2 Questions Every Girl is Asking Herself

Chapter 81

I took a moment to think about what she just said. Charmed really. I had been worried that she would ask why a consultant like me would take on a menial job in a warehouse? But it seems like she has already formulated her own assumptions. Even though she didn't know the true purpose of my trip, but if I framed my thinking her way, London isn't a failure at all. London is -- only, and merely – a Working Holiday. Which is how most normal people would interpret why a management consultant would take on a packing job at Browns anyway.

Following her train of thought, I asked, "How much is the employee discount?"

"30%. Things at Browns can get very expensive. You can't buy a whole lot of stuff. But you can definitely buy something nice." She smiled.

I've never owned things like this. Why not now? The way she talked about the job made it alluring. More importantly, it would allow me to justify to myself, my family and my friends, that my time in London was worthwhile. If I have done nothing else here, then at least I would leave with a bag from Prada.

"Why don't you start tomorrow?"

***

Unlike the casual conversation I had with HR, the Web Dispatch team were all business. Right away they gave me a two-hour test to pull and pack a list of clothes from online orders. Navigating the maze-like stock room was no easy feat. But excited by the new beginning, I did it with the attitude of an eager beaver on the first day of school. In the end, I thought I did great. But they weren't completely sold. The Web Dispatch team lead, Rachel, the granddaughter of Mrs. B (who founded Browns in 1970), offered me a 7-day paid trial.

I had no idea getting a temporary packing job would be this hard! But at least I'm getting paid for the next seven days. That's good news! I was determined be careful not to repeat the same mistake I had made at the PR job.

Everyday I'm the first one on the job. I pay close attention to what my colleagues train me to do, everything from where to tie the tags to how to tape the box. My colleagues, I'm fairly certain, are all in their early twenties. Fresh out of fashion school, or in the midst of it. Some of them have traveled great distances, from Brazil, America, or rural England to work at Browns. I didn't know it at the time, but Mrs. B, the founder of Browns, was known for discovering amazing talents such as John Galliano, Alexander McQueen and Christopher Kane. Even the Queen of England has bestowed a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire, a rank just below Knighthood) upon Mrs. B for her contributions in fashion. So for my colleagues, working at Browns it isn't just about packing boxes, it's a step up in their careers.

As for me, what am I doing here? I hadn't come to London to get into fashion. I certainly hadn't come here to be packing clothes in a basement that looked like the tube's underground tunnel. If it's just to pay the bills, I may as well return to being a management consultant for a bigger paycheck. In an office with a window too.

I remind myself it's all temporary. If I have done nothing else in London, at least I have made it on my own.

Soon, my time settled into a nice rhythm. I spend my days at Browns pulling and packing clothes. I spend my evenings with my meetup buddies, writing and talking about books. I spend my weekends with my friends, either watching a concert, or attending a book launch party. I love the swing of my days between easeful earning activities, dear friends and meaningful pursuit.

The task in London was to find a writing job, but since I couldn't get that, I'm happy to have a job that allows me to be here. I began to look for ways to rationalize/justify working at Browns, like being close to other writers, seeing famous authors in the flesh, or attending the Man Booker Prize readings and hearing how great literature sounds out loud. (It really helps if the author has a great reading voice.)