American Dreaming - 1982 / Part III

I completed the application, said goodbye to Celia and then left the HR office. As I made my way back across the entrance rotunda I looked around and tried to take in all the nuances. I was impressed by the placement of all the plush furniture and carpeting that was provided ostensibly for guests or casual visitors, it seemed to scream opulence. Whatever the heck they did here, they must be pretty good at it or at least charging a pretty penny for the attempt. I gave a little wave to the guard as I passed the checkpoint and made my way out into the morning sunshine.

I decided to nix the idea of going to the mall (after all, I did apply for a job which was the primary objective for that day) and instead, took the bus line back to my parent’s house. Upon arriving, I was informed that I had received a phone call from IDM. My first thought was that I was being put upon. They couldn’t possibly move that quickly. I perused the note that my sister handed me and then proceeded up to my room to return the call.

I was informed that they would like to conduct an interview tomorrow “if I was available”.

“Yeah, sure.” I said. “What time?”

“How does 9:00 a.m. sound?”

“I’ll be there”

There was a lot to do now. I needed to get some dress clothes together and perhaps borrow a tie from someone. I also wanted to do a little research on the company (I heard that this was typically a good idea). Prior to this, I had only worked in the food service industry at a local hospital and a grunt job in a local construction outfit. This looked like a “real job”….

I proceeded down to the local library to check out some research on the IDM corporation. It was there that I learned that they were the leading manufacturers of computing devices in the world. Their corporate headquarters was located downstate but they had a manufacturing plant in a nearby town and some offices (apparently the one I saw that day) scattered around the area performing various administration and research activities.

So, armed with this bit of info, (and the promise of a loan of a tie and suit jacket from my dad) I decided to celebrate a little and stopped off at a local bar to have a quick brew on my way home. This was, in retrospect, a potentially bad idea. My one beer, led to another, and then a couple of friends of mine showed up and they bought a few rounds and before I knew it, I was feeling little pain and the evening had pretty much flown by. Knowing that I wanted to dress to impress the next day, I started to figure out what would be the best method of getting myself back to my waiting bed.

I considered calling my Dad but that idea wasn’t real appealing. I asked around the bar of my small number of acquaintances to see when they were considering heading out. None of them looked like they would be leaving any time soon. That’s when I noticed a little blonde sitting at the bar. She looked vaguely familiar but, in my rather foggy state, I wasn’t sure where our paths might have crossed. I rifled through my memory looking for a clue when she noted that I was staring in her direction and motioned me to come over to that side of the room.

As I made my way across the bar, she got off the bar stool she was occupying and moved to a nearby table. I finally recognized, much to my surprise, where I knew her from (right about the time I was perhaps a couple of yards from the table). Jody. Her name was Jody. She was my benefactor from this morning. Cognizant (or as cognizant as I could muster under the present circumstances) of that notion coupled with the info that I had garnered from my visit in the HR office that morning, I made a mental note to thank the gods yet again for this wonderfully karmic good fortune. At least I thought it must be good fortune because who would have thought that a woman of her stature would be hanging out at what was generally considered a college bar.

“Hi…Jody wasn’t it…?” I stammered.

“Yes… I don’t believe I got your name earlier…”

“I’m … uh… James…uh … Jim, please”

“Okay Mr. Please…” She smiled. “How’d you make out with the application”

“Oh… um… They called me back today already… I have a … an interview tomorrow”. That’s it Jim, you sound just like a blithering idiot. Really charming … I hate myself…

“Good… I wish you luck”

“Oh, yeah… I want to thank you for … setting that … er, letting me know about the job opportunity”….

“No problem. Do you want a drink?”

“Ah, yeah okay… I’ll have a Pepsi.” Oh boy… Are you impressing this girl…

“A Pepsi? Okay.” She signaled to the waiter and ordered a scotch neat and a Pepsi for Mr. Smooth talking, socially stunted me….

After the drinks arrived, my babbling continued…

“I noticed your picture in the HR office… You hold a pretty important position in that company don’t you?”…

“Yes, I guess you could say so… I’m the youngest board member and the chairperson to boot. I have my Daddy to thank for that”

“Oh, is your Dad involved with the company?”

She smiled. I should have done more research in her and less on the company. We are talking about a mail room job after all…

She replied, “My dad was one of the founders of the company. He died last year and I inherited his place on the board. Because of my age, it hasn’t been an easy transition.”

“I see… I’m… sorry about your Dad”

“Thanks. I still miss him. I’m having some difficult times handling some of the other board members. I don’t know why I’m telling you this but, my position isn’t a great one despite appearances.”

“I think your appearance is pretty good from my perspective.”

“Oh… how so?”

“I meant… that I think… you look very pretty… even in this light…”

She just grinned… “I think your sweet… and a little drunk.”

Oh shoot I thought… what cold have possibly tipped that off…?

“I might be a tad tipsy but, I have to be getting home… I have an interview tomorrow morning.”

“Can I give you a lift?”

I’m thinking… the gods are smiling on me tonight…

“Oh, that would be great but, I’m not sure I should impose”

“Okay, suit yourself…” I have my limo out front…
Okay… I give in… somewhere along the line… I’ve sold my soul or something. I can’t believe I have this much luck… I hope I’m not wasting it all in one shot.

“Well, if you don’t mind… It would really help me out… again…”