[chapter 1]
Immediately after we graduated, I managed to convince my friend Amanda to leave our town and head for the big city, the 'land of opportunity', as they call it. She was reasonably shocked, she never saw me as a person who'd want to live in the busyness of a big city, she isn't wrong; I'm not, but sometimes one must leave their comfort zone to actually get things done.
"Kayn," My direct superior, Cass Poole, smiles at me, her brown eyes shining, Her blonde hair is tied into a low bun, not a stray hair anywhere out of place. I had never seen her lose her composure, not once in all the time I had been here, even though, truthfully, it hadn't been very long. "Keep up the good work. You're gradually proving yourself as an asset to us."
One major upside to this move is my job. This was honestly outside my calculations; how much I'd love my job.
I work as journalist, a good one might I add.
"Thank you," I smile back, grateful for her praise.
"You know, one can hardly tell you have such a way with words by the way you talk. Always the one-word answers and little to no abilities in carrying a conversation. If I didn't know you I'd think you were deliberately cold." Kelly Rachel notes with a snicker, brushing away the wild black hair framing her oval face. She had a pencil behind her ear, she says it's for convenience, for when inspirations strike suddenly, like they always do. "Come to my side. We'll have you talking up in no time."
Cass' smile drops for a moment, but she immediately regains composure, smiling brightly. It was something to note about Cass, one could never truly know what she was thinking about. She always wore her uniform polite smile. But even with her usual smile plastered on her face one could tell that she wasn't too pleased by Kelly's words. "Poaching someone right in front of me again, Miss Rachel?"
The way she stressed the word again made me inwardly take a step back. I could almost feel invisible sparks in the air.
Kelly looks over at Cass and rolls her eyes, smiling pointedly as she noticed the other woman's anger. "I'm just offerin'. Why? You scared she'll take up my offer, Miss Poole?"
Kelly was a blunt woman and would surely not step down from a fight with Cass.
In a fight between bigshots like these where the displeasure of any one of them could be disastrous for my budding career, it's best to take a step back. I couldn't afford to stick around, lest I get pulled into this storm waiting to happen.
Before Cass can retort I make sure to butt in, "I have a report that needs some finishing touches before we publish. Please excuse me."
Without waiting for their responses, I make a hastily retreat to my desk. I'm not a cowardly person, but knew how to pick and choose my battles and this fight wasn't one I needed to be involved in.
Cass Poole and Kelly Rachel.
Their relationship and rivalry was almost comically simple. The typical case of oil and water. They simply cannot mix.
As the heads of the two main reporting teams, they are the two largest fish within this small pond and both rule with differing values. Cass values getting the job done, efficiently and properly, she doesn't even really care about how you get to your results as long as you do get results. She stresses that people don't care about background work, all they really care about is the endgame product. While Kelly, Kelly is a strong advocate for justice and doing what's right even when other's aren't looking, she tends to be more lenient and thinks that the whole point of the results is the process 'With a stable, reliable and morally ethical process there is no way to give substandard results'. With such strong opposing beliefs, it's really no wonder why they cannot get along. Their rivalry, in it's bare form was just slow and steady versus conveniency.
"How's the city, Kayn. You like it here?" A co-worker asks, I think his name is Jhonny… or was it James?
"It's actually really nice here." These are my honest thoughts about the city. "Even though it's a busy city and not really as close knit as back home, the busyness is pretty calming. There's always something to do and so it's never repetitive and boring. Plus, one of the major advantages is that unlike the city, no one knows me here. It's the perfect place for a fresh start."
He laughs and makes a bit of small talk before returning to his work.
I do the same.
'Schools vs learning'
A great criticism on what is taught in schools to our children. Most working adults do not actually use any piece of knowledge they learned in school in their daily or working lives.
If they are never going to use it, why teach it?
Why not find topics that will prove relevant to their future instead?
My latest piece.
Due to the positive response garnered from my last piece Cass gave me the opportunity to write a major article. It's a great opportunity and could actively function as my big break.
Instead of writing a mild article for this, like one embellishing the achievements of an unknown hero or one sucking up to a politician, I chose to write a controversial one, a 'call-out post' if you will. A well-meaning criticism of the clearly faulty education system.
Generally, articles like these never really spark change. One can know what the solution to the problem is but never actually do anything about it. Humans have never been one to actively like change. There has never been a change that hasn't been met with resistance and doubt no matter how loud the benefits of change are preached. That's just how we are.