Life on Another Planet Ch. 10-13

Grant shook his head. "Maybe you're discovering a new way to meet girls," he chuckled.

"Whatever works, Grant," Jesse chuckled. A date with Sue Chen would be just fine. It dawned on him that they didn't discuss what she was willing to pay for his help. On the other hand, maybe that wasn't terribly important ... yet. He'd wait until he'd had a look at her first draft.

Chapter 11 A Second Job

Monday, September 26, 2011 7pm

It didn't surprise Jesse to find a large attached file on an e-mail from Sue Chen. He opened it and looked over the details. The file was 137 pages and a little over 60,000 words. Quite a substantial paper, he realized. Regrettably, it was formatted in some fancy script that he didn't recognize, making it difficult to read. He thought this would be a hindrance to anyone trying to grade it. He looked up Sue's phone number and called her on his cell phone.

"Hello?" she answered cautiously.

"Hi, Sue, it's Jesse. I just opened your file and I wanted to talk to you about a couple of things if I may."

"Oh ... Hi Jesse. Sure ... go ahead."

"Uhhm ... I'm not sure how to put this, but I don't think the typeface you've chosen is a good idea. It's a little more difficult to read and I find it can interrupt my concentration. That might not be a good thing if the marker is having the same problem. It would be pretty simple to change it to something easier to read."

"Oh ... I hadn't thought about that. You think it's too fancy?"

"Yes ... it is a little too stylish. I always found them more difficult to read. It's just a suggestion, Sue. If you like the one you've chosen, then I'll work with it," he said quickly.

"No, Jesse. I'm sure you're right. I was just trying to decorate what might be a boring subject and make it look interesting."

"Trust me, Sue, Orwell and Huxley are definitely not boring. I haven't got very far reading your material, but you've certainly got plenty of content potential, so I'm sure we can make this into something you'll be happy with. By the way, did your teacher say anything about how long the paper should be?"

"Not really. He said we should make sure we cover any topic comprehensively and left it at that."

"Okay, well, I'd say you've more than got enough volume. Now the big challenge will be to make sure you've got the content they'll be looking for. I'll get started on it and send you back a few pages tonight with a possible typeface that I think would be more suitable. Are you sure you're okay with that?"

"Oh yes. Grant said I could trust you to point me in the right direction. I'm sure I'll be happy with your suggestions."

"Don't be so sure," he chuckled. "Keep in mind I've never had to write a paper this big in my life. This is going to be a new experience for me too."

"Well ... I guess we're in this together then, aren't we?" she said brightly.

"I guess we are. Let me know what you think about the first return and we can go from there," he said.

"I'll be waiting for it. Thanks, Jesse. I really appreciate your help. I'm sure it will turn out better than I could do on my own."

"You're welcome, Sue. I'll talk to you later. Bye."

He leaned back in his chair and wondered if he'd bitten off more than he could chew. He'd just have to use the combined experience of Sue and some good judgement on how the essay should look. The main thing was to remember that it was to be Sue's work, not his. He wasn't about to write her submission for her.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011 7pm

The e-mail from Sue was waiting for Jesse when he went to the computer after dinner.

Jesse, it looks great! Thank you so much. Let me know if there are things you want me to change.

Sue

Short and to the point, he thought. He hadn't finished reading the entire draft yet, but in the back of his mind he was thinking it was too long. Some of the points she made were repetitive. They were just filling space. Now the question was how to tell her that? The topic chosen was good ... and close to Jesse's heart as well. He was a big fan of Orwell, among other English authors. He blocked out some paragraphs, and in one case, an entire section when he thought it was unnecessary. Then, another idea struck him.

"Eve, did you ever write a paper when you were at university?"

"Yes ... a couple of them. Why?"

He explained what he was doing with Sue Chen, but admitted he was operating out of ignorance and needed some practical guidance.

"A paper doesn't have a fixed length, Jesse. It's really a matter of properly covering the subject material thoroughly. The two I wrote were medical subjects which were quite technical and required detailed explanation and support. Sue's topic isn't that complex. It's really a matter of stating her points clearly with references and examples. It isn't her primary field of interest, so you wouldn't expect her to exhibit expertise. I think the instincts you have to pare it down somewhat are probably correct, but it really has to be her decision. Point out what you think, but let her make the changes."

"Okay, thanks," he said uncertainly. "I hope I'm not leading her astray. I mean, this really is a case of the blind leading the blind."

"Oh, I think you're on the right track. It sounds like Sue is quite bright and just needs some help with putting her thoughts into a readable format. That's something a good writer can do much more easily than most. That's where you can help her," she said with a genuine smile.

The feedback he got from Sue was more than positive.

Thank you, Jesse. You are sooooo right. I was putting in things just to make it bigger. I'll keep my fingers crossed that my instructor will agree with us. 

Nonetheless, Jesse was nervous about editing someone else's work when so much was at stake. He could only advise and then hope he wasn't misleading Sue. The copy he returned to her was in a much more readable font and a larger 12pt typeface. Any areas that could be edited out were highlighted in yellow, while errors or omissions were done in red. He marvelled at the capabilities of the word processor program for helping him point out various issues. More than once, he resisted arguing a point on one of her conclusions when it didn't correspond to his view. He did include some side notes that offered an alternative view.

It would probably be weeks before the results of his efforts would be known, and Jesse was nervous that he might have damaged Sue's chances for that grade point she was seeking. Sue, on the other hand, was nothing but grateful.

Friday, October 14, 2011 1pm

She met him at the store on Friday afternoon, two plus weeks after they had started the review.

"Jesse, it's so much better with your help. You've fixed all my mistakes and made it so much better. I couldn't have done this without your help. Thank you, thank you," she said, wrapping her arms around him and reaching up, giving him a big, wet kiss.

He wasn't prepared for that, but it was nice and welcomed. Sue was an attractive young woman, a little over five feet tall he guessed, with a nice, trim figure and a lovely face. Her jet black hair was combed back in a short ponytail and she dressed quite conservatively compared to some of her contemporaries.

"When do you suppose you will hear about your mark?"

"I think I should know in a couple of weeks," she said. "Jesse, whatever my mark is, I thank you for your effort. I know it is better than it would be without your help. I wish you'd reconsider and accept some payment for your work."

Jesse shook his head, still smiling. "No, it wasn't really work, Sue. I enjoyed helping you and I won't take money from a starving student for something I enjoyed doing."

Sue laughed and laughed. "Starving student?" she finally managed to get out between laughing spasms. "Whatever gave you that idea?"

Jesse shrugged, somewhat nonplussed by her laughter. "I just assumed ... you know ... with tuition and moving away from home this year ... having a part time job ... well ... that money would be tight."

She was shaking her head with a big smile plastered on her face. "No ... tell you what. Since you won't take any money for your work, why don't I invite you to my place for dinner? You name the day. It's the least I can do for you."

"Well, if you're sure, that would be nice. Uhhm, any Sunday would be okay, since you and I are working every other day."

"Okay, Sunday it is. I'll let you know which one, okay?"

"Sure, Sue. That sounds nice. Thanks."

Sunday, October 16, 2011 4:30pm

When Sue decided she was going to thank him by inviting him to dinner at her place, he assumed there would be just the two of them in her apartment, or wherever she lived. She had given him the address, but he hadn't really paid much attention to it until he began to drive toward the location that Sunday afternoon. The closer he got, the more uneasy he became. Perhaps she had made a mistake, or he had misunderstood. No ... she had written out the address herself.

As he neared the address, he knew he was in foreign territory. This was the heart of Shaughnessy, the home of the wealthy. As he reached the number on the piece of paper, he could only gawk at the home. It wasn't gated, but it was huge, and the gardens and lawns were manicured, not just cut and trimmed. The style was faux Tudor, common to houses built in this district in the twenties and thirties. If it was the right home, then perhaps Sue was one of the servants these people might employ.

"Well," he thought, "I guess I'd better find out what I'm in for."

He rang the door chime and within a few seconds heard the sound of footsteps approaching. The door swung open and Sue stood there with a welcoming smile.

"Hi ... welcome to our home," she said.

He couldn't fail to see the mischief in her eyes as she ushered him into the foyer.

"Wow, Sue, this is quite a house," he said, gazing around at the adjacent room.

"Thank you. My dad is quite proud of it. Mom says it's a lot of work to keep clean," she chuckled.

He followed her into what he assumed was the living room, then the dining room, and finally a very large kitchen. He wasn't ready for the crowd that greeted him.

"Jesse, I'd like you to meet my mother, Oriana, my father Howard, my younger sister Elizabeth, her younger sister Yvonne, and my brother Hugh. Folks, this is my friend from Norwood Books, Jesse Peterson."

There was a jumble of "Hi" and "Hello" and "Welcome" forthcoming as Jesse smiled and acknowledged the warm greeting.

"Nice to meet you," he said, wondering what to do next. The kitchen was huge - it had to be with all these people in it. And from what he could see, most of them had some task to perform. All of them except Howard and Hugh it seemed.

Her father approached Jesse with his hand out and a smile. "I want to personally thank you for the help you gave Sue on her paper. She was very worried that her mark wouldn't be good enough, but you made sure that didn't happen. My wife and I are just as grateful as she is for the guidance you provided."

Despite his Asian features, Howard Chen spoke unaccented English. Jesse made a quick assumption that he was born in Canada and not an immigrant.

"I'm just happy I could help. I was lucky that the subject she chose was one that I was familiar with, so I was able to make sure there weren't any big mistakes. I was careful not to interfere with her conclusions."

"She is our oldest child and we will miss her when she moves to Victoria to continue her studies," Oriana Chen said as she joined the conversation. "We will still have three of our children with us, so we won't be lonely," she smiled.

"You are very fortunate to have most of your family with you here in this lovely home," Jesse said wistfully.

"Do you have any brothers or sisters," Oriana asked.

Jesse shook his head sadly. "No ... there's no one. My grandparents and parents are dead, and I don't know where my older sister is."

Howard looked shocked and Oriana immediately came to him. "That's terrible, Jesse. I feel so sad for you. You are welcome here at any time. In fact, there are times when I might be willing to loan you one or two of our children," she said, trying to lighten the mood.

Gradually the kitchen crowd dispersed and Jesse was invited to sit in the living room with the parents and the other children. Sue remained in the kitchen.

"Dinner will be ready in a half hour," Oriana informed everyone.

Jesse could smell a roast in the oven and his idea that they would serve Chinese food was banished immediately. He realized he was very much mistaken in his ideas about the Chen family, but he was curious.

"What kind of work do you do?" he asked Howard awkwardly.

He man smiled. "I supply equipment to various casinos and bars."

"Oh," Jesse said, trying to interpret what he meant. "You mean like chairs and tables and that sort of thing?"

"Not quite," Howard chuckled. "I mean slot machines, card tables, vending machines. I inherited the business from my father and I've been able to build it up as casinos have become legal in Western Canada. We also place machines in bars in Alberta. Golden Dragon Entertainment owns the equipment and leases it out to the establishments. We also provide service and updating of the equipment."

"Oh ... and it's a good business I guess," Jesse said, looking around the opulent surroundings.

"It's a very good business," Howard said with another soft chortle. "How else could I afford to house and feed a wife and four school children?"

"I don't know anything about casinos," Jesse admitted. "I just remember my father calling slot machines 'one-armed bandits.'"

Howard smiled. "That's from the days of the old mechanical slots. Today, they are all electronic and programmable. Much more expensive, but with a greater variety of games as well."

That seemed to bring the topic to a close and it was Oriana who furthered the conversation.

"Sue tells me you are very interested in writing as a career. Were you thinking of writing a novel?"

"No ... at least not in the near future. Originally I was thinking of writing for a newspaper, but lately, that doesn't seem likely. There are more unemployed newspapermen every day as the papers seem to shrink before our very eyes. It's possible I'll find something to do, however. With so much on the internet now, that may be an outlet for me. In the meantime, I really enjoy working at Grant's store. He's a really nice gentleman and has a very good business head too."

"Yes, Sue tells me he is a pleasure to work for. She was very lucky to get that job. It was ideal for her as a student. I assume it works well for you too?" she suggested.

"It does. In fact, when Sue goes to Victoria, Grant has offered her hours to me, so I'd be working a six-day week. I can take classes at night or in the morning, or even on-line, so I can continue my education."

"Jesse was ill and had some memory loss, Mother," Sue explained as she returned to the room. "He had qualified for UBC, but with the memory problems, he wasn't ready to resume classes."

"Oh, my goodness," Oriana said. "First your family, then your memory. I'm amazed you are so ..." She was searching for words, but they didn't come.

Jesse nodded. "It's been difficult, but I've also been very lucky. The doctor who treated me in hospital has taken me in as her ward. I'm living with her and her son in a very nice apartment in False Creek, so I'm in good hands. She's a psychiatrist and helping me come to terms with my life."

"You are very lucky," Oriana said, with agreeing nods from Sue and Howard.

"I am, and I know it," he smiled.

Oriana rose and returned with Sue to the kitchen. Jesse and Howard discussed the weather and other light topics. The other three youngsters had been listening politely to the conversation.

"Dinner is ready," Sue announced as she and her mother began bringing plates and serving dishes to the big dining room table.

Jesse was seated beside Sue on his left, and Elizabeth, a lovely, quiet, seventeen year-old on his right. The noise level began to rise with the utensils and plates of food moving around the table while Howard carved a very nice roast of beef. The smells and the sounds brought back familiar memories to Jesse. He could feel the emotion rising in him and dizziness began to form. This was a scene from his past, one that he had almost forgotten. He held onto the edge of the table to steady himself.

"Are you alright?" Oriana asked in alarm at his appearance. "You're as white as a sheet."

Jesse was still gripping the edge of the table with all his might, frightened that he might lose consciousness. He could feel his vision closing down and a general wooziness invading him.

"Please excuse me," he managed, trying to stand. He failed, and slumped to the floor by his chair.

Instantly, Sue was out of her chair and on her knees by his side. "Mom, we need a cold cloth and a glass of water. He's fainted."

Oriana hustled to the kitchen while Howard, along with the other members of the Chen family rose and moved around the table to see what had happened to their guest.

Oriana quickly returned with a damp cloth and took a glass of water from the dining room table. "Here. Wipe his face with this, Sue. Does he have a fever?"

Sue put her hand on Jesse's forehead. "No ... I don't think so."

Jesse stirred and seemed to be coming back to life. Sue had propped his head up and it was now lying in her lap. His eyelids were fluttering before finally opening. He gazed up at Sue, a look of surprise on his face.

"What happened?" he managed.

"You fainted, Jesse. How do you feel?" Sue asked.

"Dizzy. I think I'm getting a headache. I'm scared of headaches," he said at length.

"Let me help you up," Howard offered. Jesse accepted gratefully.

"Thanks. I apologize. I had no idea that was going to happen. I had a funny feeling when everyone was at the table. It was just like when my parents and grandparents were together for dinner. I guess it just overwhelmed me. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize," Howard and Oriana said in unison. "You've had a flashback to a happier time," Howard guessed. "It happens. Do you think you'll be alright?"

"I'm not sure. I can feel a headache coming on. It might be wise if I went home. I'm very sorry to ruin this meal for you. I was really looking forward to it, but I guess it was too much for me. I'm sorry," he repeated, rising from the chair and making his way slowly to the door.

"I don't think you should be driving," Howard said. "Let me drive you home."

"No ... I'll be alright," Jesse said. "I think I'll go for a walk and get some fresh air. That should help me. If not, I'll take you up on your offer, but not until you've had your dinner. Please go ahead and eat. I won't be far away."

Oriana, Howard, and Sue were silent as Jesse pulled on his jacket and moved to the front door. The other children sat at the table, staring silently at the ongoing drama. Once outside, the cool fall air helped clear Jesse's head as he began walking down the long driveway to the street. He set out slowly, allowing him to feel how his body was reacting to what had happened to him. So far, the headache was only a minor issue. But he knew he shouldn't drive if he wasn't right.

He walked for almost a half hour before finding himself back on the street where the Chen's lived. He felt better and the headache had receded to nothing somewhere along the way. He was taking some deep breaths and was now reasonably confident that it would be safe to drive home. He walked up to the Chen's front door and rang the chime once more. Almost immediately, Sue was there, welcoming him back into their home.

"How are you feeling," she asked before he even had a chance to enter. The look of concern on her face was genuine.