Hmmm

On the afternoon before the book club party, just after I start in on a project with a tight deadline at work, and just before the bosses drop by unexpectedly to negotiate next year’s contract with me, the phone rings and it’s Noi, the new kid. She wants me to know that she has quit the caregiver agency.

It turns out that Jip was her first and last placement. According to the rules of the agency, because Noi didn’t complete a full month on the job, she gets nothing. Can I help? she asks. I tell her to hang on while I go find somebody who can translate for us on the phone. I want to make sure I understand this right.

A woman I don’t know especially well is standing in the hall, and she says she can try. Her English isn’t the best in the office, but it’s lots better than my Thai. She talks to Noi for a minute and confirms the agency policy. I ask her to tell Noi that I’ll call the agency and explain that her work was fine but that she just wasn’t a perfect match for Jip.

After the woman hangs up, she asks about why I decided not to keep Noi. I tell her about a few of my worries. She asks if Jip gets frustrated with other people too. I say yes, sure. I don’t go into great detail. She says, “John, I think you should also examine yourself.”

I look puzzled. For one thing, I’m not sure if her words came out the way she meant, given that her English isn’t perfect. For another thing, this kind of advice is not very Thai. Being blunt here is rare. But she continues and I know I’ve heard her exactly the way she intended. She says, “John, I’ve been watching the email. You are involved in more and more of the work around here. I think you are thinking about other things when you are at home and not thinking about your wife.”

Whoa. I say, “Could be.”

I’ve got a book club party to go home and cook for.

She says, “Not ‘could be,’ John. Sure.”

We talk for a few more minutes, but we don’t really need to say any more.