Who: Audrey Baxter and Christine Daae When: 5 June 2014, afternoon Where: Baxter Bakery What: Job Interview! Rating/Warning: Low/None Status: Complete when Posted
Christine wasn’t really nervous. This was her call back after all, and she had experience with the tea shop. While not exactly a bakery, it was similar enough and she knew pastries because of said tea shop. Besides, it was summer, which meant that she wasn’t juggling classes as well as her job, so getting a second one to supplement her income had seemed a good idea. It wasn’t like she had much of a social life or did any extra curriculars.
Checking her watch one more time, the blonde fiddled with her skirt to straighten it out before she stepped into the bakery. Because, well, there were a few nerves, but those just came because it was an interview and those could be nerve wracking no matter how much experience one had.
Audrey was nauseous. Apparently, this was a common first trimester thing, but she couldn’t get over it. Normally the baker had an iron stomach, but this was just… blech. She couldn’t eat, could barely drink, and wanted medicine that she really couldn’t take. So far the only solace had been the combination of Unisom tablets and Vitamin B-6, but she only took those at night so she could sleep. As soon as this morning sickness passed, she was going to eat a feast.
The redhead was sitting at one of the tables in the lobby, going through some paperwork. It was a little easier to sit in the lobby, since the smells in the kitchen were overpowering now. She glanced up at the sound of the bell on the door, and broke into a smile at the sight of the nervous looking blonde girl who had just come in. “Christine?”
Okay, she was in the right place. Of course she was in the right place, she had been here before to turn in her application for the job. What was it about job interviews that were so stressful? That was what Christine wanted to know as she smiled some and nodded.
“That’s me. You’re Audrey, right?”
“Hi.” Audrey climbed up from her chair to greet the newcomer. Something about the way Christine looked made Audrey want to help her, or to calm her. Or something. She reached out a hand to shake. “That’s me. Audrey Baxter. Come on over and sit down. Can I get you anything?”
One of these days, Christine would be better at meeting new people. When she was working, she was fine. It was part of the job, a role of sorts. But when it came to just.. meeting someone, she always found herself anxious. As if the old insecurities and differences were visible. As if she’d be judged. Which she would in an interview, but not for what she worried about.
Her roommate was right. She really did need to get out more as opposed to sticking with work and school. If anything, it would hopefully help with interview nerves.
Relieved she had the name right, Christine felt some of her nerves calm as she gave a small smile and shook her head.
“No thank you.” As she answered, she went to where she was told to sit and did so.
“Sure. Well, let me know if you get hungry. We tend to eat a lot around here.” Audrey said, breaking into a smile. She patted her tummy, playfully. “So, you’re looking for a summertime job?” She asked, wanting to make sure that she’d gotten her information correct. “Which is a good thing, as I’m looking to hire some extra help around here this summer. Why don’t you tell me a little about yourself?”
Slowly Christine felt her nerves begin to disappear. She knew that she could do this. And Audrey seemed easy going enough. She was a hard worker, she knew her way around a shop like this. Admittedly more so with teas, but it was still enough. The first question was met with a nod.
“Yes, that’s correct.” It really did seem to work out well that she just needed the help for summer. “I’m an undergrad at UCLA and work at a local tea shop. Our specialty is tea, but we also have pastries that are sold as well…” Once she had something to go off of, it was easier for Christine to answer the about herself question in regards to what she did to work at the tea shop, the different responsibilities and experience she had in the setting.
“Good to know you’re comfortable around this kind of shop. That’s definitely a step in the right direction.” Audrey said, nodding. She wondered for a moment if it was her bakery who supplied the pastries in the tea shoppe. She actually sold to quite a few local cafes and restaurants. “What are you studying at UCLA?”
And then the question on what she was studying at UCLA. The question she still asked herself because she knew that she needed to choose a major before the semester started in the fall but try as she might, she couldn’t find a specific one she was really interested in.
“I’m still undetermined in terms of my major, so I’ve been getting all of the general education requirements out of the way. Possibly sociology though.” It was something she was interested in at least. How viable it was, Christine didn’t know but it was the one that kept coming up at least.
Audrey nodded. “That was my biggest problem with college, I think. I did all of my general education stuff--even though I hated it--and honestly had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. Not at that point, anyway. I ended up here because this is what I’m good at, and they don’t teach this kind of thing at college. Not that I have any problems with it. I think college is great for some people. It wasn’t for me, though,” she admitted, honestly. “How many hours per week do you have for me?”
That was something that was frustrating. The idea that people needed to know what to do with their lives when they were eighteen. But her aunt had wanted her to continue her education and it wasn’t as if Christine had anything else planned. Now she just.. needed to figure out what to do with her major.
“I think it just depends on the person. Some people excel at it, others excel elsewhere which is life…” There was no cookie cutter answer for anything. She had a set schedule at the tea shop to use for her availability which she had brought with her. “I can work here twenty hours a week if that works for you? I brought my schedule from the tea shoppe as well.”
“Twenty is perfect. I’d like to get you trained up as quickly as possible. We’re catering a wedding in Scotland at the end of the month, and I need some staff here that I trust to hold down the fort while I’m across the pond.” Audrey said, giving the girl a smile. “Are you thinking mornings or evenings? Because I could honestly use the staff for both.”
“That’s fine. And I’d say mornings would be best for me.” Hearing that they were going to Scotland for a wedding at the end of the month definitely explained the need for summer help. Luckily Christine tended to be a quick study when it came to these situations, so she wasn’t worried about not being ready by the time they left for the wedding in Scotland.
“Brilliant.” Audrey said, and jotted down some notes on the application. “Well, we start at eleven dollars an hour, plus tips and benefits. So far we’re offering health insurance and dental. I’m working on some sort of sick pay and vacation time, but that might not be until after the wedding.” Audrey explained. “I’m sure it’s all stuff you’ve done before. Register, espresso machine, helping customers with pastries and drinks. We’ve got a panini press, too. I wouldn’t ask you to do any of the baking, just running the cafe.”
It sounded on par with what she was doing at the tea shoppe, so any of the nerves Christine had felt before the interview had started were already vanishing. Just as she had thought they would. Even so, the set up was familiar and so she nodded.
“That sounds good and beyond the panini press, the rest are definitely things I have done before.” Which was going to come in handy given the fact she needed to be trained and ready by the end of the month.
The term ‘interview’ may have been a bit official--it wasn’t really necessary. Audrey had decided before Christine even came in that she was going to offer the girl the job. It was just jumping through the hoops, dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s to make everything official. “So, when would you like to start?”
Had Christine known it was just a matter of t’s and i’s, she probably would have been a lot calmed, but she also always wanted to appear professional. Twenty years old and in college or not, she knew that it was an important skill to have.
“Would next week be good for you?” Just to get things in order, really.
“Sure. Why don’t you come on in at six on Monday. We’ll get all the paperwork signed, and get you started on the register and the espresso machine.” Audrey said, giving the other girl a bright smile. “And I’ll order you an apron with your name on it.” She paused for a moment, considering. “I think that’s everything.”
“Monday at six it is.” With a smile, Christine stood up and held her hand out so as to shake Audrey’s hand with everything now solidified. “Thank you.”
Audrey popped up out of her chair, too, and reached forward to shake Christine’s hand. “Welcome aboard. We’ll see you on Monday. Feel free to sample anything from the pastry case on your way out today. Familiarize yourself with the wares. On the house, obviously.” She gave the girl a smile, then settled back down in her chair to finish up some paperwork.
Nodding, Christine brushed some loose strands of hair behind her ear as she headed out to the main shop to get get a better feel of the store and just familiarize herself with it. In the end, she picked a scone to munch on while she walked around the city. It was a nice day out now and she didn’t have to be at the tea shoppe today.