The Holding, Part 1

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The Holding
by HongKongSmoke

Part 1. The Job

"$120,000 a year?" Jenny shouted. She couldn't believe it!

"Woo Hoo!" Jenny shouted once. Jenny Chan had been working as an RN at the 
local city hospital for 3 years now. Although she enjoyed her job at first, 
it was becoming mundane to her. One day she saw an add downstairs that an 40 
ish year old woman needed a special care nurse. Jenny together with dozens 
of other nurses at the hospital applied for that position. Why not? It was a 
8 to 5 job, no more evening or overnight shift work, plus the add promise to 
double their current pay. Double it? Jenny was earning 50K annually, that 
means she would earn at least 100K!!

Jenny Chan needed the money. Her parents were poor chinese immigrants who 
came to San Francisco from Hong Kong in the early 70's. Jenny went to a 
public school in the 80's as one of the few chinese girls in her class. 
Jenny was very bright, but her parents weren't rich, and when it came time 
for Jenny to to to college, her parents didn't have enough money to afford 
it. Both parents sacrificed themselves for their kids. They both quit 
drinking and smoking in the late 70's, when Jenny was 3 years old, even 
before Irene was born, so that they could save enough money to put Jenny and 
her younger sister Irene through college. Jenny has no recollection of her 
parents smoking. She only knows this by looking at photos of the 60's and 
70's. Whenever she saw her mom and dad smoking in the photos, she looked at 
them is disgust. Jenny wasn't fond of smoking. She had never tried it, but 
she knew some kids at school who did smoke. She didn't know why they did, 
but to each their own, she thought. She found it strange that her mom smoked 
when she was younger, since her mom didn't allow anyone to smoke in her 
house now. Her parents did whatever they could to save money for Jenny and 
Irene, but it wasn't enough.

Jenny was born in 1975. Her mom gave birth to her when she was just 18. 
Irene was born in 1988, she was a surprise, really. Her parents only planned 
to have 1 child. Jenny is 13 years older than Irene, and she is exactly 
double her age since Jenny is 26 and Irene is 13.

When Jenny applied to college, she did this in faith that she would receive 
some student loans or bursaries.  Jenny did receive those loans each and 
every year she went to college. When she graduated, she owed back over 50 
thousand dollars, why is why she wanted to apply for the individual nursing 
care job. At about 100K annual, she could pay her student loans off quicker 
and buy a place of her own.

The interview was in a strange setting. Jenny sat behind a "two-way" mirror, 
where the interviewer could see her, but she couldn't see the interviewer. 
Jenny also found out that the special care patient, Marissa Pereira, was 
behind the mirror as well. Throughout the interview, she found out more 
about Marissa and how she needed care. Marissa was 40 years old and was 
involved in a car crash about 1 year ago. She suffered damage to her legs 
and hands. She couldn't walk more than a few steps without assistance and 
was in a wheelchair. She was able to use her arms still, but had no ability 
to control her fingers, i.e she couldn't grasp a cup of coffee for example.

Jenny got to meet Marissa after the interview for 5 minutes. Marissa was an 
attractive woman, long black hair, very spanish looking. There were no 
visible scars on Marissa either. She looked normal just like anyone else 
sitting on a chair. Once the interview was over, Jenny went home, not 
knowing whether she got the job or not.

Jenny went to the gym and did her workout. She thought about her answers to 
the interviewers questions. She hoped that she would at least be considered, 
but other nurses she knew had more experience than she did.

Two days alter she got a call at work. It was from a person representing 
Marissa.

"Hello, Jenny Chan, this is Ron Weston. I represent Marissa Pereira." Ron 
said

"Oh, hi Ron, how are you?" Jenny asked

"I'm fine Jenny. Ms Chan, We were impressed with your interview. We believe 
you are the right person for the job. I'd like to offer you the job with 
starts in two weeks. Do you accept?" Ron replied

"Well, yes, of course, I've love to work for Marissa" Jenny said. She jumped 
up and down and mouthed the words "I got the job" to other co-workers 
around. They all walked over to her.

"That's great. Ms. Pereira works at 18 smokevalley drive. It's by the hills. 
I'll E-mail you the direction and the map to her home since we have your 
E-mail address." Ron said

As Ron spoke to her over the phone, Jenny looked thrilled! She didn't 
believe she got the job instead of others.

"Do you have any questions?" Ron asked

"Well, I saw the add and it said that the pay was double what I'm making 
here." Jenny asked

"Ms. Chan, Marissa is prepared to offer you $120,000 a year. Wouldn't that 
be sufficient" Ron asked

"$120,000 a year?" Jenny shouted. She couldn't believe it!
"That would be great!!" Jenny added.

Jenny continued to talk with Ron about details and when she hung up the 
phone, many of her co-workers congratulated her and gave her a hug. They 
were all glad for Jenny. Jenny was a nice girl and always gave of herself at 
work. She switched shifts with anyone who asked her. Jenny didn't mind 
working overnight. She stayed at home most of the time and since she went to 
school out of state, she didn't have many friends in San Francisco. She 
helped out at home and at her parents restaurant when she wasn't working. 
She was a good girl, always obeyed her parents, which was an oriental thing. 
Most of her co-workers though that no one deserved this great job more than 
she did.

"Jenny Chan you got the job. Way to go Jenny Chan!" Jenny said to herself

The next two weeks were the longest in her life. She couldn't wait to start 
her new job, and get her pay. She could finally made large payments on her 
students loans and be financially stable! She needed the money badly.  She 
went to the gym everyday to workout, to let out her energy.

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