The T Total Dragon

"There is a spy in your company. She will destroy all our stock. Do not let her anywhere close to it". This warning note could be send to one of the biggest wine company in Europe for among her employees is an unusual person. One for who wine is not Gods' elixir. This is no surprise really, dragons are not known for liking alcohol and she is a very strong-minded T Total Dragon.

In our European culture, and even more in England, being a T Total is a social disease. When you're T Total working for a wine company, you become a complete freak. "What?? you are working for a wine company and you don't drink Wine?!" people would tell her. Like you must always enjoy the product your company is selling. Are all the employees of Pfizer taking Viagra? I doubt it…

To add to her misery, The T Total Dragon is French. "What?? you are French, working for a wine company and you don't drink Wine?!" is what people would really tell her. It might be a shame to be French and not drink wine but is enjoying your country’s products an obligation too? Not sure the vegetarian Kiwi would say so, poor souls missing out on the world's most famous lamb. 

In the end you don’t need to be a freak to freak out people. Unfulfill one of their prejudices and they’ll nicely put you in a little box stamped “Freak”. “Really what is wrong with you?” she’s been asked many times, “why don’t you drink wine?”. This only pinpoints that in London (maybe more than anywhere else) not drinking is view as a flaw.

She is a very confident T Total Dragon; a metal music lover, usually wearing black clothes, amplifying her pale skin. “I don’t drink” she’ll simply state. If you have a problem with her not drinking it only means you have a problem. She is happy to remind you that. Sadly, in a city where drinking is a social habit, she is not making much point stating this truth. Being shy and straightforward can make you look like an asocial bitch when you only are a T Total Dragon.

The Other Cinderella

If the tale of Cinderella was written nowadays, it would probably take its inspiration from The Other Cinderella. Actually it could be based on the life of many people who are the vicitims of cold capitalism, like her. The Other Cendrillon works for a hotel. A beautiful, very expensive hotel. But all day long it is not beauty and money that she deals with. She is a cleaner and very badly paid one.

The Other Cinderella, is the kind of person who is ashamed to ask for holidays or payrise, and who works harder than many because she doesn't want to let her colleagues down or to give a bad impression to the guests. Those guests can be arrogant twats, it doesnt matter, its not about them but about her pride. Some would find it strange since her job is to clean toilets and pick up the shit they leave in their room, but whatever you do, you can always choose to do it with class or not.

The Other Cinderella is not a big girl. Her dark eyes, and her short black hair could give her some kind of cold looks. But once she has opened her mouth it all goes away. There's only smiles and glitter coming out. You can't leave her 5 minutes in the street without taking the risk of having to talk to the 10 person she has just met. Nothing sexual (she's in a long and happy relationship), she just wants to talk, to everybody, all the time. Being Italian might add up to this obsessive-compulsive disorder.

What The Other Cinderella really wants is children. But in London, with her salary, it's impossible. She can hardly live, survivre more like it. I will never understand why a company (or in this case a hotel) which makes so much money doesn't think appropriate to pay their employees a fair salary. Wouldn't they work harder and/or better if they felt respected? Wouldn't they want to stay longer? Wouldn't it give a better image of this company (or hotel)? The gap, which separates the top jobs from the low ones, is getting bigger and this leads to troubles. I might be idealistic but I think a fair salary throughough the company is healthier, for everybody.

Some people think you can't blame the guest. They earned money, they spend it, fair enough. The Other Cinderella and I would disagree. When you know (and if you are not a selfish moron, you should) that the person cleaning your room is earning approximatly nothing compare to you, the least you can do is leave a tip. The Other Cinderealla was suprised to see how only few of them do. Surprised as well to see how they would behave by trying on her, being rude, ignoring her. All those kind of behaviour she doens't know.

When The Other Cinderella started working for this hotel, she knew it wouldnt be fun. But she didnt expect to be treated as a slave. If Cinderella was written nowadays, it wouldn't be about marrying a Prince but a rich guy. Before, you could be a Noble without having any money. Now the richs are in charge. And they make a hell of a good job telling the others that they do not care about them more than Nobles cared about the rest of the population. Hopefully for her, The Other Cinderella wants something money can't buy, she just wants to be happy.