A good day's work

I can’t deal with indolence, my own or others’ and being on holidays till the new school term starts is starting to frustrate me.  Although I am writing, I feel like I am wasting time I’d normally spend working.  I need to do some form of work, paid or unpaid.  It’s good for my soul.  I have a reason to rise, I socialise, I labour, I contribute.  At the end of the day, I have achieved something; I’ve put in a good day’s work. 

     When school finished last year, I decided to do some volunteer work and contacted some organisations I knew relied on volunteer labour, you know, the ones with .org in the email address.  

     I rang the women’s shelter.  “We don’t take volunteers because of problems with insurance.”  

     I went to Meals on Wheels at the same time the Christmas party was in full swing.  “We’re right now, but fill out an application.”  

     Finally one of the second hand shops was stoked with the promise of volunteer labour, more so because I offered the services of a teenage son and they needed muscles for the heavy jobs.

     However, the shop was due to close over Christmas so we struck a deal.  I’d return on a set date, not the day earlier because the supervisor wouldn’t be there.

     I couldn’t wait to work.  The festive season is too long.  Finally the morning arrived.

     Sutchy the Rooster and I made lunch, energy food, sandwiches, peanut butter and cheese and coffee in a thermos mug.  We expected to put in at least six hours of work standing, moving, lugging and so on.  In short, we’d be buggered.

     We arrived early and had to wait for the roller door to rise.  I placed our lunch on the counter and introduced myself and the Rooster.  Helen indeed remembered me, but the supervisor wasn’t in today and Helen didn’t have the authority to supervise us.  Could we come back next week or the week after?

     I picked up our sandwiches and thermos mug.  I was crushed.  Unemployed yet I can’t even give away my labour.

     Mumbled Rooster as we were out of earshot, ‘well, that was a good day’s work.’