The receptionist, Megan Quinn, was very sweet. She must have been in her 40's. Dark red hair and brown eyes, she looked just like my middle school teacher. In her sweet southern voice, she had let me know that the manager, Dwayne Goer, was on a business call and would receive me as soon as he wrapped up his meeting.
I sat down and unintentionally started to twiddle my thumbs. A bad nervous habit of mine.
"Sugar, if you keep playing thumb wars with yourself you'll get nerve rushed!" Megan said.
"I'm sorry... I am a bit nervous. First big job interview, ya know?" I stop twiddling and resorted to taking deep breaths.
"Need a coke? A rootbeer? We have cookies in the vending machine." She offered.
Not wanting to ruin my diet, I politely declined. "My family and friends want to take me out for lunch later. Don't want to spoil my appetite!" I say.
"Ya know shug, if you want to know a tip to ace your interview, take my advice. Be your best self. Mr. Goer wants fresh talent and he don't take too kindly to rule followers. He wants people who see the world in a new way. To wake up the world. Fresh perspectives and new ideas. We even have our own radio news station! So we are always looking for talent!"
"Alright! I mean, I have waited two years for this moment and eight just to be old enough to work." I smile.
"Wait, how did you hear about us? Two years?"
"I received a gift and it was wrapped up in a newspaper. On the top article was your advertisement. I wrote down my goals in a journal of what I would want to be if I received a job here. I have always wanted to bring Kala to work." I grin.
"Your dog?" She cocked her head to the side.
"My dog? Oh no! Kala is my typewriter! I've had her for all of my best works! Very good when computers and printers are down!"
"I see! Well, I will check if Mr. Goer is ready for you to head in!" She tapped an extension on her phone and gave me a thumbs up.
"Yes Sir, I will send her over!" She hung up. "You are good to go! Good luck Miss Preston! I do hope you will be a part of our team!"
"Thank you Mrs. Quinn!"
"Please, call me Meg!"
"Thank you again, Meg!"
The door opened and I saw Mr. Goer, tall with twinkling blue eyes, blond hair, he waved me in. He reminded me of Robbin Williams and Robert Herjavec from Shark Tank. He wore a blinding yellow business shirt and a navy blue jacket. Grey boots made the look unique.
I stood up and walked in, head held high.
I shook his hand firmly and waited for him to speak.
"Have a seat Miss Preston."
He closed his door and sat behind a polished onyx black desk.
"How are you today?" he asks.
"Fabtastic!" I say using a word I had never used before. I couldn't decide if I should say fabulous or fantastic, so I blended the two.
"Interesting choice of word. I like it! If you don't mind my intrusion, I had ended my call before you arrived. I don't like to be on calls when a new potential employee is coming. As you came in, we hid an audio video camera in the lobby to just see if whoever we hire is worthy of our time. We don't choose random people and we certainly are a very unique company. You see, we want to hire you, but the question is do you want to hire us?" he grabs a book from his desk drawer.
I was taken aback by the news of being watched, but kept my composure. "Yes! I mean, I would love you to hire me and in return I use my talents and passions for good! We need to wake up the world!" I felt like I was giving a pep talk.
"That's the spirit! May I see your resume?"
"Of course. But I must warn you, it's a bit different for a resume." I reached into my briefcase and pulled out a newspaper.
"I have never had a resume presented to me in the form of a newspaper before..." he begins to read it, occasionally looking up to glance at me and the clock.
When he finished he handed the paper back to me and looked me in the eyes. He says, "This smells new. Did you type this yourself?"
"Yes sir. I have short articles I've written in the past on that one paper."
"Well, I am quite impressed! You seem to have a good head on your shoulders. Now, if you dont mind, I do have to ask a few formal questions for the records. Are you currently in a relationship, have a family or have medical complications that may interfere with your work life?"
"No, not my own family, just parents, and no." I say with confidence.
"Any problem with working the night shift?" he asks.
I remembered my father's words of working 9-5. "Yes actually, the streets by my apartment is always crowded in the late evening, so going to a night shift is impossible unless you take a helicopter." I joke.
"We can take care of that..." he mumbles.
"Pardon?"
"It's time for lucky question number three... How soon would you be ready to work?"
I wanted to shout out that I could start right now, but I voted against that idea.
"How about we do tomorrow so can I take a day to get a feel for the place? I can start working on Monday!"
He looked up.
Then I realized my mistake. I was talking as if I had already landed the job.
"I am so sorry, Mr. Goer! I shouldn't have said that!" I apologized profusely.
"Don't be. I already hired you on." he folded his hand's and smiled.
"I beg your pardon?"
"You see, we are short staffed. Thirteen out of our twenty top writers had to quit. Too old, retired, left for a different company or decided to take in a new career with better pay. I have just witnessed a dedicated writer step into my office with a winning personality. Ready to work and excited to be here! I need more people like you!"
I was shocked. I had the job? No. Freaking. Way.
"Yes!" a voice shouted from behind the door.
Mr. Goer puts a finger to his lip for silence and opens the door.
Megan has a cup with her ear pressed against it to listen in.
"Megan... Care to explain?" Mr. Goer says firmly.
"I was hoping for her to get the position... I couldn't help it!"
He starts to chuckle. "Just don't fall through the door next time!"
I give my thanks and bid my farewells.
As I was walking out of the building a young gentleman opened the door for me. He was very kind, handsome and said have a great day.
My family would be happy to hear about my day!
Driving home I cranked on the radio and singing the whole way to the restaurant.
My parents would be so pleased to hear of my greatest achievement yet!