Jacob's Job - Part 1

The young woman behind the reception desk at VisionPoint Advertising Agency appeared oblivious to Jacob's presence as he approached. Without looking up, she spoke in a monotone, nasal voice.

"Are you here about the job?" She inquired.

"Yes ma'am, I have …"

"Sign the register then take a seat," she said, pushing a ballpoint pen into his hand, still not looking up from her desk.

"Bu… but I have an appointment with Ms. Perez," he said, thrusting a slip of paper back into the young woman's hand.

The woman scrutinized the slip of paper, frowned, then changed her expression to an artificial smile.

"Oh," she said, looking up at Jacob for the first time now. Punching a three-digit code on her phone, she spoke briefly with someone on the other end of the line.

"Just wait here," the young woman said, still wearing her plastic smile and looking back at Jacob.

She had hardly finished speaking when a neatly-dressed middle-aged man stepped out and offered his hand to Jacob.

"You must be Jacob Myrther," he said. "My name is Herb. I'm Ms. Perez's personal secretary. She has been expecting you. If you will come with me please." He started down a hallway behind the receptionist's desk. Jacob followed.

Jacob was feeling rather smug as he observed a hint of dejection on the faces of the other applicants in the lobby. He had obviously survived the first round of interviews and was being considered among the finalists. He wanted this job with the advertising agency badly. It would give him an opportunity to use his newly-earned art degree.

Herb led Jacob down the hall and through a set of double doors into a large room that looked like another lobby, except no one else was there. The polished linoleum floor was made up of colorful squares laid out in an abstract mosaic. Soft beige walls complemented the bright angular patterns on the floor. The room was tastefully appointed with sofas, large overstuffed chairs, and coffee tables.

At one end of the room Jacob noticed a bar and several stools. Undoubtedly a wet bar, he thought, although solid doors on the bar's cabinets concealed their contents. Jacob surmised the room was probably used for small private parties.

"You may be seated," said Herb. "Ms. Perez will be with you shortly." Herb turned and exited through a door behind the bar.

Alone in the room, Jacob did not take a seat. Instead, he walked over to the bank of large windows that overlooked the city. From his vantage point he could see across the river and could even make out the outline of several landmark buildings on the campus of Wolverton State, his recent alma mater. Jacob's heart raced as he envisioned himself working in a studio with such a view.

Suddenly the door by the bar opened and a stunningly beautiful middle-aged brunette entered the room. Jacob recognized Juanita Perez immediately. He had met her at his first interview. Ms. Perez's eyes and expression exuded wisdom and sophistication that belied her age. Otherwise, she had the body of a twenty-five-year-old. She was wearing a blue dress and black fishnet hose. Her high heels clicked smartly on the linoleum floor as she walked into the room. She was carrying a small attaché case.

"Please be seated, Jacob," she said, after they had exchanged formal amenities.

Jacob seated himself in one of the large chairs and Ms. Perez sat on a sofa directly across from him. As Ms. Perez sat down her dress rode up high on her shapely thighs. Jacob was trying hard not to stare, but he couldn't keep his eyes off her legs.

Ms. Perez smiled with an admonishing lilt in her sharp brown eyes. Tugging lightly at the hem of her dress she swung her legs to one side, her outer thigh now facing Jacob. This did little to hide her legs from Jacobs gaze, but rather focused attention on the fact he had been staring.

Already nervous, Jacob was now becoming more nervous now than ever. Beads of perspiration formed on his furrowed brow. Unconsciously, he picked at a pimple on his face, a remnant of a mild case of acne. A much-belated puberty had caused Jacob to have complexion problems throughout most of his college years; problems that had cleared up in most boys by seventeen or eighteen.

"Jacob," she said, in a tone that was mildly condescending, "I don't normally call applicants back unless they qualify for the final round of interviews. I've looked at your application and your résumé, checked your references, your transcript, and your portfolio of artwork. You're a very talented young man, Jacob, and I feel you have great potential. However, we have several other applicants who have considerable experience in the specific areas required for this position. I'm afraid I'm going to be forced to choose my new employee from that group of applicants."

Jacob's heart sank. He couldn't believe Ms. Perez had called him back to the agency just to tell him he wasn't being considered for the job. A simple postcard could have done that easily enough.

"Like I said, Jacob, I don't normally call applicants back unless they are being considered for the job. But in your case, I have another position in mind. I feel you are qualified, if you're interested, and I think you will be."

"Wh… what…?" Jacob stammered nervously, unable to form a complete sentence.

"The job is not with our company, but the pay is comparable. I've discussed it with the supervisor, Cynthia Bloom, and she feels, as I do, that you are qualified for the job. Cynthia and I go back a long way. We've been friends since high school."

Jacob's mood had changed from utter dejection to curious optimism and it was written plainly on his youthful face.

"Let's see," said Ms. Perez, as she leafed through some papers in a folder. "You are presently employed at Fast Jack's Hamburgers. Is that correct?"

"Yes ma'am," he replied, sounding a little embarrassed.

"Well, I believe you will like this job a little better." She was smiling with an expression that was somewhere between amusement and pity. "Have you ever thought of becoming an attendant for Delta?"

Jacob looked thoroughly confused. "You… you mean a flight attendant for Delta Airlines?"

Ms. Perez threw her head back and cackled. "Oh, heavens no, no, not that. I'm sorry Jacob. I suppose I should have clarified that. I guess that is what it sounds like if you don't know. No, I'm talking about a dorm attendant for Delta Delta Delta."

"Delta Delta Delta?"

"It's a sorority, Jacob. They have a private dorm just off campus at Wolverton. Have you never heard of them?"

"No ma'am?" Jacob said, sheepishly. He was afraid now he was blowing his chances for this new job. He felt miserably inadequate.

"I suppose not," Ms. Perez said, resuming her composed demeanor. "They have fewer than a hundred girls in the dorm. With a student body of over eight thousand at the college I can see how you may never have heard of the Delta girls."

That last phrase rang a bell in Jacob's memory. He had heard something about the Delta girls or Delta chicks. One of his buddies in the student center had said something about it once - a juicy piece of gossip - but he couldn't remember what.

"I was a Delta girl in my own college days," Ms. Perez continued, "as was Cynthia Bloom. She's the senior dorm matron there now. I have a daughter, Janet, in Delta Delta Delta. She lives at the Delta dorm and will be a junior this fall."

Jacob was thoroughly confused now, and his feeling of dejection was beginning to return. As far as he could see, this new job had no relation to his skills and qualifications. (What was a dorm attendant anyway?) Although the thought of performing a job at a girls' dorm had a certain seductive undertone, he realistically felt he wouldn't see many girls. The job no doubt involved mowing lawns and painting trim. Yeah, now that's the way to put an art degree to work, painting eves and gables of a college dorm! Ms. Perez wasn't offering him a career opportunity, this was just summer yard work!

"I see you minored in psychology," Ms. Perez said, still leafing through Jacob's file. "At one time you considered becoming a teacher or even a counselor, is that true?"

"Yes ma'am."

"You took some extensive tests, establishing your own psychological profile. You may not remember signing a release allowing prospective employers to view the results of those tests, but fortunately you did."

"Yes ma'am, I remember now, but I had forgotten."

"Actually, Jacob, it's the information in your psychological profile that caused Cynthia and I to consider you to be ideal for this job. You seem to be a person who is sensitive, patient, and caring. If things don't go your way, you tend to be an arbitrator rather than an aggressor or a bully. You scored far below the average male - even below the average female - in the possessive and territorial category. You are loyal and dependable, and you have a strong sense of group identity. You are not a loner."

Jacob smiled sheepishly and looked embarrassed.

"You didn't know I knew that much about you, did you, Jacob?"

"No ma'am"

"Actually Jacob, that battery of tests is the same one Delta Delta Delta gives to all their male applicants. The job is certainly not for everybody. Applicants must be screened very thoroughly. You saved us much trouble by taking those tests in your sophomore year. However, there are a few more questions I need to ask you before we proceed."

Jacob squirmed nervously in his chair. His curiosity had returned now. This job obviously involved more than mowing lawns or trimming hedges. He wanted to know more.

"You're still single?" Ms. Perez inquired, looking at his folder.

"Yes ma'am."

"Have a girlfriend?"

"No ma'am." Jacob winced as soon as he'd said it. He wished he hadn't sounded so matter-of-fact.

"Good," said Ms. Perez.

Jacob looked back in surprise. What could his having a girlfriend possibly have to do with this job - or any job?

"Jacob, you've stated in your application that you're willing to acquire additional training as necessary for the job. This job will require that you continue with your psychology curriculum and become a state-certified counselor. Is that a problem?"

"Oh, no ma'am. It's not a problem at all."

"Good. And don't worry about the expense. Delta Delta Delta will take care of everything.

"You know, Jacob, I think when you get few more years of experience behind you, you will make an excellent counselor. The girls often need a little mature advice, sometimes about school work or career plans, sometimes about boyfriend problems. Sometimes they just need a strong shoulder to lean on. Delta feels that having male attendants gives the girls a broader perspective and a more diversified life experience than could be provided by the female dorm matrons alone. Like I said, my own daughter lives in the dorm and I think it's a wonderful program!"

Jacob was looking bewildered. "So a dorm attendant is like a counselor?"

"That, and much, much more," Ms. Perez said, smiling warmly now. "A dorm attendant is required to live in the dorm - it's kind of a 24-7 job, but don't worry. You get regularly scheduled, paid vacations and there's ample opportunity for recreation on the job. It's one of those jobs where you can mix business and pleasure quite a bit. Most of the guys find it very rewarding."

"You… you mean I would live right there in the dorm… with girls?"

Ms. Perez's eyes were dancing with amusement now. Jacob felt her penetrating gaze go right through him. It was as though she could read his every thought.

"Yes Jacob," she replied, "the nature of the job requires it. You will help the girls move into their rooms in the fall and help them move out in the spring - that can be a lot of work. You'll do minor repairs, help the girls decorate their rooms and move furniture. They may ask you to help with homework or ask you how a particular dress looks on them. Once you get to know each other the intimacy level goes up exponentially. They'll be confiding all their little secrets in you. There's a fully equipped gym and sauna in the basement. You will also learn to become a fitness coach and an expert masseur - the girls love that."

Jacob felt an erection growing in his pants. "I… I didn't know… I mean, I've never heard of that kind of job," he gasped in disbelief.

Ms. Perez was smiling broadly behind her penetrating gaze, almost laughing as she watched Jacob's reaction.

"Jacob," she said, leafing through his folder once more, "I've looked through your portfolio of art work and you have some nice drawings and paintings here. The thought just occurred to me; we have a large skylight studio in the attic of the dorm. You'll be able to continue your artwork there. Several of the girls are art majors or minors; they use the studio all the time. You should find a lot in common with them. I'll bet you would enjoy that."

"Yes… yes ma'am. I would like that."

"Jacob?" Ms. Perez asked, her voice becoming more serious now. "In your portfolio I've noticed some good landscapes, still-lifes, drawings of people and animals - they're nice. But I was wondering, do you enjoy drawing the human form - you know, nudes?"

Jacob blushed. "Well, I did some in art class. It was required. I mean, I can do it."

Ms. Perez chuckled. "I was just thinking you would have more than ample opportunity to pursue that if you wanted to. Girls love to be drawn and painted. Trust me, I know!"

Jacob blushed a deeper shade of red. He had a throbbing boner and he squirmed in his chair trying to hide the fact from Ms. Perez. From her expression and the direction of her gaze, Jacob realized he had been unsuccessful in concealing his embarrassing little secret.

"Perhaps we shouldn't go there, should we, Jacob," she said, smiling impishly. "It was just a thought."

"No ma'am, maybe we shouldn't go there." Jacob looked like a cornered mouse, frantically searching for an escape.

"Well Jacob, this brings us to the big question. Are you interested?"

"Yes ma'am. I am interested - very much."

"I though you would be. I would like for you to go to the dorm and talk to Ms. Bloom. The final decision is hers of course. Are you free this afternoon?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Good, this is ideal. The girls are all gone for the summer and won't begin arriving for another month yet. You'll get to meet Marlow and Freddy, the other two male attendants and you'll also meet Marsha and Roxanne, the dorm matrons. They'll give you a tour and explain a few more details of the job to you. This way you'll see more of what you're getting into before you decide."

Jacob was smiling broadly. "Thank you, Ms. Perez."

"Of course, Jacob," she replied warmly. "I have every confidence this will work out. I sincerely believe you are a natural for this job."

Continued in Part 2