lol! Poor Eva I sure as hell wouldn't want the wrath of 50Mil coming down on me. He should look at it this way. Most kids her age these days especially in her postion like you said can be very self centered and on think about themselves. I think it's cool that she would even want to spend her summer helping the elderly. Yes education is important but a kid should still be allowed to be a kid. Kids today a under so much more pressure and stress then we were as kids. Sometimes we forget they a break just like eveyone else. I hope evetthing works out.
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said this on 30 Apr 2011 3:41:44 PM CDT
I think I about the poke the bear too. When I was in high school I spent a lot of time volunteering at a retirement/nursing home. This isn't like stocking shelves all summer, making an endless amount of copies, or incessently schleping coffee to some executive malcontent. During my time I learned how to really listen, be patient and present (I've slipped a little on these skills). I heard some of the best stories and heard some of the best life advice. At that age, I probably didn't understand all that was imparted to me, but each day I learned that I had a lot to learn about life, growing older, and looking back at my life and figuring out what stories I might tell some young whipper snapper. "Good luck Eva!"
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said this on 01 May 2011 1:14:02 AM CDT
Are the grandmothers in trouble? I'm thinking a minor tongue lashing was in order. And yes, parents and grandparents ARE supposed to work together. I think it should be admirable for Eva to work, (and at a nursing home) even though she doesn't have to. It's building even more character and life experience in the young lady. From my experience with my late husband spending the last year of his life in a nursing home, too many residents of these homes do not have a family presence so Eva would be very welcome. Go Eva! Sorry, Tracy! :)
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said this on 17 May 2011 4:45:28 AM CDT
My dad blew several gaskets when I decided to work during my college years. When the screaming/silent treatment (he would alternate) he called in reinforcements...my aunts. I held my ground and did what I thought was best. No disrespect was intended...just need for personal growth outside of my parents control. He eventually (many semesters later) allowed me to charter my own path.
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said this on 03 Jun 2011 3:48:10 PM CDT
LMAO. Great post. I like Eva's initiative and hope she gets her way. Loved the way that you described Greg's escalation from denial to fury.
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