The Job on the School Form

Nora's son brought home a form about the jobs people did in his family. Beside her name, he had written 'works in a school'. Nora was the school caretaker, but she often used the same vague description when meeting strangers.

'What should I put exactly?' he asked. She almost suggested 'building assistant', which sounded more official. Then she noticed that his next task was to describe a typical working day. A grand title would not help him explain what she actually did.

They listed the doors she opened, the supplies she ordered and the small repairs she organised. Her son was particularly interested in the heavy ring of keys. He asked why she had never mentioned checking the building before everyone else arrived. Nora had assumed that locks and heating systems would bore him.

On the finished form, he wrote 'school caretaker' and drew a very large key. Nora read it before he packed his bag. The drawing was cheerful, but the description was serious and accurate. The following evening, a neighbour asked where she worked. This time, she used her proper job title. When he asked what the work involved, she had several good examples ready instead of a quick change of subject.