The November project 2019, part 11

The sky wore rosy cheeks this morning. The air was clear, birds were chirping as if they’d never done anything else, but besides that, it was completely quiet. The street, that otherwise constantly was filled with cars and people in motion, lay completely empty. Sure he was tired, sure the coffee hadn’t really kicked in yet, sure it was still a long time left until the weekend, but a morning like this was still a little better than all the others. This was the best time of the year. The late spring, lilacs and apple trees in bloom, when the sky was light before he’d even got changed into work clothes.    By the park, he stopped his bike and got off. The view towards east and the sunrise was at its peak here. He had to take a picture; it was too beautiful to not to. One of the sky, one of the blooming trees, and one of himself with the flowers as a backdrop. It was nice to be able to take a selfie when no one else was looking. He could be so uncomfortable otherwise. If he still was content with this picture in twelve hours, it might even work as a new tinder avatar? The possibility was there.    Down the hill. The hospital’s buildings were soon towering up and he crossed the main bus stop by the entrance that still was quite empty. Only one bus was standing there at the moment, and only three people went off. 05:52. Most people didn’t start until an hour or two.    Into the area, off to building 45, down to the basement and locker room. Saying hi to Roger and Nasim. Most people working here were women, he as always grateful for that at this time of day. Never a crowded space. Off to the storage room, get the cart, say hi to Reem and Nadila, take the elevator up to the right level. The day had begun.[You matched with Carlos] … [So what do you do for a living? I’m a janitor. I clean at a hospital. A cleaner? Okay… and you enjoy that? Actually yes. Why not? I don’t know, it just feels so unglamorous? Don’t you get tired of it in the long run? Of course it’s not glamorous, but a job is a job. Well, sure, but… how’s the pay? Is it worth it? It’s just a tad bit lower than the care staff’s, you’ll get by. You’ve never thought of doing anything else? Yes. But I like my co-workers, I get off early, and it’s not even that dirty since I clean every day. It’s not like I suffer.] 08.00. The examination rooms done, the care staff had arrived, and patients were starting to come in too. A breakfast break and another cup of coffee in a break room that still was nice and empty. This room would be cleaned soon too. Then, it was time for the offices, the locker rooms, and the elevators. [Mom! I got a job! Congratulations honey, what kind of job? A janitor down at the hospital. Oh… well that’s something, I guess. What, what do you mean by that? Nothing, I just thought you’d get something in the field you actually planned on making a career in. Hey, with today’s job market you have to be okay with what you can get. And this is on 85%! Almost full time! Why not 100%? I don’t know, but it’s enough for me to live on and I get to leave at two PM, so I’m happy. Don’t be. What? Don’t be happy with that. If you’re happy with that you’re never gonna get anywhere later. You must aways strive for something better. Well of course, but this will do for now. I have a job, for god’s sake! I thought would be happy for me? Sure I’m happy for you honey, but I can’t say I’m proud. What am I gonna tell my friends? My colleagues? I want a son I can be proud of. Janitor, that’s not a job you flaunt with.] 09:11. Five cloths for this room. Change the bag in the trash can, wipe the furniture and surfaces, mop the floor. Routines, routines, routines. Sure, he would feel like a robot sometimes. And sometimes he worried that a robot would take over his job. But how efficient would that actually be? How quickly could a robot determine what’s dirt and what’s not? Could it determine if a surface was actually clean once it had cleaned it? Those kinds of things took a human to determine. A trained human eye. This wasn’t a job for just anyone. Someone who didn’t care for this job would never be able to do it well. He knew, he had seen other spaces. People could say whatever they wanted. Even if this was a job he didn’t intend on staying at forever, it was at least a field he could see himself in for a longer period of time. As a union representative, as manager, as an engineer for new detergents and new material, anything. The world needed people like him. His job would always need to be done, and that gave him purpose. He was important. He was needed. And he, of all people, could do this job pretty damn fine. That, was something he could be proud of. janitor