Self-Review – The Ides of the Secretarial Pool

Let’s Take a Look at The Ides of the Secretarial Pool

I really love the concept of The Ides of the Secretarial Pool, which is essentially a retelling of Julius Caesar, but with a midcentury twist.

I wrote this story during the third quarter of 2021.The single word prompt was: ambitious. And that got me thinking about, well, read on and find out.

Background

When I was practicing law in the 1980s, the secretarial pool was still very much alive and kicking. Far as I can recall, every clerical worker would start off there. And then the more ambitious among them would either be promoted to an executive secretary position or leave.

Many administrative assistants would end up staying in the secretarial pool for nearly all if not all of their careers. And when first word processors and then personal computers arrived on the scene, an employee’s only real choice was to embrace the change.

Or she (these were nearly always women) could leave, either voluntarily or not so voluntarily. Sometimes, this was due to starting a family.

Plot

In the 1970s (one character mentions President Carter), a group of secretaries try to bring down another woman who they just plain don’t like.

This story is a retelling of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, taking place in a 1970s business office, with a catty group of clerical workers.

Characters in The Ides of the Secretarial Pool

The characters are Joan Chambers, the Julius Caesar character, and Bree, the Brutus character. Cassie is the Cassius character, whereas Kate is the Casca character. Amelia doesn’t really have an analogue in the original play, and stands in for all the other conspirators.

Plus there’s the mailroom attendant, Richard Davis, and the women’s boss, Mrs. Watson. Other executive types include Mr. Morgan, Mr. Wesley, and Mr. Benedict.

But only Wesley gets an real ‘screen time’. And yes, this is absolutely an era when the clerical staff would be called by their first names, and bosses by their surnames.

In addition, it’s also a time when women really did call each other ‘girls’.

After all, I witnessed all of this as late as 1986.

Memorable Quotes {the Characters are in the Company Cafeteria; Joan has Just Gotten Up}

“…. Damn, where’s she going?” Amelia nodded in Joan’s general direction.

“Off to suck up, I guess. Anything to get out of the typing pool. Makes me sick, girls.” Cassie frowned.

“I seem to recall that a few years ago, you also did just about anything to get out of the typing pool. You’re lucky Amelia and I took you under our wings.”

“Don’t spoil my fun, Kate. You’re almost as old as Joan.” Cassie’s tone took on an edge of menace.

“Cassie!” Amelia turned to Kate. “It was different back then. I mean, we liked Cassie. But Joan? Not a chance.”

“She needs someone to teach her a lesson.” Cassie narrowed her eyes. “But what?”

Rating

The story has a K+ rating. While there is no bad language or real violence, the conspirators are extremely nasty and they have no problem trying to ruin Joan’s life, just for kicks.

And the truth is, this one is nowhere near as farfetched as a lot of the other stories I have written, such as The New Kid. After all, sending the class stoner to meet aliens is kinda silly. But this story, eh, not so much.

Takeaways for The Ides of the Secretarial Pool

I really like how this one turned out, although I will be the first to admit that the idea of a dugout came from a recent re-viewing of Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

It’s got a kind of Mad Men vibe going on. The conspirators are jealous of Joan’s confidence and college education. As a result, they have qualms whatsoever about trying to knock Joan down as many notches as possible.

Whether she deserves it…or not.

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Want More of my Short Stories and Novellas?

If this story resonates with you, then check out my other posts about my shorter works.

Short Stories

Finally, for a complete list of my shorter works, please be sure to check out the Hub Page—Short Stories.