At Work

TRANSFORMATION D'UNE BURGOISE 5

My expensive Chanel 5 perfume was filling the air around her. And there I was opposite her the

epitomy of a servant, sweat running down my forehead , my apron front

splashed with water, resting my rubber gloved hands in the mop stick.

I looked admiringly at her. "You look fantastic Monique, I can't believe

that change, you are indeed a very chic lady!"

She answered casually back : "That proves my theorie Marie Benedicte,

that finally the clothes make the master, if you know how to wear

them of course and not the other way round. And look at you, after an

hour's housework you look all the way the part of a Portuguese 'femme

de menage'. We have to work with your hair a bit and do some other

adjustments but you certainly look the part".

I looked at her aghast, but e peculiar excitement run through my body

like an electric current. I managed to answer in a rather meek tone of

voice "But what do you mena ' looking the part?', I simply agreed to

help with the housework and I dressed like this to please you."

She looked intensely at me : "We might as well sort things out here and

now! Marie Benedicte, I have a proposition to make to you. Would you

consider to change positions with me and become a 'femme de menage', a

maid, a cleaning woman for a year and I will be 'la femme bourgeoise',

a woman of the high society. You will find out where I come from and I

will be able to fulfill my dream and live the life of an upper class lady

even for a limited period of time. Think, it can be like a sabbatical

year for you, you will be able to experience things totally outside of

your own milieu. For me it is a lifetime long ambition to know the world

of luxury and wealth, a world where you come from but I know it from the

servant's side. For you it is going to be a complete reversal of roles

and positions in life."

She stopped and looked at me, I could tell she was completely taken by

her own words, she was already so near to fulfill her dream, she was

already dressed the part and she was enjoying it immensely. But what

about me, I was confused as I was trying to think hard for an answer. I

knew already that it was either her terms or good bye Monique for good.

(5- a suivre)