TheInterview
佚名/Anonymous
Thejobofalifetime,that』swhatitwas,secretaryforthedistrictattorney.Icouldn』twaitformyinterview.ThiswasthekindofpositionI』ddreamedof,whatallthoseyearsofcollegeandentry-levelpositionswerefor.
Thenightbeforemyinterview,Ispenttwohoursgoingthroughmyclosettopickoutjusttherightoutfit.WhatwouldIsaytohim?Icuffedupintomypillowybedandstaredattheceiling,unabletosleep.HowshouldIact?Nervous,Ishutmyeyesandtriedtogetsomerest,butIkepttossingandturning.
Finally,thealarmclockwokeme.Itriedtoopenmyeyes,butsomethingwaswrong.Myfacefeltstiff,strange.Myhandsflewtomycheeks.「No!」Mylipswereunabletoopenalltheway.Irantothebathroomandlookedatmyselfinthebathroommirror,horrified.Myfacewascontortedlikeastrokevictim』s.Myeyesweremisaligned.Icouldn』tmovetherightsideofmyface.Icouldbarelyrecognizemyself.Whatwashappeningtome?WhatnightmaredidIwakeupinto?
Mymothercameintotheroom,「What』swrong?」Hereyesbulgedasshewithdrewinterror.「What』shappeningtome?」Islurredtoher.「I』lltakeyoutotheemergencyroom,」shefinallygasped.Wewererushedin.Thenursetookonelookatmeandcalledinaspecialist.There,undertheblazingwhitelights,mymotherandIwaited.
Afterseveralhoursoftests,thedoctorfinallyexplained,「YouhaveBell』spal.Itisaconditioninwhichyourfacemusclestightenbecauseofstress.Youneedtogetplentyofsleep,andinafewdaysyourfacewillreturntonormal.」「ButIhaveajobinterviewthisafternoon,」Isadlyremembered.「I』msorry,」thedoctorsaid,concerned.「Youshouldreschedule,maybeforlaterintheweek.」
Duringthelongcarridehome,allIcouldthinkaboutwashowbaditwouldlooktoreschedule.Certainly,thatwoulddampenmychances.Nobodyrescheduleswiththedistrictattorney.Alltheotherapplicantswouldhavetheadvantagethen,Iconcluded.
Ilookedatmywatchandmadethedecision,「Mom,dropmeoffonJacobStreet.I』mgoingtotheinterview.」「Honey,Idon』tthinkyoushould.Youlookstrange,」shesaid,eversogently.Iknewshewasright.Heprobablywouldtakeonelookatmeandjudgemebymyappearanceratherthanbymyexperienceandtalent.Iprobablyshouldn』tgo.ButifIdidn』t,I』dalwayswonderifIcouldhavegottenmydreamjob.「No,Mom,takemethere.」
Reluctantly,shetookmewhereIwantedtogo.Iwalkedrightintotheformidableofficewiththemahoganyfurnitureandpillarsofwhitemarble,notlettingmyownself-consciousnessoranydiseasestopme.Notnow,notwhenIhadworkedsohardforsolongtobegiventhisopportunity.
Iwenttothewomansittingbehindthefrontdeskandsaid,aswellasIcould,「NicoleJenkins!ToseeMr.Robertson.」Shestaredatmyface.「He』sexpectingyou.Gorightin.」Ienteredtheroomtoherrightandsawagray-hairedmansittingbehindthelargedeskreadingafile.
Suddenlymynervesgotthebestofme,andIhadtosit.Tookthechairinfrontofhim.「Hello,」hesaid.「MissJenkins?Yes.Pleaseexcuseme.I』mhavingaBell』spalsyattack.Mydoctorexplainedtomethatitwouldlastafewdays.Icamerightfromthehospital.」「You』reverydedicatedtocomewhenyou』renotfeelinguptospeed,」heresponded,afterapause.「Yes,Sir.」