THE GAME

The meal was great. Although Ben offered to cover the bill I still ordered the cheapest thing I could find on the menu; Lamb with mint sauce. It was the best that I had ever had. The service was also excellent. Waiters and waitresses seemed to float between the tables smiling and asking each customer if they were ok or if they needed something. It seemed as if they could read our minds and were available to cater to all of our needs. I fantasized about getting a foot rub and when our beautiful waitress, with her short blonde hair and long, slender finders came to us once again to make sure that we were absolutely comfortable I wished that I could say, “yes, I really need a foot rub.” I smiled at the thought and asked for another glass of wine instead. As she poured the wine I admired her long muscular, yet feminine arms. She seemed pretty fit. I smiled at her and she smiled back, exposing perfect white teeth framed by plump pink lips. An inexplicable energy flowed between us that gave me the feeling that she could sense that I needed my spirits lifted and she was doing her little part in making that happen.

After the meal we relaxed and got into a conversation about our careers. Feeling like I was among friends I related my experience on the project. Ben’s jaw dropped when I told him how I had been treated and work environment that I had endured but Freddie’s face was expressionless as she attentively listed to my story. She was utterly unimpressed by the saga that had stripped me of my dignity and self-respect.

When I finished my story, Freddie said, “It’s a game and if you don’t know how to play it they’ll chew you up and spit you out and you’ll end up just another washed up, drug-addicted, alcoholic used-to-be lawyer.”
“What do you mean?” I said, truly ignorant of what she was trying to make me understand. “Look, doing contract attorney work isn’t the most attractive thing for a professional to do but if you work it right, you can get what you need and move on to bigger and better things. First, you need to be registered with at least five agencies. This way you don’t have to wait long between projects. Totally eliminate the word ‘loyalty’ from your vocabulary in this business. It’s all about you and getting on the best project available. Keep in touch with all the agencies and if something better comes up. You have to go for it. They’ll try to make you feel bad about leaving but the firm and the agency are only looking out for their best interests as you now know, so you need to look out for yours. When you leave a project, make sure its on good terms because you never know when you might need that agency again. But the most important thing that I can tell you is to try to get yourself out of this thing altogether. It’s extremely stressful wondering whether each day is the last day. That can really put a damper on your budget.”

Freddie reached across the table and handed me a card. It was another employment agency and the name of the agency’s director was listed on it. “Call her and tell her that I told you to call. She’ll hook you up on something in no time.” I was relieve and grateful that I had agreed to have dinner with Ben and Freddie.