Image used: https://pixabay.com/photos/architecture-modern-building-facade-1048092/
I miss the city I love. Those often frantic, crowded buildings where people finely dressed in business attire stroll (or in some cases) run to their office desks, coffee in hand and laughing about the latest sitcom on TV. If anything, I may end up like that one day in my life.
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Seeing my Mum like this looked fun at first until that careers talk at school. This lady with long, blonde curly hair walking in and saying that we will all end up in offices someday. My friend Layla who loves horses merely shrugged at the end of the talk. She knows nothing about our generation. I heard Layla whisper into my ear with frustration.
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Are we meant to have dreams and desires to do the one thing that you feel drawn to or do we all have to fit in? I wasn’t sure if I wanted to turn to the internet to see everyone else’s replies. I envisioned that they would all be about the lady being realistic. Yet you don’t know until you try something right?
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Being a sixteen year old and already being pigeonholed into a top nine to five job wasn’t something I imagined. But then, I remember the subjects for GCSE I’m good at. Maths, English Language, Spanish. I could make a good translator or maybe even a manager. However, I won’t end up feeling the freedom that lots of young people truly crave. So, before I decided to turn to the depths of social media, I decided to go to an office for the day with my Mum.
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At first, she laughed at my suggestion. Why do a bring your child to work day when most of her co-workers didn’t bother to invite family? After a while though, she said sure but don’t get in anyone’s way. I didn’t want to anyway. Dressing up extremely smart for a few hours wasn’t a struggle. My uniform is the typical posh tie and skirt with a blazer, so I didn’t complain much. I could even put a little make-up on too, bonus!
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We both walked briskly towards my Mum’s office and for a minute, I felt out of my depth. Was my boldness going to get the best for me? When I nervously smiled at the receptionist on arrival, my heart was pounding at the sight of all of these office staff either on phones or typing away fiercely in response to clients. When we finally reached the desk, Mum gestured towards a spare chair and I quietly sat.
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She asked me to do a few simple things like emptying her desk bin and making a strong cup of coffee. One of my Mum’s friends came over and introduced herself. Danni had known my Mum for years, both fellow students at University in London. It was thanks to her really that she set Mum up with my Dad. Chatting to her surprisingly wasn’t as scary as I thought. She secretly liked One Direction, so that was a fun conversation.
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Mum gave one of those ‘good but sour’ looks as if to suggest I had been chatting for far too long. This isn’t the playground I heard her say under her breath. I sighed. She really takes her work commitments seriously.
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I must have drifted off into my daydreams because a sharp nudge nearly made me topple over. A tall, older man stood over my Mum’s desk, flashing a smile and holding out his hand for me to shake. My Mum’s boss.
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Blushing furiously, I took his hand and shook firmly but quickly. He acknowledged my presence and said that he wanted me to enjoy the experience of being with my Mum for the day.
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Then, everything fell silent. Was it something I had said out of context? After what felt like hours, someone else in the office mentioned two words. National lockdown. A national lockdown. I had only been out in the city for an hour or so. What did the government mean by a lockdown?
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Mum quickly grabbed her bag, some folders and her empty coffee mug. She said we needed to return home now and there would be no time for work experience today. All of the laughter and typing noises had stopped as if everyone had suddenly turned into ghosts. We were all having to get home quickly. The boss’s face was one of concern.
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I struggled to get my thoughts and my movements together but just one look outside the large glass window said it all. People outside were running frantically towards buses, trains, taxis, waiting for cars. The scene was extremely scary to witness. My Mum sighed and grabbed my hand saying we needed to leave now before we get arrested for being out.
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When we finally got home, I texted Layla the news and she sent a shocked emoji face back. The good news was that school was out. The bad news was everyone’s life was on hold now. Mum and Dad held me close that evening as we made ourselves watch the formal announcement.
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One day when it’s safe to do so, I’ll be back in my home city. The city of skyscrapers. With a sky of steel.
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and then Add to home screen.