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Description
The weeks were always hectic in the mortgage banking field in the 1970's; people buying,
people refinancing and foreclosures were always lurking in the shadows. The office I was
assigned to, encompassed all three of these activities which kept everyone hopping!

I bumped into Millie Swenson in the small lunchroom one summer afternoon, when tables
were at a premium. Everyone, oddly enough, took lunch at about the same time. I was
just a young guy who was scared to say anything, as most of the women were mature
and had their husband's photos on their desks.

Millie was different, I had heard she was in her forties and unattached. She wore clothing
which hid her figure but, a close look would reveal she was in great shape. However,
as in any office atmosphere, you had that dreaded gossip.

"She's not married, maybe she likes women. I've never seen her with a man. Maybe she's
just too smart for her own good. Most men want a woman who can cook, make babies and
take care of him! Not one who earns more than he does...it's a pride thing, ya' know!"

I later learned Millie had worked herself up from mailgirl to a department manager.
Not many of the younger women gossipers understood the sacrifices she had made so,
plain old jealousy, was most likely behind their false judgment of her.

"Hi, I'm Millie Swenson and you are one of our new hires aren't you? C'mon, there's
plenty of room for you to sit here with me and I promise I won't bite." Millie joked as
she must have noticed my apprehension.

"My name is Davy Long Mrs. Swenson..."

"First of all, it's just Ms. and please call me Millie. Mrs. Swenson makes me feel alot
older than I am!" she smiled.

I calmed down as I sat my brown bag opposite hers and pulled back my chair. At first,
she was quiet but then, my curiosity began to eat away at me. Here I was, sitting
with a department manager, who could fire me but, she seemed very nice! What
could she want from me?

We chit-chatted about the weather, movies and some of the new restaurants which had
opened in the past six months. I discovered that behind those horned rim glasses was
a dark haired, five foot-eleven inch tall woman, who seemed lonely and just wanted to
talk.

"I know most of the women here, resent the fact that I am a department head. But, they
don't know the stuff, I've been through with these men. It's been quite a learning
experience, both mentally and physically."

"Millie, you don't have to explain yourself to me. I'm new and still green around the
gills, as they say. But, I can sense you've been through the ringer and know
alot more than most of the people in this office. I've noticed that at some point,
everyone always comes to you when there's a question no one can answer."

A little smile formed on her lips giving me the courage to look directly at her and
get a good glimpse of her beauty. We talked some more but, the hour quickly
caught up with us.

My sitting with her also led to some gossip and stares that I noticed as the afternoon
wore on. I tried to ignore them but still felt uneasy. All we did was talk! Jeeeze!

A few days went by and my first friday payday had come! I was so excited to see my
name on a check that I was walking on air! I folded my paycheck up and put it back into
my pay envelope, which had been placed on my desk by Millie. It was then I noticed
the little piece of paper, which had fallen to the floor.

"Would you like to have dinner with me tonight? We can try that new restaurant
"Kelly's Place", I hear they have an excellent Rigatoni with meat sauce. MS"

At first, I didn't recognise the "MS" but then it came rushing at me. I looked up,
just in time, to see her staring at me, so I nodded my head which got a little
smile from her.

At lunch, I rushed out to deposit my check and got a few dollars, so I could at least
pay for our meal as I didn't want her to pay.

At five, the office emptied so fast, you'd think somebody had yelled Fire!! However,
at five-twenty;

"Are you ready Davy? I'm starving!" a different voice, caught my ears and as I
turned to look behind me, I was awe struck...

Photo credit: Ddhs40j-f133b5c4-ab6b-485e-8ef9-647ce9a82148

Description
The weeks were always hectic in the mortgage banking field in the 1970's; people buying,
people refinancing and foreclosures were always lurking in the shadows. The office I was
assigned to, encompassed all three of these activities which kept everyone hopping!

I bumped into Millie Swenson in the small lunchroom one summer afternoon, when tables
were at a premium. Everyone, oddly enough, took lunch at about the same time. I was
just a young guy who was scared to say anything, as most of the women were mature
and had their husband's photos on their desks.

Millie was different, I had heard she was in her forties and unattached. She wore clothing
which hid her figure but, a close look would reveal she was in great shape. However,
as in any office atmosphere, you had that dreaded gossip.

"She's not married, maybe she likes women. I've never seen her with a man. Maybe she's
just too smart for her own good. Most men want a woman who can cook, make babies and
take care of him! Not one who earns more than he does...it's a pride thing, ya' know!"

I later learned Millie had worked herself up from mailgirl to a department manager.
Not many of the younger women gossipers understood the sacrifices she had made so,
plain old jealousy, was most likely behind their false judgment of her.

"Hi, I'm Millie Swenson and you are one of our new hires aren't you? C'mon, there's
plenty of room for you to sit here with me and I promise I won't bite." Millie joked as
she must have noticed my apprehension.

"My name is Davy Long Mrs. Swenson..."

"First of all, it's just Ms. and please call me Millie. Mrs. Swenson makes me feel alot
older than I am!" she smiled.

I calmed down as I sat my brown bag opposite hers and pulled back my chair. At first,
she was quiet but then, my curiosity began to eat away at me. Here I was, sitting
with a department manager, who could fire me but, she seemed very nice! What
could she want from me?

We chit-chatted about the weather, movies and some of the new restaurants which had
opened in the past six months. I discovered that behind those horned rim glasses was
a dark haired, five foot-eleven inch tall woman, who seemed lonely and just wanted to
talk.

"I know most of the women here, resent the fact that I am a department head. But, they
don't know the stuff, I've been through with these men. It's been quite a learning
experience, both mentally and physically."

"Millie, you don't have to explain yourself to me. I'm new and still green around the
gills, as they say. But, I can sense you've been through the ringer and know
alot more than most of the people in this office. I've noticed that at some point,
everyone always comes to you when there's a question no one can answer."

A little smile formed on her lips giving me the courage to look directly at her and
get a good glimpse of her beauty. We talked some more but, the hour quickly
caught up with us.

My sitting with her also led to some gossip and stares that I noticed as the afternoon
wore on. I tried to ignore them but still felt uneasy. All we did was talk! Jeeeze!

A few days went by and my first friday payday had come! I was so excited to see my
name on a check that I was walking on air! I folded my paycheck up and put it back into
my pay envelope, which had been placed on my desk by Millie. It was then I noticed
the little piece of paper, which had fallen to the floor.

"Would you like to have dinner with me tonight? We can try that new restaurant
"Kelly's Place", I hear they have an excellent Rigatoni with meat sauce. MS"

At first, I didn't recognise the "MS" but then it came rushing at me. I looked up,
just in time, to see her staring at me, so I nodded my head which got a little
smile from her.

At lunch, I rushed out to deposit my check and got a few dollars, so I could at least
pay for our meal as I didn't want her to pay.

At five, the office emptied so fast, you'd think somebody had yelled Fire!! However,
at five-twenty;

"Are you ready Davy? I'm starving!" a different voice, caught my ears and as I
turned to look behind me, I was awe struck...

Photo credit: Ddhs40j-f133b5c4-ab6b-485e-8ef9-647ce9a82148