My Second Job: "What City?"

"A Queen can offer a young man whatever he wants.
And a young man wants everything."
-as heard while watching the
dramatic 2009 Broadway play
"Mary Stuart"
I still remember my first day on the job. It was tax day (April 15th) 1977. I lied about my age. I wrote that I turned eighteen on February 26th when in reality my birthday is May 26th. I would not have been hired otherwise. Besides, I would be turning eighteen very soon. I took an exam in Downtown Oakland for a position in Operator Services. It was such a 'sweaty palms' experience, but I passed with flying colors.

My job began at East 14th Street in San Leandro (only a couple of blocks from where my Grandmother lives).

I began to work my first full-time job as a 411-Directory Assistance Operator. While I was still going to school part-time at Chabot College I thought this would be a great way to build my low money supply.

I was the youngest one in the office. There were many women and a fair share of men. I would say there were about ten-percent men.

The old ladies (that have been working there for years) liked to work the ‘short evening’ shifts. Their hours were like 4:15PM to 10:15PM or 4:30PM to 10:30PM. I loved those hours and that was my ideal choice. I could go to school in the mornings and work here at night but because of my low seniority I often got the 2PM to 10PM shift. What a long day.

I became friendly with a lot of the girls there who were in their early twenties like Devonie O’Keefe, Susan Luna, Sharon Cortez, Debbie Honcik and Cheri Potter (to name a few). After a while, the job got so boring. I had to ask “What City?” all day long. I certainly did get good at finding listings in the phone book via their old-fashioned microfiche readers.

I was never tardy or absent and had a flawless record so I was able to put in for a job transfer as soon as I had six months of service (October 15, 1977). Most jobs are like this. You must 'play the game', abide by the rules, be an actor...until you can escape to the next "thing".

My transfer request was accepted. By March 1978 I had another job in Downtown Oakland. I was one of the lucky ones who did not have to stay there asking, “What City?” all day long. What torture.

Twenty-five years ago today:

August 19, 1984
Sunday

It is rather funny how I can be such a good detective. I woke up this morning and thought I would call Chris Cordellos. To my surprise and amazement he was home!
“I was home last night,” Chris said.
He was NOT at home last night because I called him. Why is he such a “bullshitter”? Deception is high on his list from past experience (not to mention my own personal knowledge of a Pisces person).

He had to get off of the phone but he called me back a few minutes later. We talked for a while.
“I will be there on August 25th, ok?” Chris asked.
“All right,” I said without really knowing what to think about ‘us’.

I went bicycling and drove by Nici Maurino’s house near Webster Street in Alameda. She was home when I stopped by and provided me with orange juice and cantaloupe nourishment. Again, she wanted me to ‘make love to her’. She was coming on so strong. Like…let’s just do it right here ‘Wham Bam’. It brought that Morgan Fairchild movie (Seduction) to a whole new level.
I nonchalantly said, “When the time is right.”
Of course, I thought to myself, “If that will ever be with you…that is!”

I enjoyed breakfast at Mom and Dad’s and then went out cycling again on this summer Sunday. I returned to moms’ for lunch. I made a simple peach enriched milkshake and napped afterwards.

I went cycling again when I woke up.

Later, ma and pa called me at my pad while I was napping again. They wanted to invite me over for dinner. I went along with them to that Mexicali Rose restaurant on Webster Street. It was filling but good. Mom and Dad ordered a pitcher of margarita and we got buzzed together. That was fun.

We stopped and rented two movies, a Stephen King movie called ‘Christine’ and another one starring Natalie Wood called ‘Brainstorm’ (her last movie). After watching the movies with them I walked to my pad.

Upon arrival to my surroundings I gave Chris Cordellos another phone call. He didn’t really want to talk to me because he had ‘Jeff and Joetta’ there for a visit. So, ‘the hell with it’ I thought.

I am hitting the sack. Good night!