King of the Meatworks Part 2: The Scratch Test

5pm. That's when my skin or "scratch" test was. I honestly had no idea what the fuck it was either. Did they get a kitty to scratch my hand or something? I had no idea. But I would find out. I hopped off the bus and walked towards the gate.
"G'day greenie" Barry, the gatekeeper smiled. Greenie is a term of endearment for the new people, who stand out by wearing a green hair net. I smiled back and walked over.
"You were outta here like a bat outta Hell yesterday. What'd they get you to do?" Barry handed me a face mask. I put it on then replied "I was on the kill floor. But I didn't mind".
"Kill floor? Shit, I swear they try and freak greenies out. You alright?" Barry looked at me with a slash of concern.
"Of course. I'm back aren't I?" I laughed.
"Ah yes. Sign yourself in and reception is just through that walkway there. Up the stairs, follow the hallways through to the end and hit the green button. They're expecting you" Barry nodded. I thanked him and was on my way.

Up the stairs and to the end. I jogged up the stairs and opened the first door. Oh that is sick, I thought as I took my first step. Stuffed sheep and flowers lined the hallway. All cute and fluffy. Almost a sickening dream compared to the harsh reality I was faced with the day before. I continued walking until I reached the end where I hit the green button. There was a buzzing noise and the door opened slightly with a mechanical pop. I pushed the door open and walked over to the desk. Seated behind it was the most gorgeous woman I'd ever seen. Dark chocolate hair that spilled past her shoulders and beautiful tanned skin. She glanced up at me and seemed a little startled, letting out a small squeak.
"I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed.
She breathed out and giggled at herself.
"No it's ok. Was just lost in my work" She smiled, her Iranian accent was a little easier to understand.
"Who are you here to see?" She smiled politely.
"Uh, I'm Scarlet and I'm here for the skin test" I smile back. There was a silence.
"So, you're the one Amir was talking about yesterday" Her eyes glazed over as if she'd seen her idol and every ounce of professionalism left her. What?. My face went cold and the world seemed to sway. I held on to the counter for dear life and hoped the receptionist didn't see.
"Oh? What was said?" I ask, keeping my voice as level as possible.
"That you braved the kill floor like a warrior destined for greatness here" Her voice went all dreamy and I let out a sigh of relief. Ok so he's not a total asshole.
"Well I wouldn't say a warrior destined for greatness but I think I took it well" I replied.
"I could never work on the kill floor. What was it like? I've never seen it for myself" Her small voice rang with excitement. I look at her and mulled over my words very carefully, censoring them for her protection.
"It's very warm and messy" Was all I could say. I couldn't tell such a sweet girl who seemed like she would never be good for a rough and messy job about what it was truly like. The noise, the stench, the death, the blood. I could never tell her what I'd encountered.
"Is that all?" He eyes widened. "It's all I'll tell you" I respond.

"Ah! You must be Scarlet!" A loud and energetic Irish accent breaks into the conversation like a kraken's tentacle through a ship.
"Yes, that would be me" I turn around.
"She worked the kill floor, Dr. O'Reilly" The receptionist piped up and poked her head out from behind the desk.
"One of Amir's boys I see. I'm Dr. O'Reilly, I'll be doing your scratch test and vaccinating you" His broad smile split his face in half as he held out a hand to me. I walked over and shook it firmly.
"Golly what a grip you've got, lass! Well, fine Nina here will get you a beverage and we'll get you started. Got your paperwork?" The Doc continues to beam. "Oh!" Nina squeaks. I turn around and there she is frantically looking for something and begins to panic. She rustles up some papers and a pen. "I'm so sorry, I got sidetracked!" Nina blurted out, stumbling frantically over each word. "Can I please get you something? Coffee? Tea? Water? Beer?" Nina rushes over and practically throws me the paperwork and pen.
"Nina, calm yourself, dear. It's alright" The doc reaches out and pats her shoulder.
"Yeah it's really ok. And a coffee would be lovely" I pipe up. Nina hurries off to get me a coffee and disappears.
"That lass will die before she's 25 if she keeps that up" Dr O'Reilly steals the train of thought from my mind.
"I know what you mean" I nod in agreement.

Dr O'Reilly leads me into a decent sized conference room with a huge oak table dominating the space. Black leather swivel chairs dotted the circumference of the table. Twelve in total.
"Alright we're gonna set up shop in here for our two lovely sessions. Now, I'll get you to fill that paperwork out right now" Dr O'Reilly says as he opens his bag and starts pulling things out. It was an old doctor's bag, like from the Victorian times of house calls and freaky medical instruments. Two needles sealed in separate plastic wrapping, cotton swabs, a tourniquet, alcohol wipes, medical tape and a pair of rubber gloves not unlike the ones I was wearing yesterday. I begin filling out the forms.
Name.
Gender.
Date of birth.
Place of residence.
Position applied to.
Have I been in contact with livestock.
Have I been overseas.
The works.

I filled it all out diligently and to the best of my ability. I finish it and hand it to Dr O'Reilly just as Nina came in to drop off my coffee. But just as she set it down, I hear a velvety voice. One I know.
"Ah, there she is. How's my star today?" Amir wanders in, fresh off the kill floor in his blood-stained whites and stands next to where I'm seated.
"Hello Nina, how are you?" Amir smiles.
"Good afternoon, sir" She replies politely and hurries out without answering him.
"So, how do you feel today after yesterday?" Amir walks around until we can look each other in the eye.
"Fine, thank you" I smile, rather than saying "I masturbated to the thought of you shackling and fucking me in the very place I was standing all of yesterday".
"Good. Has Dr O'Reilly here explained what exactly he's going to do?" Amir asks. I shake my head.
"May I?" Amir turns to the Doc and gestures at me.
"Be my guest, mate" The doc nods. Amir turns his chocolate eyes on me. They reminded me of a labrador's. Loving, loyal and friendly. But unlike a labrador, there was also something else. Something deeper and darker.
"Tell me what you know about what we're vaccinating you against, Q Fever" Amir leans against the table, arms and legs crossed and looking me dead in the eyes. Eyes that make me feel like he could read my mind. Like he really knew what I was up to last night.

"Q Fever, commonly found in livestock such as cows, sheep and goats but not in pigs. Q Fever is easily transferable to humans through the air. Coming off stock trucks, working on a farm, working in an abattoir or anywhere near one of these animals increases a human's chance of contracting it. It's a lifelong disease with flu-like symptoms and is totally incurable and totally preventable" I finish. Dr O'Reilly looks up at me with a face like a stunned mullet.
"Well, that's one way of putting it" He shrugs and looks back down to check over my paperwork.
"Good. What the good doctor is doing today is commonly known as a "scratch" test. Which is exactly what it is. He will get a small portion of your DNA and test it to make sure you have never been in contact with Q Fever. Tell me why we do this" Amir nods at me.
"Because if you vaccinate me without screening me first and it turns out I was positive for Q Fever, I will end up in hospital" I conclude.
"Good. So they did teach you a thing or two in that classroom" Amir looks at the doc and they both laugh.
"Well done. But believe me, I'll teach you more" Amir turns back to me, his eyes making all sorts of sordid promises. My heart began to thaw and my lady parts began to quiver. What was this man doing to me?
"I'll see you again, very soon" Amir pushed his way off the table and sauntered on out of the room and shut the door.

Dr O'Reilly nods and looks at me. "All filled in. Now, hold your arm out" The doc wheels around on his chair and faces me. "God he's intimidating, isn't he?" Dr O'Reilly says as he takes my arm and turns it palm facing up.
"I know right?" I nod.
"You know, flex your hand, I was thinking earlier that you looked familiar. Have you ever been to the Werribee Health Clinic?" The doc asked as he swabs the middle of my forearm.
"Yeah actually. I went there a lot as a kid. Why's that?" I asked.
"I work there" The doc smiles.
"Oh wow, so you know Dr. Nguyen? And Dr. Bermuda?" I sip my coffee. Damn good coffee too. I make a mental note to thank Nina.
"Yes and yes, unfortu-" The doc cuts himself off.
"Dr. Bermuda is a bitch" I state.
Dr O'Reilly looks at me and just blushes. He looks away and nods.
"Anyway" I drag the topic onto something that felt a little less like sitting on a pile of six inch nails.
"Nice tattoo, doc. You a Metallica fan?" I nod to the M ninja star on his right forearm.
"Yes, yes I am. I see the Ride the Lightning ink on your forearm" He replies as he scratches my skin with the needle right between the chair slats of my tattoo. A slight stinging sensation blooms then dissipates.
"Now I'll have your results in a few days but I'll be back here next week so you just come and see me then" The doc beamed as he swabs my arm again and puts a cotton bud on my arm and tells me to hold it while he gets some of the medical tape and tapes the cotton bud to my arm. After ha tapes the bud to my arm, I drain the last of the coffee.
"Alright. That's you done" The doc strips off his gloves and shakes my hand again. "Be off with you, young one"

I walk out to reception where Amir is leaning against Nina's desk and pointing at the paperwork they're both looking at. "Uh hey Nina, thanks for the coffee" I call. Nina looks up and smiles. "It's my pleasure" Her professional facade back on as she takes the cup and the saucer and walks off. I look at Amir then really double take. He's showered and dressed in a pair of faded black jeans, a black shirt and black dress shoes. His thick black hair combed to one side, forming a Macklemore-type style. I can even smell his aftershave. Which smells incredible. His smile melts my inside. "You going home?" He asks gently. "Uh yeah" I nod.
"Have you got someone coming to pick you up or did you bring your own vehicle?" He asks.
"I'm just catching the bus"
"I'll give you a ride home"
"Uh no, it's fine, sir"
"Let. Me. Give. You. A. Ride. Home"
His last tear down my defences. "Ok, sir. Thank you very much" I blush. He shrugs as if to say no worries and goes to leave reception. "Have a good night, Nina" He calls out. There's no response as the door clicks shut behind us.

We walk out to the car park in total silence. He unlocks a Holden V8 ute and opens the passenger door for me. I thank him and climb in. He walks around the car and climbs in the driver's side and starts the car. The powerful engine roars to life and rumbles. "I noticed on your resume you have a forklift license" Amir Says as he shifts into reverse. "Yes I do" I nod. "I think I might put you in the warehouse then" Amir shrugs. What? "With all due respect, sir. Why?" I asked. "I never put you on the kill floor to train you there. I just wanted to see if you were capable of hard work" Amir says. A small flare of rage shoots from my toes to my skull. You put me through Hell for shits and gigs? "Makes sense" I say. Which it did, sort of. "Where am I going?" Amir asks.
"Footscray, Napier street, 24" I state. Amir nods.
There's a few seconds of silence before Amir asks "Are you sure you're ok about yesterday?". I look at him blankly. I was never going to tell my boss what exactly had happened on the kill floor the previous day. Or how relieved I was to be in the warehouse and not on the kill floor.
"Yeah of course. Why wouldn't I be?" I laugh.
Amir just keeps staring ahead as he says "Most people can't take it. Not just the sights, but the job itself. Knowing that every day, you put your hands inside a dead animal to supply the world with meat. They see it and think maybe they can handle it. But doing the job? They never last" Amir continues to stare ahead. His words rang true. But I wasn't about to run away. I wasn't going to hide.
"Oh, ok. How long have you been doing this?" I ask, trying to make conversation, slowly beginning to understand how Dr O'Reilly felt when I'd asked about Dr Bermuda.
"Twelve years. Twelve years I've given this place. And I intend to give twelve more" Amir looks at me as he turns onto my street with ease.
"Don't forget, 5pm next Tuesday" He says, slowing down just outside my apartment block.
"Thanks for the ride, sir. I'll see you next week" I smile and climb out of his car. I shut the door and walk away, knowing that tonight would be another night where I thought about Amir in a deeply twisted and deeply sexual way.
Evil bastard.