Your duties also include tidying the office. And what, youre an accountant? If you dont like it, hand back your contract and be gone. Youre the new girl, so youll have to grin and bear it. Thanks for taking you on at this pay despite having no experience whatsoever!
The receptionist, perched on her swivel chair, gave the newcomer a triumphant glance. She wont be here long, she muttered.
How often do we have to clean? Emily asked softly.
Let me explain everything, the receptionist replied with a practiced smile. Come on, Ill show you your desk and introduce you to the team.
Emily followed the tall woman hesitantly. The receptionist pushed through another doorway and opened it. A large openplan floor was divided into tiny cubicles, each occupied by someone.
Ladies, this is Emily, the new hire. New hire, these are the ladies!
Ten pairs of eyes snapped onto Emily. A heavy silence settled, and Emily forced a smile, greeting the group. The women murmured among themselves.
Lovely to have a fresh face, one said, the office has been dusty for ages.
Thats great, another added, except youll be sitting right next to me, and Ill have to endure the clacking of your keyboard, your sighs, maybe even your tears.
Fine by me, a third chimed, its about time you stepped out of your comfort zone.
Exactly, the fourth said, weve only heard your whines before; now youll be on the front line with us.
Everyone, a little quieter, please, the receptionist said, handing Emily a corner desk. On the computer youll find a folder called Guidelines and Tasks. Read, learn, memorise. Violet, the redhaired firecracker, will help you. If anything troubles you, go straight to her. Got it?
Emily nodded. The receptionist left, and the women refocused on their screens. Violet gave Emily a onceover.
You remind me of my younger sister, Violet said smugly, so youll have a head start in my eyes. Dont make any foolish or crude mistakes, and well get along Right, Emily, get to work. Ill drop by during lunch to answer any questions. Until then, no distractions, agree?
Emily settled into her chair and surveyed the workstation. A modest desk held paper trays, a glass jar of pens and markers, a monitor, a mouse pad, a mouse, a waste bin, and a pot with a withered, centuryold aloe vera plant. The plant made her think of her grandmothers kitchen, where she used to grow aloe for its juice.
An apothecary in a pot, Emily whispered, why does no one tend to it? Itll die out.
She adjusted her seat and looked around. Everyone was absorbed in their tasks: fingers dancing over keyboards, calculators clicking, pens scratching on notepads, occasional sighs when figures didnt match.
Emily hadnt expected to like it. Shed just finished university with a pristine degree and no realworld experience. Yet the firm offered a solid start for a budding accountant, promising a variety of clients and a decent £30,000 a year salary for a rookie. She could learn fast.
When the lunch break finally arrived, Violet sat down opposite her and fielded questions for forty minutes.
Enough, Im about to have a brainburst, Violet sighed, leaning back. By the way, that palm over there
Its an aloe, Emily corrected.
Yes, aloe, Violet rolled her eyes. It belonged to our legendary numbers guru, Grace Palmer. She was a wizard with ledgers, a star consultant. When she retired, she left this plant as a token. Everyone in finance wept when they saw her name on the statements. She gave us priceless advice.
Are you her replacement? Emily asked quietly.
No, Im not yet, Violet replied. Shes older than me, more experience than my years. When she retired we held a little office fête, gave her gifts, and she left us this plant. She said, Take care of it, ladies. Nobody looked after it, and now its withering. You can throw it away or keep it by your desk Just get on with your work!
Emily stared at the twisted stalk, a plant that must have been a decade old, maybe more. How long does a centuryold aloe survive?
She had been at the firm for almost a month. Twice a week she arrived an hour early to tidy the reception area, the main hallway where the receptionist reigned, and the directors office. It took a lot of time and energy, leaving her exhausted before the day even began. Yet the generous salary meant the extra cleaning was part of the package.
Emily hoped that if she proved herself a valuable accountant, the cleaning duties would be dropped. She stayed late, wrestling with spreadsheets, but she was still fresh out of university, lacking handson client work. The learning curve was steep, but she remained hopeful.
Then a nasty autumn cold hit her. Her head throbbed, her throat burned. She hadnt managed to dash to the chemist before work because she had to clean first. The tasks on her screen glowed red, and she could barely type.
She glanced at the dying aloe, longing to bite a leaf for relief.
Grandma used this for everything, she muttered, snapping a fleshy leaf and chewing it.
The bitter pulp eased her throat slightly, and after half an hour she felt better.
Really? You actually fixed it? Violet examined the reports, eyebrows raised. No errors. Well done, newcomer!
Violet handed Emily a fresh batch of assignments and settled back. Emily barely noticed how shed taken on the extra workload. Impressed by her efficiency, she called Violet over again.
Listen, I dont get it. How did you crunch those tables so fast, Emily?
Emily showed a shortcut shed discovered online. Violet looked halfamazed.
I see, youre sharp, Violet said, I have a tough case for you. Ive been working on it since morning. Maybe you can crack it.
Violet expected Emily to stumble. Emily studied the problem, her throat still a little raw, and chewed another bit of aloe.
Violet, Im done. Check it, Emily said with a grin near the days end.
The other women rose from their seats. Had the newcomer really outpaced Violet? Violet snatched the mouse from Emilys hand, scanned the spreadsheet.
How did you do that?
Im a good accountant, even if Im young. You just have to think and apply what you know, Emily replied.
Hold on! Im the good accountant here. Were all good accountants. Youre just the young one. Explain what you did! Violet snapped.
At that moment the receptionist burst in.
Ladies, Grace Palmer will be visiting tomorrow. She has a meeting with the director and promised to drop by. If you need advice, have your questions ready.
Prepare your questions, Violet hissed at Emily.
Emily had no idea what to ask. She felt she knew everything, yet the right queries eluded her. Around her, the women whispered, scribbled, arguing over who would get Graces attention.
The next morning the office buzzed with preparations for Graces arrival. Emily finished her urgent tasks, then tackled the next set while gnawing on another aloe leaf. She was so absorbed that she didnt notice the guest entering.
Is this the new hire? a voice asked behind her.
Good afternoon, Emily replied, popping a fresh piece of leaf into her mouth.
Grace Palmer, a tall, wiry woman with a neat bun and sharp spectacles perched on a long nose, adjusted her glasses and surveyed Emilys desk and the sad plant.
Sorry, I didnt prepare any questions. Theres been a lot of work, Emily admitted.
Fine, Grace said. Im not here to hand out advice. Im retired, not teaching a masterclass. Show me what youve got, and well have a chat.
During the break Emily finally visited the staff café for a proper lunch. As she was about to sit down, Grace called her over.
Take a seat, lets talk. Hows it going for you? I saw what you did today impressive. Are you experienced?
No, Ive only been here a month. I love accounting; Im getting better each day, Emily murmured.
And youve been looking after my aloe, yes? Chewing it? Grace laughed.
My throat was sore. It helped a bit, Emily said.
Did the work improve after that? Quite a magical plant, isnt it? Grace teased.
It felt like a boost, Emily replied, frowning.
Grace smiled knowingly. Thats the old legend of the centuryold aloe. A wandering healer once found a tree with thick, juicy leaves in the desert. He ate a leaf, and his frail body was restored. The tree gave up some of its life force, becoming twisted, but its sap healed him. He later planted its branches in his village, spreading the magic.
Emily shook her head. Thats about herbal cures, not bookkeeping.
Grace winked. Sometimes the same principle works elsewhere. When I was a young girl, a stern mentor pushed me hard. I once tried the aloe on my windowsill, and it became my secret weapon. I carried it from firm to firm, and it stayed with me. Now its yours.
Emily felt the weight of the story, the plant, and the chance shed been given.
What about the questions the others wanted to ask you? Grace prompted.
Emily was at a loss. She thought she knew everything, yet the right questions didnt come. The women around her scribbled, each hoping Grace would favour them.
Later that week the office was a hive of activity as the team prepared for Graces visit. Emily completed her assignments, still nibbling on aloe. She was so engrossed that the longawaited guest appeared without fanfare.
Is this the newcomer? a voice asked.
Yes, Emily answered, offering the leaf.
Grace inspected the desk, the wilted aloe, and Emilys hands.
Apologies, I havent prepared anything. Works been hectic, Emily said.
Dont worry, Grace replied. Im not here to lecture. Lets just talk.
During their conversation Grace praised Emilys diligence and hinted that perseverance, not just talent, was the real secret.
When Emily finally left the office after a few months, she no longer spent her mornings scrubbing floors. She handled the firms most demanding clients, solved complex accounts with a flick of the wrist, and even mentored newcomers. She realised that the tiny aloe, once neglected, had taught her that even the most fragile things can offer strength if you tend to them.
She eventually wrote a resignation letter, citing a move to a new city in the north where commuting would be easier. Violet teased, Youre quitting? Youve got top clients! but secretly hoped Emily would thrive elsewhere.
Just a cold, thats all, Emily said, packing her things.
Violet huffed, Youre leaving the aloe behind? Its a cursed palm, you know.
Emily grinned, Give it a chew; it works wonders.
Violet stared skeptically, then broke off a leaf herself.
Months later, Emily looked back on her first year. She had started as the shy new girl, cleaning desks and chewing aloe, and ended as a confident senior accountant. The lesson she carried forward was simple: hard work, humility, and a willingness to learn from even the most unlikely sources can turn a modest start into a remarkable career.
