The Making of Katie

Another story about Katie, the lifeguard!

(She's not just a pool attendant any longer!)

Anyone following these stories knows that Katie has had a bad time. She's just had an abortion, and the emotional scars take time to heal. She must have got pregnant just as soon as she gave her virginity to Kevin. Then she was taken by a hunk in trunks. Roy swept her off her feet, although any impartial observer would know that it was Katie who fired the starting pistol. Roy was a hockey star in the making, but his expectations of his girlfriend left Katie feeling inadequate.

So she pursued her dream of becoming a qualified lifeguard.

Rod was the man. Her lifeguard instructor. She qualified alright, and Rod took what she offered. Well, they both enjoyed the moment.

Pregnant. And by Kevin. Not planned.

Step forward the girl and step forward the man. Katie took Kevin in, after his religious nutter family threw him out.

He forgave her infidelities.

She found that plain, boring old Kevin was the real man amongst them, the man with the heart of gold.

Katie fell behind with her studies. Weeks passed while she felt unable to concentrate, unable to motivate herself and still feeling ready to cry.

Her doctor signed her off from classes again, which was fine as a sticking plaster, but raised the real possibility of her having to leave her course.

Kevin cheered her. He worked his one day a week (in winter) at the pool, but made up for his lack of financial clout in so many other ways.

Katie began to think of him as her rock.

Just before Christmas she had an interview with her tutor. He was kind and sympathetic. They discussed a report from Katie's GP. She was diagnosed with reactive depression. It was agreed that she should take time off, and start her second year again in September.

Six months off!

But at least the course was still on!

Katie took her time, after this.

She found her motivation again, but only slowly!

Kevin mentioned her plight to Geoff, the manager at Hillview. He was genuinely concerned. He didn't know anything about the abortion, of course, but what he heard was so totally different to the hard working, enthusiastic and totally helpful Katie he knew last summer. It so happened that several admin staff too had left at the end of the season. The admin manager was pressing him for some assistance in the office, as even in winter there was a lot to do still.
So it came about that Katie was offered a six month contract working three days a week in the office at Hillview.

It was completely different from working at the pool, but working three days a week gave Katie the opportunity to get back into a healthier state of mind without being under too much pressure. It was just a pity that the pool was closed on weekdays during the winter.

Money was tight, but with her three day's pay and Kevin's one day's pay a week, they managed, and the shared struggle drew them closer.

And Katie was in the ideal position to be the first to hear about changes coming up. Geoff was proposing advertising for a new position next summer. That of pool manager. A full time post to run for six months from April. With the remit of putting the pool's management on a proffessional level and realizing it's potential as an asset of the business. The pay was 50% above that currently offered to the attendants.

As her good health and confidence gradually returned, Katie began to think more and more about this, and her head began buzzing with ideas.

George was certain to apply for the job too, and Kevin thought that he was bound to be the favourite candidate, being the longest serving and most senior attendant.

Katie used her time in the office to good effect. She looked at all the available data on pool usuage, revenue and costs. George could have done the same, but George never though of being better informed. Katie began contacting other local businesses too.

Applications for the manager's post were invited. After a sift of CV's six candidates were selected for interview. Four were newly qualified local young lifeguards. The others were George and Katie.

Katie's CV was the shortest. After all, she was still at college and so far her jobs at Hillview were her only employment. But attached to Katie's CV was her business plan. No other applicant had produced anything like it.

Geoff read the business plan with growing admiration.

"Management of human resources," it said. "Currently underutilised, staff unmotivated, need to raise expectations, all working time should be busy, improving the environment and the customer experience." Put into plain words, what this meant was, "Make me the manager and I'll see that everyone else spends the quiet time making the place look great, like I did last summer, instead of just standing about!"

"Partnerships. There is great potential for developing local business partnerships." The document outlined prospective deals with a local swimwear retailer, an on-line swimwear distributor and a sportswear shop. Suggestions included sales promotions and even fashion shows on the site, with a cut of profits for the pool.

"Community engagement." Ideas included a weekly pool disco and sessions aimed at specific groups, including gentle excercise, mums and babies and pool games for teenagers. A local party provider was standing in the wings to provide music. Several qualified personal trainers had also provided quotes.

All the proposals included costs and projected increases in users, based on numbers who had attended occasional special events in the past.

The interview panel consisted of three people; Geoff himself, the restaurant manager and the senior director of the business. He was a doddery old man in his eighties, but he'd been a major shareholder of Hillview for over fifty years.

The four lifeguards were interviewed in the morning. All were earnest and eager to gain their first management experience. Kevin came along together with Katie at lunchtime. He was taking some changes of kit to his locker, and they arranged to meet up outside the pool again after Katie's interview. She was looking smart, looking her best. She had a plain reddish-brown business suit on, the skirt to just above the knee with matching tights. And a cream blouse, open necked but very modest under her jacket. New clothes had knocked a big hole in her limited budget!

George was first up after lunch. George was so laid back. He knew everything about the pool, nothing bothered him and he would see it ran just fine. Halfway through the interview the conversation wandered off into smalltalk. George was sure that the job was his.

The panel prepared to see Katie. George waited outside. Geoff reminded them that Katie had worked at the pool last summer. He produced a cutting from the best selling daily tabloid, which was the coverage of when the Bears stars came to her last day send-off. The director looked startled as he saw the large colour photo of Katie bobbing up from the water, her tight yellow shirt plastered to her chest and emblazoned with the words, "Hillview Holiday Park," standing out in pronounced three dimensions.

"On my word!" he spluttered, as his eyes feasted upon her contours. "She's got her skirt on too! What a brave girl!"

Geoff reminded him that the picture had fronted October's succesful advertising campaign as he summarized Katie's time at work here.

The director just kept glancing back at that picture.

Then Geoff handed them all copies of Katie's CV and her business plan. They spent ten minutes in silent reading.

"Very impressive!" the director commented. "This young lady stands out in front of all the others!"

"And not just in the picture!" the restaurant manager murmoured.

They called Katie in. Questions and answers rattled backwards and forwwrds. Geoff challenged her figures, "But once the novelty of these promotions and events has worn off, will anyone want to attend again and again?" he wondered.

"We"ll keep on improving them!" Katie replied, firmly and without hesitating. "We'll learn what works best and build on it!"

The interview ran over time. Asked to add anything in conclusion, Katie said, "Give me challenging and reasonable targets for users and revenue, and give me six months, and I'll beat all the targets!"

She was calm and confident without sounding arrogant.

Katie went back to rejoin George outside the room.

"There's one standout application!" the panel all agreed. "That young lady has a head for business!"

"We've really got four applicants suited for jobs as qualified lifeguards," Geoff summarised, "Which is not the criteria for this post! And we've got one applicant showing the required skills of an attendant, which he is already. And then we've got Katie, showing that she's thinking like a manager!"

"I'd like to see where she is in ten years!" the doddery old director observed, still glancing at the photo. "I think she could make her mark, when she finds an opportunity!"

"We're all agreed, then!"

They called George back in.

"Well George," Geoff began, "I wanted to tell you first, that we had one outstanding candidate today."

"Thanks very much!" George looked pleased.

Geoff handed him a copy of Katie's business plan. George looked increasingly worried as he glanced over it. "Oh, none of this sort of stuff will work!" he said, dismissively. "People just want to come in for a quick swim with no fuss!"

"Well George," Geoff continued, "Katie is going to be the new pool manager, and it is important that you both work well together. Are you prepared to work under Katie this summer?"

George dismissed the suggestive thoughts that came into his mind, "Yes, suppose so!" He was really taken aback.

"I think that Katie will be a driven and demanding boss!" Geoff continued, "Are you ready to do fit in with her ways?"

"Yes, suppose so!" George looked lost.

"Please call Katie back in!" Geoff asked as he left.

"Your turn again!" George grinned at Katie, as he held the door open for her. George had his limitations, but he wasn't one to bear a grudge.

Katie went back into the room, ready to hear their condolences. She imagined herself just carrying on as before, doing her best as an attendant with George in charge. If only he would make more of an effort to keep the changing area clean and fresh!

"Katie," Geoff began, "We had one outstanding candidate today!"

Katie's heart sank as she thought, "George!"

"So we are delighted to offer you the position of pool manager from April!"

Katie was startled and thrilled. Was this really true?

"How do you feel about taking charge of the others?" Geoff asked her.

"Fine!" Katie replied, "But there are going to be one of two changes! Quiet times are not just for standing around chatting! The changing area needs freshenened up continually! People want to come back when it looks clean and welcoming!"

Geoff smiled, "It's going to be interesting and challenging!" he smiled. "Be firm, but always be fair, and I will back you up all I can!"

The director was still glancing at the photo! "Didn't she look lovely in the pool," he thought to himself, "And in all her kit, too!"

Katie left the room, with all sorts of thoughts swirling around in her head. George clapped her heartily on the back. "Well done Katie!" there was no hint of jealousy or falseness in his response. "They're right; you've put a lot of thought into this Katie! I'm not really the management type; I'm just one of the lads!"

"Thanks George!" Katie replied. "I'm still going to be very much one of the team too, and we'll all be in this together!"

They wandered back over to the pool, it was closed but Kevin was waiting for them outside.

"Meet our new boss from April!" George grinned at Kevin. "Katie's going to be in charge!" He looked aside as they hugged each other.

"And there'll be none of that going on!" George grinned again.

"Quite right!" agreed Katie. "Work time is going to be work time! Let's have a look inside!"

Kevin unlocked the door again and Katie strolled proudly past the familiar reception desk. "Look at all the clutter!" she grumbled, "And stuff lying on the tiles! It's going to start looking tidy, all the time. And this shower area.........." her voice trailed off as her critical eye surveyed the site of her first tryst with Roy.

George mumbled something to Kevin, "No, she'll not mind at all!" he quickly replied.

"And I'll want to see everyone actively cleaning the changing area whenever there's a quiet moment..." Katie's enthusiasm came back into earshot.

"And I want you both to start taking lifeguard classes, we'll see about Hillview paying the fees!"

Kevin suddenly stepped behind Katie and pulled her jacket off, down and out of both arms. Simultaneously George lifted first one of her feet and then the other, both shoes were removed in seconds. Before Katie said a word they both lifted her up, George holding her feet and Kevin her arms.

"And we're going to start this new tradition!" George announced loudly, "New manager initiation!"

They carried her a few steps to the side of the pool. "One, two, three..." Katie was swung to and fro, they let her go and she half turned over before landing in the water.

"Oh God, I forgot the heating's off till Sunday!" Kevin clutched his hand to his face. George tried to turn his guffaw into a spluttering cough.

Katie surfaced and swept back her hair. "It's absolutely freezing in here, you bastards!" she screamed, climbing up the steps. Her new skirt unleashed a torrent of water as it settled firmly over her bum and her thighs, her blouse clung and gripped her and her tights glistened.

Geoff and the director walked through the door.

"Well," Geoff continued his conversation with the director, "Remember what I was saying about Katie always getting in the pool? And she never even bothers to get changed first!"

The director tried but clearly failed to avert his eyes from the silhouette of Katie's blue frilly bra, showing clearly through her blouse.

"Well, I did deserve that!" Katie admitted, "I was going on a bit! That was my new manager's initiation!"

Everyone laughed.

"But come April 1st," Katie continued, it's going to be work first, work second and work all the time! Now, is there any dry kit for me to go home in?"