The rain began to teem down and Jack wondered what had become of the employment officer.   It was well past 9:00.   Formally the man would already be inside the office when Jack arrived at 9:00 a.m.

Jack looked up at the sky and thought, ‘If only the bloody rain would let up a bit I could try around at another entrance.’   As it was, not having an umbrella with him, Jack was trapped in the small alcove until the deluge abated.   However, the downpour showed no sign of abating.   If anything the rain was beginning to pelt down even harder.   Jack was beginning to feel more than a little uncomfortable in the alcove.   The rain was splashing up off the bitumen like water pouring from a tap, spraying the cuffs of Jack’s trousers and drenching his shoes and socks.   ‘If it gets any harder,’ thought Jack as his toes squelched in his sodden shoes, ‘I might as well give up the pretence and stand out in the open!’

“What can I do for you?” called out a grey-haired security guard, standing in an alcove outside the second sardine-can building.   He raised a large white umbrella, and then walked across to where Jack was standing.

“I’ve come about a job,” explained Jack, wishing that the old man would stand one pace further forward so that he could share his umbrella.

“You’re outta luck,” said the guard.

“Don’t tell me they’ve already filled it?”

“I don’t know about that, but the bloke who does the job interviews started his holidays from last night.”   For a moment Jack thought that he had misheard.

“But he told me last night to call around here today!”

“I don’t know about that,” said the tall, skeletal thin guard, “but there’s no chance of them taking anyone on this time of year anyway.   The place always closes down for six weeks over Christmas and the new year.”

“But he told me to call around here today!” insisted Jack.

“I don’t know about that, but I do know he won’t be back for another month and even then there’s no chance of them taking you on till late January at the earliest.”