VII. Beyond the Damsel in Distress - Queen's Code

1 VII. Beyond the Damsel in Distress RAUL found this process fascinating. It made him wonder how it would work at home with Sally. Let me see if I got this straight, he replied. You re saying that if you had it all your way you and your team would have the day off after month-end. With pay. Kimberlee nodded and smiled, Yes. And what that would provide for you is what again? he asked. He d been so taken aback by the sincerity and smooth logic of her unprecedented request that he wanted to hear more. Month-end exhausts us. We spend all our energy and concentration getting every policy issued that we possibly can, she began. And as you pointed out in a previous conversation, this is what keeps the agents happy and productive. Yeah, I got that part, he prompted. But the next day, we re so tired we start the new month making all sorts of mistakes that we have to find before that month-end, she stated intently. We re going backwards from the beginning.

2 But we don t have to. If we had a day of rest to recover from the push, we d all be more productive, effective and happy. He couldn t argue with her. It made too much sense. If fact, it could be the solution to one of his biggest complaints careless mistakes that cost precious time. But he thought of something. What if month-end is on a Friday? Then you already have time to recover. Kimberlee s eyes squinted and her lips pursed. After a moment she said, You re right about having had time to recover. But there s another side. Besides the time off making us more effective, it would make our hard work feel appreciated. And people who feel appreciated work harder. Don t the Production Bonuses make you feel appreciated? he asked, dismayed. She nodded. Of course they do. But when you re exhausted, or pissed because you had to spend your weekend recovering from your job, money in the future doesn t have the same effect as time in the present. She paused and looked like she was considering saying more.

3 Yes? he encouraged. It s just that .. She hesitated and took a deep breath. I m learning from my grandmother that men play for points. And the trick is giving the points in the currency of highest value. My guys like raises and bonuses, sure. But they ll do more for a smile and a pat on the back. It s more immediate. Her eyes widened and he wondered why. Hoping his prompting would keep working, again he asked, Yes? She grinned. This week we re learning that what men need is critical and urgent. That many of men s needs are immediate. We talked about food and sleep and whatnot, but I think appreciation may be another one. Raul was intrigued. The effect of Kimberlee giving up Frog Farming had been obvious and delightful. But he had no idea her grandmother understood men so well. He nodded. Again, you have a point. Okay, I ll agree to your gang having the day off after month-end. And the following Monday if it s a Friday. Then he thought of something, But you re going to have to write the memo that convinces the salespeople that starting the new month a day late is to their advantage.

4 He was rewarded with a huge smile and she looked like she wanted to hug him. He couldn t help but smile in return. If only it was this easy with all his employees. Hey, Kimberlee, can I ask you a question about your grandmother? She shrugged, Sure. You know that some of the ladies were not too thrilled with you abandoning the Castration Club, and their noses were bent out of joint for awhile, he said and she nodded. But a few of them have mentioned how well the guys are treating you these days. And they re curious about it. I think they really want to know what you know. Her eyes opened wide in surprise, Wow. Cool. And I was wondering if your grandmother knew something about working with women that men could benefit from. She shrugged again. I m not sure. She seems to know everything. It s like talking to an encyclopedia. She added, smiling, Except never boring. Well, if she does, it could be useful around here. I d like to get the rest of the office running as well as your department.

5 KIMBERLEE, still high from her conversation with Raul, felt optimistic about seeing Melissa for the first time since their falling-out. She had never expected her lessons with Claudia to affect her work. Maybe she would be as successful with her friend. Melissa s welcome was genuine in its warmth for Kimberlee, but falsely cheerful. The conversation was superficial all through dinner and Kimberlee tried to concentrate on Melissa s young sons. Her study of men was making her curious about the smaller variety. Look how focused they are on eating, she thought, and observed how Melissa attempted to connect with them anyhow. She suspected that Scott s close relationship with the boys made her feel left out and vulnerable. Melissa s obvious frustration at their lack of response to her jokes finally provoked Kimberlee and she commented without thinking, They re focused, M. Wait until they re done eating and then tell your elephant joke. Big mistake. Melissa s shoulders stiffened and her nostrils flared.

6 Now you re going to tell me how to interact with my own children? Kimberlee started to react and then remembered how Claudia always asked permission before teaching them anything. I m sorry, Melissa. You re right. You didn t ask for my advice. That seemed to calm her down and Kimberlee ventured, You did express an interest in what I was learning from my grandmother. About Scott, yes, Melissa said tersely. Not the boys. Kimberlee squelched her reaction to the objectification of John and Bradley. Melissa had always lumped the two together and referred to them that way. Kimberlee briefly wondered how that affected them. Perhaps that s what Scott offers, she thought, treating them as unique individuals. Okay, clear, was all Kimberlee said and committed to eating her vegetables. The rest of the dinner conversation was stilted. Melissa inquired about her job and her love life. Kimberlee made general statements, reluctant to give any details. She didn t mention Jack at all.

7 After the dishes were cleared, Melissa made herself a drink and offered Kimberlee one. She declined and poured herself some more water. Melissa put Sarah down for the night and set the boys up with a Disney movie in their room. She brought her drink and a conspicuous box of tissues to the coffee table. Settling on the couch, she faced Kimberlee and croaked hoarsely, I think Scott s having an affair. Kimberlee was shocked. What makes you think that? Melissa shrugged, Just a feeling. Remember the company picnic you couldn t come to? It was the first time you went to see your grandmother about men. Kimberlee nodded. Well, there was this big-boobed brunette and the way she talked to Scott made me nauseous. I ignored it at the time but now I m worried. She s at the office with him all day. And night. Kimberlee studied her friend s face. Whatever their differences, she felt she owed Melissa her loyalty. What can I do? she asked. Melissa responded, Is there anything you ve learned from your grandmother that could help me?

8 I do love him, you know. She looked small and vulnerable; the spitfire gone. Kimberlee felt sorry for her and awful about herself. I ve been having the time of my life, and she s falling apart. Some best friend I am. She remembered the rule to not teach anyone else what she was learning. But Claudia said that so long ago. And she clearly wants Karen to teach other women. She puzzled over that for a moment and finally thought, What could it hurt to tell her a few things? She recalled how many times she had thought of Scott and Melissa when she was learning about men playing for points. Maybe that could help. I ve learned too much over this last month to teach you everything in one evening, she began. But there is something I learned on Saturday that might help. What s that? Melissa asked, tucking her legs up under her. Kimberlee thought about how to present what she wanted to convey. I recently learned that men play for points in every part of their lives.

9 That s why many of them get hooked on video games. Because they get points for every effort and bigger points for tougher challenges. That s totally childish, Melissa responded with a sneer. But what if it isn t? Kimberlee asked, trying to get through. What if there s a good reason for it? You re not starting on that good reason bullshit again, are you? Where it s all my fault? Melissa snapped, leaning towards her aggressively. Kimberlee took a breath and calmly replied, Melissa, you asked for my help. Do you want it or not? Melissa leaned back. I m sorry. Yes, I want it. She sipped her gin and tonic. Tell me more about playing for points. But can you leave out the video games? But that s it: we can learn from video games how to have men play for our points. Now you re talking. How do I get Scott to play for my points? Instead of Big Tits ? She practically cackled. The hair went up on the back of Kimberlee s neck. I m being overly sensitive, she thought.

10 Naturally she s hurt and angry. And scared. She tried another tack. Men play for points because they are providers. They want to make a difference. Points is a way of saying that they succeeded with us by providing something that really mattered. Like Karen, my grandmother s other student, really needs her husband to take out the trash. Claudia told her to explain to her husband what it would provide for her and now he s doing it. It can be a simple thing they do every once in a while, or something they do every day. Melissa asked aggressively, Are you saying he should get points for providing a paycheck by doing something that I can t get him to stop doing? He loves his work more than anything. Kimberlee sighed, discouraged. What if he spends that much time at work because he gets a lot of points there? Because his clients respect him and his co-workers admire him? And that should be more important than his family? That s so immature, Melissa sneered. Kimberlee felt stymied and frustrated.