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the Processor (in order)This story may contain adult content. |
| Written by J.L. | |
| Tuesday, 13 May 2008 | |
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Share it:       Thirty minutes until he had to leave for the interview. Plenty of time...or so he had thought. Of course she was there. Doing anything that she could to assist him. Ironing his pants, tying his tie, reviewing what he would say...anything to reduce his stress...to make it all perhaps a little easier for him. She has always been that way. She was his rock. He would have never been able to survive without her. Perhaps he should have realized that before it was too late.
Like others before they had met in High School. The first time he actually noticed her she was sitting beside him in biology class. It was School Pride Day. She was wearing her cheer-leading outfit. It wasn't her beauty that he had noticed first. It was that she seemed to know the answers for that day's exam. And he was clueless. Copying from her seemed his obvious choice. On Monday the graded exams were passed back to each student. His grade...and "F"....her grade,.."F". How could that be? He immediately rationalized that perhaps the teacher had caught him cheating...perhaps thought he had caught "them" cheating. Therefore giving them both failing grades. So he had decided to ask the teacher about it after class. After all, if that was the reasoning behind the failing grades...he did not want her to be punished for his mistakes...though later in life she would. His shock and amusement when the teacher had told him that he wasn't aware of any cheating that may have transpired. It was simple, they "both" failed. His decision of copying from her paper was not a wise choice. For she knew about as much as he. She would later go on to date one of his best friends....he would go on as well, ..dating numerous girls, drinking, getting high. They would see each other often....more often at the weekend "Woods parties" rather than at school. They had so much in common yet it will take a while until they both realized that they did. He had tried one night...in a drunken state of mind....to romance her away from his friend. He had almost accomplished the task but then, in the mist of lust, he called her by his ex girlfriends name. Things stopped after that. He settled within his mind that they would just remain friends. They both shared mutual friends so they continued to see each other... at parties, at the pool hall, ..sharing joints together behind the pool hall. One night they would be drinking at one of their local party spots in the woods. She had recently broke it off with her long time boyfriend, his friend. He had just recently broke it off with whomever he was dating at that time...during that week. He walked off from the group to use the restroom, a nearby tree, she had followed. Upon completing his business he turned around to find her there. They began to talk, they began to flirt. They kissed..and thats when they both realized that they were meant to be. Their relationship ran faster then one could catch. Each day their hearts grew fonder. They did everything together..never seen apart. He was expelled from school. She dropped out shortly there after. A year after that she broke the news....she was pregnant. They would have a child together. They would have to start a life...a family together. She was ready....he was not afraid. This was the beginning. This leads us to now. To the interview. After her parents had found out about the pregnancy, after their grieving, they did everything possible to help the two...soon to be three. A home that the parents had previously owned and rented out to tenants was given to them. The tenants were literally kicked out onto the streets so that they could move in. At the time he was working at an Auto Body shop. She was attempting night classes at the Community college. They needed benefits. They need more money to pay the bills, to pay for the diapers. Her mother had suggested that he interview for the Mortgage company that she was currently working for. She was a "high up" manager there so she would pull some strings. Get him into the door. Though he had no such experience,..no proper education..no knowledge of the Mortgage industry what so ever...she, his mother in law, would make this happen. For him,...for them. He would be interviewing for a position ...he would be applying to become....a Processor. _________________________________________________________________________ He should have been well on his way by now. In route to the interview... but his damn OCD...always causing him to be late. Though never actually doctor diagnosed with the infliction he had known for a few years that he had carried the traits of the compulsive disorder. Perhaps undetected by others.. he was well aware of it ..and so was she. Every morning, for the past 10 years, it was the same routine. This morning however it was his hair that was causing his delay. It had to be perfect. Strange thing is...he barely had any. No, he wasn't balding..he just kept it short..shaved every 2 weeks by her. His problem with his hair today....the strays. Those damn stray hairs. Sure they would never be noticed by others nor should they have been of any concern... but to him.. they were this mornings enemy. Sticking out this way and that. He notices each and every menacing one. With scissors in hand he gently cuts and plucks every last one. "Honey, you're going to be late!...Do you need me to warm up your car?" "No...no babe..almost'.....I'm coming..." No more time...he had to go. Like an Olympic sprinter he is down the stairs, across the living room and into the dining room to retrieve his keys, his resume and to steal a kiss from her. "You'll do fine hon, don't worry bout it.. they'll love you as much as I do...Good luck"
Another firm kiss upon her lips.
"Thanks babe,..I'll call you when I'm done...let you know how it went.." "Okay...be careful going out...our front steps seem a little.." came out of her mouth just as he went out the front door.. and with one step he instantaneously took flight. As his left foot graced the first step outside his home a slick patch of ice sent him airborne, past the 5 remaining steps, and right smack into 18 inches of the nights newly fallen snow. For a few seconds he just laid there. Looking up into the sky as to ask, Why? Why today?, Why now? Why Me?
"Honey!...You okay?!" she was there...as always..helping him...helping him to his feet. "Ah, ya...I'm...I'm fine..I just...I...Dammit!!" "Oh no honey, ..look at your clothes..they're soaked!" "****!,...I'll...I'll just have to go change real quick...I've got... ****!..I'm gonna be ****** late!" Sprinting again he bounds back into the house, back upstairs and into their bedroom. Hopelessly looking for something else to wear, to impress, his now drenched clothes was the best he had, specifically purchased for today's interview. He'd have to now settle for another less favorable collared shirt and a pair of badly wrinkled Dockers. As he undresses he gathers all the items from the pockets of his damp pants...his billfold, his smokes, his lighter...and his.."My keys,..where the hell are my keys?!" He had put them in his right front pocket just before he fell and plunged into the.. "The snow!, I must have dropped them in the snow!" This was a dilemma. For they had only one car..and for that car they had but only one set of car keys..no spare.
She was there. Searching their snow covered front lawn for any hint of the keys,for any chance of him making it to this interview, for any chance of him getting this job,..for the salary, the benefits, for their forthcoming child, their future.
Inside, phone to ear.."Hello, Mrs. Ryan?...Yes, this is Eli Cooper..Um, I um have a 8:30 interview with you today for the Processor position...well, um..I may be a little late...I ah, I'm having some minor problems getting there....funny story actually..."
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Mrs. Jennifer Ryan was the Human resources director for Sub-prime Mortgage Industries. She was married with three repulsive looking daughters. Atleast that's what Eli had determined from the family photo apon her desk of which Eli now sat across. Each in a light blue shirt with their ghastly faces turned slightly to the right. Erase them from your mind Eli. Time to focus. Act professional. Turn on the charm. "I'd again like to apologize for being late today Mrs Ryan....let me assure you that tardiness is not a trait that I had wished to exhibit as a first impression." He had thought of that line on course to the interview...was it too much? "No need for apologies Eli.." she had referred to him by first name, trying to be personable, "again I am glad that you were able to make it....now, unfortunatley we do not have much time however...so let's get started....I was reviewing your resume.. I see that you have no experience within the Mortgage Industry?" "Yes, that would be correct.." he reluctantly answered. "Okay,.." with a slight frown.."do you have any knowledge of the mortgage business?" she asks in a almost degrading tone. "Well...I,uh...um, no..no,not exactly.....I have a mortgage?!" ****** dumb Eli, Idiot. "Okay?.." she starts yet again, he sensing her amusement...the humor of his stupidity. "well that is alright Eli,...at this time we are seeking to hire and train new processors.. so we will be offering extensive training classes.....I see here that your mother in law is Rhonda Gleeson....is that right" "Yes, I've been married to her daughter for almost a year now.... do you know her well?" he asks "Of course,..Rhonda's practically my boss.." she replies knowing that she may have disclosed a little too much. Ten more minutes of the standard Q & A follows and then "Well, Eli...I believe that I've gone over everything....I guess there's only one last thing to ask....when can you start?" Dumbfounded he spats "Right away!...why....why thank you Mrs. Ryan..my wife is going to be thrilled.....and I have to admit...so am I...this is great news!....thank you" "Oh no, thank you Eli...we are quite needing for someone to start immediatley. Now if you will just sign these papers for me I will call and schedule your drug screening.." "Ah, drug screening?" Drug screening. Indeed one thing that Eli was not prepared for.
Copyright 2008 J.L. |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 13 June 2008 ) |
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