knew he was only being tolerated and any courtesy was for the sake of the other customers waiting next in line.
“Can I help you?” she had asked with disinterest. She felt like telling him, “You are wasting my time and money by filling up the queue. I am only interested in profitable customers and you are definitely not one of them.”
Jane Phillips had had a gutful, by the time this Aboriginal chap came to the counter enquiring about the possibility of getting a loan for a unit. She had served pensioners at the Savings Account counter since 8:30am and she could swear she saw grass growing in the queue. Her face was sore from the fake smile she had to put on, in case some grumpy old prune juice complained to her manager, yet again, that she had poor customer service etiquette.
This suburban branch, even though so close to the city’s vibrant social networking, night clubs and cafes scenes, seemed like in a god-forsaken other world. The branch was old, and the customers stank from rotting teeth or alcohol or medication filled breath. She just couldn’t wait to get a transfer to the city centre. After about four attempts to get a transfer she had not yet been given the approval. She felt trapped and couldn’t believe that there were some lame brain staff members who had been in the branch for like, 10 years. 10 years! Oh my god! She shuddered. The very thought of it made her want to vomit right there and then.
This afternoon Jane was transferred to the Loans and Investment counter, but this did not help because the pensioners still came over anyway. It was, therefore, an unfortunate encounter when this Aboriginal chap reached her counter. Back to that fake smile again, she thought, but all she could achieve was the expression of someone who had just unexpectedly bitten into a lemon. Not a pleasant sight for poor Jonno, the customer.
“Do you want to withdraw funds? she asked and continued without waiting for a reply confident that he probably could not read, and therefore did not understand the clearly labelled queue for those who wanted a loan or to make investments.
“If you do, then you are in the wrong queue. Go to the other one and you will be served”
Although feeling insulted by the obviously condescending redirection, Jonno was not going to be discouraged from achieving that financial breakout.
“No, I am in the right queue, thank very much. I know what I am up to and know why I am here.” He replied confidently.
“I want to get information on getting a loan for a two bedroom unit” he continued. As the words poured out of his mouth emotional confidence rose up like the best ever wave on a beach.
“Yeah, I want a loan so that I can buy myself my own property. What is the process?” Jonno continued without waiting for an answer.
“I have already saved enough money as a deposit for a loan and my mum will give the rest to pay for the stamp duty.” Now his confidence had turned into excitement at the very thought that he could even talk about a loan. None of his family members had ever talked about owning property. They wouldn’t even dream of it.
“Do you have a full-time job earning at least $50,000?” Jane hit back with a proverbial financial brick batt that she was certain would clean put him back in his box and gave her some satisfaction of striking back at a customer in revenge for her misery.
“Next!” she half shouted revitalised. If only she could do that again and again for the rest of the day…and get away with it would be fantastic, she revelled in the thought.
As those devastating words hit Jonno, he felt the same experience he once had when he was surfing on the crest of a three-metre wave. The sheer elation of being lifted so high and looking around all along the beach for miles made him forget how vulnerable he was. Suddenly, he was left suspended in the air as the waves collapsed under him to nothing. He looked down with terror as he fell headlong toward rocks below the surface of the water. The thought of hitting those rocks and possibly drowning made him soil his swimming pants. This time though he was left dumb founded as a great lump choked his breath and his brain froze. As tears welled up into his eyes he just turned round and walked out without another word. All he could do was to go and sit in a park bench and bury his head on his lap and cry bitterly, uncontrollably. The sheer sense of despair and heartache tore at his heart.
It was an hour later before he was composed enough to think clearly again but the heartbreak was still so very strong. But something on the inside seemed to repeatedly say, there must be another way. There is another way round this obstacle. His mother could help. He had not told her about his plans because he wanted it to be surprise to her on her birthday. She had already promised to assist him if he ever was in a position to save enough to buy a property. Maybe she knew some people who were not from the bank. Jonno had heard of non-banks who helped people rejected by banks. Wiping his eyes with his sleeves he got up and plodded home to discuss the matter with his mother as well as tell her the disappointing news. He knew she would still be over the moon to find out that he had saved enough money for a deposit. It would be her greatest achievement and would vindicate her strong belief in him and their future. Her love and devotion to both himself and his brother Peter would be celebrated with great joy on her birthday.
LizzyGeorges cried and cried for her son. She cried not because he had had a devastating experience at the bank. She cried not because he felt trapped being Aboriginal who faced higher obstacles than the average non-Aboriginal did. She cried not because he could only get a part-time or casual job. She said,
“No! No! my darling son. I am just so amazed by your incredible achievement at secretly saving so, so, much money. That you’ve listened to me, and respected me, an Aboriginal woman instead of the elders of the mob. These are the tears of thanks beyond measure. I just can’t believe it. But I cannot deny it. It’s there in the bank statement with your name on it and how you’ve regularly deposited the money into the account and not withdrawn it even when you went through stages over the years, when you so much wanted to buy some things, but you chose to go without because they were not really essential things. My son, my son, how I love you for it. It’s a joy, what mothers dreams about and you’ve made it come true. You’ve made it come true for me, my son.” Lizzy sobbed uncontrollably as waves of happiness swept over her. She hugged him gently for a while and then held his hands as if to say, you are my son. I bore you. What an unbelievable blessing you are. Stay close to me. For the first time in my life, I feel I can understand what it means to feel secure.
Tears rolled down both Jonno and Peter’s eyes as they shared those precious intense moments of joy with her, in the midst of what appears to be a devastating experience for Jonno and possibly them all.
Lizzy was determined that day to find a reputable financial advisor who could assist them in purchasing a property using a non-bank financial institution. She already had heard about Triple-A from some of the clients at her work. They seemed to think very, very highly of the company. In fact, they affectionately call it Triple-A, because of the quality of service and the reliability of the rates of return on their investments. She decided to make an immediate appointment when she got to work the next day. It was also her way of consoling her devastated son and to keep him motivated and on the right path. She was determined to fight with all she had and then some, for her rights and her future through this incredible opportunity that Jonno had given them to breakout financially from their current bondage.
Fantasy Future
Fantasy Future
One afternoon, after a long training session at the school swimming pool in preparation for an upcoming interschool tournament and selection for state competition, Robert and three
