It's Only Temporary Read Free Page B

I do have my academic peers.’
    ‘Can they help?’
    ‘Help?’
    ‘With your situation, put you up for a bit?’
    ‘Why would they do that?’
    ‘Well because they sympathise and want to help.’
    ‘Oh I see.’ The thought of demeaning myself and asking a colleague for temporary accommodation had not occurred to me. Did people do that?
    ‘I am not sure if anyone would do that. They are all on holiday until the end of the summer, by which time I assure you I will have resolved this situation. People with my level of qualifications and experience do not remain unemployed for long.’
    ‘Ok, family?’
    ‘Parents and I have already tried them. Not an option I’m afraid.’
    ‘I see. How many dependants do you have?’
    ‘Pardon?’
    ‘Do you have children?’
    ‘Good lord no! Why on earth anyone with half a brain would want to voluntarily expose themselves to repugnant midgets quite frankly beggars belief.’
    ‘So that’s a no then?’
    As she said this I spotted a framed picture of her and two little girls who looked exactly like her.
    ‘Your sisters?’ I asked hopefully.
    ‘My children,’ she replied without looking up.
    ‘Now as I am sure you are aware as a single adult you do not score very highly in terms of housing points.’
    ‘Score? Points? Was it some form of sporting event? Did I have to answer questions? Would there be one of those cringe worthy audience phone in votes? Before I could contemplate this any further Sharon carried on.
    ‘I have one place available; it is quite small and is not suitable for families. It has been offered to a few people but so far it is not taken.’
    ‘OK, well maybe I am in luck then?’
    ‘Hmmm, maybe. The Landlord has indicated that some, TLC experience would be beneficial.’
    Yet another abbreviation was the whole of the accommodation sector shortened to three letters? Perhaps it was to avoid the need to spell correctly?
    However I knew what that meant, “Teaching and Learning Centre.” There was one at Luci and I was part of the quality commission involved with its delivery. It made perfect sense that any discerning landlord would prefer a tenant of quality, an academic professional, residing in their property.
    ‘TLC, of course. I actually have extensive experience of contributing to the TLC programme.’
    ‘So that does not bother you then?’
    ‘No of course not. We all have to make the effort to improve things, bring our talents to bear so to speak.’
    ‘Right. I assume you want it then?’ she said.
    ‘Yes please.’
    ‘Would you like me to arrange your rent to be paid directly to the landlord?’
    ‘Is that how it normally works?’ I had no idea.
    ‘We advise it, once you have signed on at the job centre the will inform us of your status and your landlord will get paid directly. That way there is no chance of rent areas occurring.’
    ‘OK, in that case yes please.’
    Sharon made an appointment for me to meet with a Job Centre advisor through her electronic database and presented me with a print out of my appointment with “Jon” the following day.
    She gave me the address of the flat and the contact details for the Landlord, telling me to call him tomorrow. This would give her chance to contact him and confirm my details beforehand.
    I walked back to my apartment feeling quite pleased with myself. In the space of one day I had recovered heroically from adversity and acquired a bachelor pad on the exotically named “Henrietta Street”.
    I checked my inbox again, other than some automatic out of office reply’s it was still empty. This was not to be unexpected; after all it was the summer. I was convinced that faculties across the country and even the world would soon be checking their inboxes before the new term began. Then I would be inundated with choices.
    This situation was only temporary.
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 2.
     
    The following morning I elected to go to my office and re check my inbox in case someone had