Short non-fiction story: “TWATS – The Women’s Association Togetherness Society”

Sandy, a woman on the phone.

Please note names have been changed as the synopsis of this common story comes through anyhow.

With computer in my lap, sitting in the garden, I was going through my mail, enjoying a moment of silence, the kids where at a friends house, and my husband was watching football. A ping, new mail:

”Hello Ms. Hellgren,

I hope all is well and you are having a nice day. I wanted to reach out and follow up on the application you submitted to join The Women's Association Togetherness Society. Our records indicate that you spoke to one of our membership coordinators a while back and they approved your application. Congratulations! However, it's noted that you did not yet complete the membership enrollment process.”

The other week a colourful and graphically pleasing advert on instagram caught my eye.

”Are you a female solo entreprenuer seeking support from a global professional network of likeminded women? Apply today for membership to our womens only network and enjoy free exclusive benefits, workshops and learning programs”

Oh, sounds good, I thought and scribbled down the details. I felt happy, lucky me coming across this opportunity, just what I was looking for, and decided to fill in the online application. It was very straightforward, all you had to do was to tell a little about yourself, your company details, area of expertise, where you lived and your phone number. I enthusiastically clicked send.

A few days after I sent my application, I had a phone call late afternoon. Spread out on my bed, in pyjamas, the evening sun sliding away from sight in the bedroom windows, drinking honey infused mint tea and eating chocolate. American country code, New York.

Hello?

May I speak with Miss Lina Hellgren Bullock?

Speaking.

”Hi, my name is Sandy and I’m phoning from The Women’s Association Togetherness Society.

“You recently applied to become a member?” She had a strong American accent and her voice was confident and friendly. I imagined Sandy sitting at a desk in a bustling high rise office somewhere in Manhattan, next to rows of other Sandy's in sharp cream coloured silk blouses and smart dark navy pin stripe suits.

Yes, I did, nice to talk to you Sandy.

”It’s my pleasure Miss Hellgren. If it’s a convenient time for you to speak, we would love to conduct a short interview, to get to know you a little bit more and to access your suitability for membership. Here at the TWATS we pride ourselves to ensure our community is a safe and professional space for entrepreneurial women who seek peer support in their career and business endeavours ” - Sandy said in a very professional tone.

Sure, now’s a good time. I took a quick nibble of my chocolate bar, pressed it soft in my mouth and swallowed silently.

Continuing in a very calm, soothing voice, Sandy asked me all the right questions, about my aspirations as a business woman, my values and future dreams. Whilst sipping the sweet tea, we spoke about my long and various experience in the fashion industry and found common ground in our advocacy for retaining more mature women in the creative industry. We bonded over the challenges of maintaining balance between work and private life. We reminisced about late nights working hard and missed playtime moments with our kids.

Our conversation was so insightful and empowering, it was a joy speaking with a woman that seemed to share so many worthy values and views on what really matters in a competitive industry. This wonderful Sandy lady in her shiny high rise Manhattan office filled me with hope of exciting global networking, fruitful knowledge exchange and sisterhood collaborations.

We spoke for quite some time.

”So”, Sandy said after her final question, she cleared her voice with a long ceremonial pause…. ”Miss Hellgren, I am hereby pleased to inform you that your application to The Women’s Association Togetherness Society has been accepted! Welcome!”

Oh, wow, fantastic! I replied excitedly. My mind filling up with visions of transatlantic connections, wise strong women and togetherness.

”Now, all you need to do is to decide what kind of membership you want.”

Huh?

”Yes, would you like a lifetime membership or 6 months?”

Uhh, not sure, I replied slowly, what’s the difference?

And then Sandy’s voice suddenly revved up, her tone a higher pitch. Sandy, was that really her name, started to babble away about money, credit card payments, the urgency of paying now, over the phone, in order to get the big exclusive discount they where offering only today if going ahead with the membership.

Alarm bells. Heart sinking and stomach churning. I swiftly made up an excuse that I had received a sudden text message from school, prompting me to urgently pick up one of my kids, appologised and hanged up.

It was dark outside now, tea cold, empty chocolate wrapper next to me. Sitting up on my bed, I opened Trustpilot in my browser, searched TWATS reviews, most reading ”IT IS A SCAM!”. Heart sunk to the bottom by now.

Then something weird happened, instead of getting angry, and telling myself what a fool I am, I told myself:

”You had a lucky escape there lady!”

The rest of that evening I briefly thought of having another conversation with Sandy, but decided to remember our conversation and her interview with me as an experience to take with me next time someone asks me about my future aspirations.

I still think of her though, wondering how she feels about her own job and her aspirations that probably didn't turn out as she wished.