Crisis... Averted?

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I'd suddenly been informed that I was going to lose my job at the barn. The announcement really came as a shock to me, and I've spent the ensuing time trying to dig up a promising employment opportunity that pays more than minimum wage. I'd managed to secure myself an interview with a local non-profit environmental group, and was hoping that, even though the pay wasn't great, the job would provide me with good experience and solid networking opportunities while keeping me employed through the end of next summer (when I'll hopefully definitely be going off to grad school somewhere).

Then, just as suddenly as they'd announced the need to let me go, they announced their intentions to keep me on. Er... what?

One day at the end of last week, Debbie approached me about tutoring Trina next semester in some classes she's planning on taking at a community college. Tutoring Trina is something I've done for years now, helping her work her way through various science courses in high school. It can be incredibly frustrating, but it pays well.

Although Debbie has sworn that she wants Trina to be completely independent in college, evidently she's decided that community college isn't quite the same, and that Trina needs a full-time tutor next semester to help her complete her assignments, study, and generally stay on-track. She asked me to fill this position.

My answer? "No."

Debbie was extremely confused when I told her no, having the impression that I just love tutoring Trina and I have a special gift for getting through to her and helping her understand difficult subjects. I told her that when I had to quit working in the barn in October, I was going to find a full-time job somewhere and work through to next July or August, and that there was no way I was going to work for a few months and quit the job just to come back and work for her in January. Her next suggestion was that I not get another job, and just wait around between October and January for her to employ me again (did I mention she's crazy? Yes?).

Finally, when I pointed out to her that it really wasn't fair to expect me to try and support myself, unemployed, for a few months just so I'd be available to her next semester, she conceded that the only way she'd have me as a tutor for Trina is if I continued to work for her until that point. So just as suddenly as I lost my job, I got it back.

Part of me really wanted to tell her off, not accept her offer of a tutoring job, and go and find myself a real job in the real world and be done with her insane little universe. But there's something to be said for job security, and the idea that my job is likely safe now through May or June is a strong draw in a downed economy.

Even if there is a possibility that she'll change her mind. Again.