Jinger in Stripperland

Chapter 2: Private Rondeau

Michael said he had applied for the job but still had not heard anything two weeks later. Now Jinger was worried. He kept applying for jobs online and even went down to the county building with the scumbags (David called them that), a requirement for unemployment benefits.

The Job Connection was a government website that you had to register with before applying for benefits, and you could only do that on their state website, which was downtown.

Job applicants could not do that from their home computers because there was too much fraud with too many people trying to scam.

Michael thought this Job Connection was like the DMV, where they had the government employees help you find a job only after waiting for hours to use one of their terminals. And they were all s**t.

You were better off looking for a job on your home computer than waiting to access their private search engine. It was just wasting more of your afternoon, which could be better spent finding a job. But this was really about unemployment benefits.

When David left, Jinger called Tracie, Michaels's wife, but she didn't answer. She tried one of several numbers for the office, but Jinger could not reach her.

Finally, she downloaded an app that disguised her cellphone number and called Tracie with the same phone, but this time, she answered.

"Yes, Tracie Peterson, who's calling?"

"Hi, Tracie, this is Jinger"

"Oh, Jinger," Tracie said, "I'm sorry, I thought this was a business call. How are you?"

"Not well," she said. "I'm sorry for calling unexpectedly, but I heard about the company and how Michael is closing the business. I desperately need to talk to you. Can we meet somewhere, maybe over lunch???"

Jinger had practiced the entire conversation at least a dozen times and even wrote down the keywords for the points she wanted to make.

Still, when she finally got a hold of Tracie, everything ran together just like she tried to prevent. Jinger had a habit of talking too fast when nervous, and Tracie had always made her uncomfortable.

"Jinger, I don't have time," Tracie explained. "I have so much going on, you understand, don't you???"

"Please, Tracie," Jinger pleaded, "It's vital that I speak with you; David told me what happened, and I'm overwhelmed."

Jinger got choked up.

"Maybe I'm paranoid, but David is trying to protect me by not telling me the entire truth. I don't want to go behind his back, but I need to verify things, 'woman to woman.'"

"Information?" Tracie asked, "What kind of information?"

"I don't want to talk about it over the phone," Jinger said, "I think it best if we meet in person; I don't think David understands how important it is that I know the truth. The other day when he was out, the police called."

"I see," Tracie commented.

"They would not give me any information," Jinger said, but said they would send a detective if he did not contact them."

"Where do you want to meet?" Tracie suddenly changed her tone.

"Anywhere," Jinger replied, even if it was just for coffee. I'll be quick and pay for everything; you can even choose the restaurant."

"Well, if you can make it lunch at La Brasa's," Tracie said, "I may be persuaded."

La Brasa was a breath of fresh air for Boston. A highly recommended restaurant, and recently one that had hit its stride. It was one of Boston's newer and more prominent restaurants that changed its menu frequently and recently conquered Mexican Cuisine.

Lunch would be $50 per plate if you could get reservations, but Jinger jumped at it.

"You can get us in?" Jinger asked.

"Of course."

"I'll pay for everything then," she replied, including drinks."

Tracie sounded amused.

"Fine," Tracy confirmed, "I'll text you with the details when the reservations are confirmed. Ciao, and then Tracie hung up abruptly."

The following week Jinger arrived early, but Tracie was already there waiting for her at their reserved table. The restaurant was already crowded.

"Thank you for coming," Jinger said, and then she sat down and put her purse on the adjourning chair.

"Thank you for having me," Tracie returned.

"I hope the reservations weren't too much trouble?" Jinger asked.

"No, not at all; the owner is a friend of mine," Tracie said.

Of course, he is.

"Impressive," Jinger replied, "and your dress is beautiful."

"Herrera," Tracie replied.

"You look stunning," Jinger said.

"Thank You," Tracy did not return the compliment.

For an older woman!

"What can I help you with?" Tracie said. She was all business.

"Well," Jinger said, "Michael is having business problems. Is that true???"

"Yes, he's taken some losses recently," Tracie replied, wishing she could smoke.

"David made it sound like Michael was forced to file for bankruptcy," Jinger said.

"It hasn't come to that yet," Tracie replied, "I think David is exaggerating."

"David said that you might be leaving Michael," Jinger asked, "if that's not too personal, may I ask if that's true???"

"Our problems started long before the business, Dear," Tracie replied.

Jinger always hated it whenever Tracie called her Dear. Tracie knew it annoyed her, but she kept referring to Jinger by it anyway. It made her feel like a child.

"But you two always seemed so happy?" Jinger said.

"Appearance," Tracie said, "I tried to be a good business and marital partner. But you have to know when to cut your losses."

Jinger thought it was more personal.

"Michael wants to have children, and you don't. Is that true?"

"Partly," Tracie replied.

"Why don't you want children?" Jinger asked, "they would be beautiful, and maybe it would bring you closer together. I know financially, this may not be the right time..."

Tracie shook her head. "There was never a right time to have children. And children were usually something that happened when they were not planned."

"But there is more to life than money," Jinger said, "And I'm sure you two have stock and other investments to hold you over.

"No," Tracie disagreed, "children would just give us more to fight about."

Jinger shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"I'm too old now," Tracie said, "And I wouldn't want to have children with him."

Jinger looked pained. Unlike Tracie, she wanted children.

"Does he know?" Jinger asked.

"Of course, he knows," Tracie replied.

Jinger looked away.

"I suppose you and David don't have any marital problems?" Tracie asked knowingly.

"Of course, we do," Jinger said, "every couple does."

"You don't have any children," Tracie said.

"Not yet."

"Are you pregnant?" Tracie asked.

"No," Jinger replied, "Michael doesn't want children yet, either."

Tracie smiled.

"Was he your first?" Tracie asked brazenly.

Tracie knew he wasn't.

Jinger moved closer so no one else in the restaurant could hear her response, "No, he wasn't, and David knew that before we were married."

"Well, neither was Michael," Tracie said, "nor was he the best."

"Then why did you marry him?" Jinger asked, "didn't you ever love him?"

"Because he was the best choice at the time," Tracie said, "the security."

"Now that he's not, you're ready to throw everything away?" Jinger asked.

"I do not want to spend the rest of my life pretending anymore," Tracie said, "in or out of the bedroom. Can't you understand that?"

"Tracie, please," Jinger said, "I know security is important, but he's a good man. And there is more to life than money."

"Like what -children?" she said, "I don't need a child in my life to make it complete."

"Look," Jinger said, "children aside, the economy and the times are different now. Maybe we all have to learn to live with less, not just you, but everyone, the entire country, perhaps the entire world."

"Ha, what a joke!" Tracie spat, "Live with less? It's just the opposite. The older you get, the less you're willing to live without, and don't you forget that little girl."

The waitress came to take their order; she caught the tail end of the conversation, took their order, and disappeared immediately.

"So, what happened to the company then?" Jinger asked.

"In what aspect are you referring?" Tracie asked.

"Just six months ago, it was thriving," Jinger said, "but David said with global competition and new international trade laws, it has hurt Boston Exports financially. But I know that's not the entire truth. What's really going on???"

"I can't go into details with an outsider," Tracie said, "Someone who doesn't work for the company."

"David said Michael let him go because of financial losses," Jinger replied. "Is that true? Or was Michael just looking for an excuse to fire him? I know they haven't been getting along lately."

"David was trying to tell Michael how to run his own company," Tracie replied, "and after a while, Michael took it personally.

He doesn't like know-it-alls, to begin with, especially ones who are hardly ever right, and when they are, constantly throw it in your face."

Jinger bit her lip.

"There is more than enough blame to go around," Tracie said, "maybe it was the pressure that was getting to all of them, but it seemed like every time something went wrong, your husband developed that I-told-you-so-attitude and Michael got sick of it."

"But they've friends," Jinger said, "I know David can be gruff, but he would never disrespect Michael."

"Well, he didn't sound it," Tracie replied, and it wasn't just Michael but a lot of other people too. I mean, if David is so smart, why didn't he go out and start his own business instead of telling Michael how to run his, -which wasn't his job in the first place!"

Jinger had to think about that; David would be great at running his own business, he always hated working for someone else, and that's where his contempt came from.

"I can't believe David would ever cross the line, though," Jinger defended.

"Well, he did," Tracie snapped, "and one time too many, and it cost him. Everybody tried to warn him -even me."

Yeah right. You probably told Michael to fire him!

"David made it sound like Michael had lost control of his business," Jinger said, "but David was simply trying to help him with some of the outside factors beyond his control."

"As I said," Tracie replied, "David loves exaggerating."

Tracie smiled when she saw the waitress returning with their food.

After lunch was served, Tracie almost finished her plate, but Jinger hardly picked at hers.

"We are not looking to close yet," Tracie said, "downsizing for sure, but not close. You should forget Boston Finance and worry about your marriage instead."

Tracie sounded like she had a hint of malice in her voice.

"What does that mean?" Jinger asked.

"Well, it's just that David does not have the best business reputation," Tracy softened, "so it may not be easy for him to find another job so quickly.

"Especially when he worked for Michael for nearly a decade, if Michael refuses to give him a good recommendation, how will that look to his new employer? I mean, he has to account for that time."

Now Jinger was upset. David had made it seem like Michael had no choice but to fire him. What if he did get fired?!

"Why wouldn't Michael give him a good reference?" Jinger was suddenly puzzled. "He has always been a good employee. They were still friends just because they had a spat."

"I have to use the facilities," Tracie took another sip of her drink, "Will you excuse me, please?"

Jinger nodded.

When she returned, Tracie grabbed her purse and said, "Listen, I've had a call, and now I must go. I apologize for making this so short but thank you for lunch. And I'm sure you and David will be fine, so give him my love."

And then Tracie was gone.

Lunch was expensive. With the drinks and gratuity, the bill came to almost $150; for two people. Jinger was stunned; she didn't have that much cash.

She was planning on hiding this from David, but now that would be impossible because she had to put the remaining balance on the credit card, and both their names were on the statement.

After paying the bill, Jinger went to the exit in a haze. Now the sky was gray, and it was beginning to drizzle. Jinger had never felt more depressed; she started crying in her car.