The groundhog may have forecasted an early Spring but Winter is having the final word!!!
The Interview
Photo by Kat Myrman 2016
Betty O’Donnell had been with the company for 27 years, planning to retire in three. After the merger, she and several other veteran staffers were handed pink slips. Betty walked away with six month’s severance, no health care, and no pension. She was devastated.
It was the holidays, but Betty tried to make the best of it. She put together a resume and registered with the Employment Bureau. With a college degree and accounting experience, she never imagined it would be hard to find a job. But it was. She couldn’t sleep. She barely ate. Several months passed and Betty realized it was time to find a job…any job.
There were several entry level positions available. One in particular, at the Burger Meister Restaurant, paid better than minimum wage and offered benefits. She printed a copy of her resume, completed the application, and delivered it in person.
After waiting 45 minutes, she was greeted by a Mr. Dan Sloan. He was around 30, clean-cut, wearing khaki pants, a company emblemed polo, and black rimmed trendy eyeglasses.
“Hello…Ms. O’Donnell? Can I call you Elizabeth? I’m Dan Sloan, the Manager.”
“Hello Mr. Sloan. Betty, is good,” she smiled, shaking his hand.
“Sorry for the wait. We had a few issues in the kitchen. My office is right here.”
The office walls were cluttered with cheesy motivational posters, food service guidelines and a framed portrait of the Burger Meister. One wall was glass allowing Sloan a full view of the kitchen.
“Please have a seat while I review your application. Can I get you some coffee, a soft drink, water?”
“Nothing for me thanks.”
“I see you attached your resume…”
“Yes, I…”
“That’s fine. We have all the information we need from the company application. So tell me, Betty, what brought you to Burger Meister’s?”
Isn’t it obvious? You’re looking at my application! “Uh, well, I need a job. I saw the Hostess position in the paper…”
“Ah yes. Tell me, have you worked as a hostess before?”
“No, but I have managed several employees in my previous employment.” Certainly years of management experience should count for something.
“I see. What about restaurant experience?
“In college…I waitressed.” If you could call it that. I worked the snack bar at the bowling alley, but he’s looking for restaurant experience…
Mr. Sloan scanned her application and looked up at Betty over the rims of his glasses. “I see you were with your former employer 27 years. That’s a long time. May I ask why you left?”
Here it is. The dreaded “why did you leave” question. “Company acquisition, downsizing…I…” Why won’t he let me finish? I was laid off, not fired!
“Hmmm…seems to be a lot of that going on these days.”
“Yes.”
“You do understand, the Hostess position requires long hours on your feet.”
“Yes.” Condescending twit! Suck it up Betty. You need this job.
“And there may be times when we would need you to pitch in with serving patrons or bussing the tables…”
“Yes, of course.”
“I am wondering why someone with your experience would want to work in food service.”
“Well, Mr. Sloan,” Betty forced a smile, “I’ll be honest with you. I got laid off over 4 months ago and I need a job. I’m a quick learner and a team player. I am certain that I could fulfill the responsibilities of the position.” Ugh! I hate feeling so vulnerable!
Mr. Sloan sat straight in his chair, letting out a sigh. “Well, thank you so much for coming in today, Ms. O’Donnell, but I’m not sure you would fit in at Burger Meister’s…” Betty glanced at the kitchen noticing the markedly younger staff.
What? Just like that? Wow! Betty was stunned.
Mr. Sloan stood up and opened the door. “Thank you again, Ms. O’Donnell, I wish you well in your job search. Please accept this Meister Money Card. It’s good for 2 free dinners. Goodbye.”
Betty took the money card without looking up and slipped it into her coat pocket. I won’t be back. The wind outside felt harsh. Colder still because of the tears streaming down her face.
“There are other jobs. He would have been an ass to work for. After all, tomorrow is another day.” she said to herself.
kat ~ 15 February 2016
A short story in response to Ronovan Writes Friday Fiction Challenge:
▪Word Count of 500. (SUGGESTED)
▪Take your favorite quote from a movie and use it as inspiration for your entry this week. If you want more direction, make it the last sentence in your piece. (REQUIRED)
As you can see, my movie quote is from Gone With the Wind, made famous by Miss Scarlett, “After all tomorrow is another day.” If you would like to participate or read other stories, click HERE.
Sunday’s Week in ReVerse ~ 14 February 2016
Photo Credit: Kat Myrman 2014
Happy Valentine’s Day Sunday! If I may wax poetic, this week’s ReVerse is rather poetic…poetic in its melancholic musings, sentimental walks down lanes of memories wrapped in chocolate and flowers. Did I plan this? Most certainly not! It is a game the Muse plays with me. How very clever of her, don’t you think?
Not to worry, the week wasn’t all sappy and sweet. There were hints of poetic justice as well. Enter the scoundrels…the handsome blind date (or was he just a rude stalker!), politicians (no comment…), time…if time was a scoundrel (I have no doubt that our modern electronic clocks have an evil plan to drive us all crazy!), scary nature (requiring a safety net of creature comforts for those brave souls who venture off the grid), the corporate scoundrel…jerk! creep! *#%%%*#!!!!! (forgive me…too soon), and finally Jack Frost (well, he was certainly implied. Soon to sweep the blush from the daffodils.) As exciting as all this has been…what do I do? I take photographs!
I’m going to digress for a bit…but I promise to bring it home…trust me.
The greatest technology of the 21st Century for me is the phone camera! A few decades ago, I did labor in the bowels of my amber-lit basement, elbow deep in smelly chemicals developing my own photographs. Editing required cutting and pasting (really!…cutting with scissors and pasting with glue), re-photographing and developing. All things being digital has opened up a whole new world to us all.
But here’s the thing…yes, there is a thing…
My last story this week reminded me of a lost art that needs a revisit…letter writing. Lovely handwritten notes on pretty paper penned by one’s favorite pen (for me it is a fountain pen loaded with cerulean blue ink). I even read last week that schools are considering dropping cursive writing lessons from their curriculum! A very sad turn of events indeed!
And so as I look forward to next week, I’m planning to pen a few letters to those friends who do not frequent social media…and maybe even a few who are digitally savvy. I have become woefully out of touch with them. What better day for inspiration than today, Valentine’s Day! Join me if you’d like. If there is one thing I’ve learned in life it is this, those who love you don’t want your chocolates or flowers…they want your words…<3
Sunday’s Week in ReVerse ~ 14 February 2016
A treasured timepiece,
here or hereafter.
sweet dreams to all you dreamers.
They are forever etched on my heart
She always reserved room for chocolate.
He knew she was lying.
fair blooms in waiting.
you certainly cannot win
abstaining from all pleasure
take a moment to breathe
proving their own lack.
She had the last laugh.
to appear able
a luddite’s nightmare!
But not without a backpack of creature comforts.
He took credit for her work.
So I took a photograph for you.
~ kat
If you’re new to this blog, a bit of background to explain the verse above. It is a line from each poem or prose from the previous week. Lifted and placed in the order written. A snapshot review of the week. It helps me to prepare for the upcoming week with a clean slate.
A Red Sky Valentine’s Morning
Awash in brush strokes crimson red
Sleepy dreamers rouse at the dawn
Snuggled under layers of down
Awash in brush strokes crimson red
It is tempting to pause instead
Serenaded by sweet birdsong
Awash in brush strokes crimson red
Sleepy dreamers rouse at the dawn.
kat ~ 14 February 2016
A Triolet for your Valentine’s Day. Happy warm snugly day loving the one you are with …(whispering) even if that someone is simply you! ❤️ Be sweet!
Tree Nymph
Photo Credit: Kat Myrman 2016
I am obsessed with this tree! This is an image from a different vantage point. It actually looks like there are two branch antlers on her head. She just may be a tree nymph, which explains my obsession. I pass by her every day on my drive home and I can’t look away!
From the Theoi Greek Mythology Website:
THE NYMPHAI (or Nymphs) were female spirits of the natural world, minor goddesses of the forests, rivers, springs, meadows, mountains and seas. They were responsible for the crafting of nature’s wild beauty, from the arrangement and growth of the plants, flowers and trees, to the nurture of wild birds and animals, and the formation of rocky caverns, springs, wetlands and brooks.
Nymphs were also companions of the gods. Dionysos had his wild-eyed Mainades and Bakkhai, Artemis was accompanied by a band of huntress nymphs, Hekate by the dark Lampades nymphs of the underworld. Poseidon‘s court was attended by Nereides and sea nymphs, and the Olympian court by nymph handmaidens.
Other nymphs were nurses of the gods, including the Idaian nymphs that nursed the god Zeus, and the Nysian nymphs who cared for Dionysos.
Tree Nymph
Oaken Nymph
fair blushing Dryad
clinging there
evergreen
dance with us on frostbit earth
sing to us of spring!
kat ~ 13 February 2016
Most Inspirational Blogger Nominee
