Florence worked for the High Plains Water Authority which was responsible for issuing water permits to farmers and municipalities in the greater area of the Llano Estacado. The only source for water in the region was an underground aquifer protected by the tough caliche (hard rock layer) of the caprock. The HPWA ironically had it's offices in the basement of the Federal Building at 800 Broadway. [add surreal description of underworld here] She worked as a clerk that processed the forms required to request water. People from all walks of life came to her with their lives filled out in the forms. It was her job to decide if they deserved the water. She had one other coworker who basically was responsible for cutting off water due to delinquent accounts, death, vacancy or emergencies. His name was Henry Russo. [
see note]
Florence hated working in the basement. She knew there were offices with windows in the upper floors and spent much of her time trying to request an office with any view of the outside. Even if it was a view of the interior air shaft, she would take it. She could at least have a radio signal from which she could fill the silence.
Since everyone who resided in the area needed water, she would meet many people that she knew and some that she didn't know. Many friends and acquaintances from her past came asking for water. Some people simply demanded it, while others begged for the graciousness of her heart to apply the "Approved" stamp on their forms.
Florence came from Lamesa and naturally met several folks from the town. This was the most embarrassing part of her job because they often were surprised to see that she ended up in such a place. Florence was salutatorian of her high school class. She was also very active in extracurricular activities. She was even runner-up as the most valuable girl. Most people who were surprised to see her there thought she would be working for a famous magazine or newspaper in New York City by now.
Others weren't surprised to see her there. They knew that her family had problems and that financially they were on thin ice. They knew that she was a sleep walker. They knew that her mother attempted suicide. They knew that her aunt had Huntington's Disease. They knew that she was already in second place simply by being a girl.
[Who are these people that came to visit her. Visit or need to see her. For water?]
As much as this job paid, it was not enough to completely keep her independent. In the evenings she worked as a concessionist at the Lyndsey Theater. The theater always had bright lights and good music playing throughout the lobby. She never once short changed people and always made sure they got the candy they wanted. Her time there flew by because if she wasn't giving out sweet treats so those about to view a fantasy world, she was engulfed in her own one. She was an avid reader. She always had a book with her, from the library of course. This is where she met Royce. A younger boy who was infatuated with her older and more mature personality. They started out simply talking about the films that were playing and what they liked and disliked about the theater. Working in a place where people went to get a momentary reprieve from the world felt as if they were working in a theme park, or massage parlor. Royce offers to walk her home one day after work. They end up at her place eating sandwiches and talking the whole night.