The Fate Street Avenue

The Interview

I get to the elevators, and a swarm of people are exiting and entering. What a busy Thursday morning.

You kinda have to jump in, and on any other day, I would be patiently waiting for everyone to exit, but today I'm the one pushing and shoving to get in. I impel my way in for a spot in the elevator and feel the walls and warmness of everyone pushing through me. I don't like tight spaces; I look up at the ceiling and casually take deep breaths until it's my floor. It helps when viewing the lights above the elevator, stopping on every floor; it gives me slight relief knowing the doors will open. My curiosity once again baffles me; I have this love-and-hate relationship with myself when I tend to get hyper-fixated on things. A thought presumes me about all the faces I'll work with if I get the job here. I look around at everyone and realize there are only men working here. When my eyes wander around, I end up making eye contact with a particular gentleman who's smirking right at me.

He mouths the words "Hey."

I roll my eyes and ignore the message.

My floor comes up, and I make my way into the office. I come across Eileen, Mr.Morris's receptionist though she's much older than I would have expected. 

I walk up to her in good fashion.

Good morning Mam; I have an interview with Mr. Morris. I realize I'm right at the cut off time, but if it wouldn't hurt, do you think I could...

She interrupts me and says "What's your name?"

Melanie Addams.

Eileen goes, "I'll let Mr. Morris know you're here."

Thank you, thank you so much.

Eileen goes, "Don't mention it."

I sit in a waiting area and patiently wait for Mr. Morris to call me in.

Eileen is calling Mr. Morris's line on the rotary telephone. She's swishing around the rotary, and it starts ringing when Mr. Morris answers. 

Mr. Morris replies "What is it."

Eileen says "Mr. Morris, there's a young lady who just arrived for her 9:30am interview."

Mr. Morris says "How does she look Eileen? blonde, brunette, tits or ass?"

Eileen un phased "I think you'll like her." 

Meanwhile, switching to Melanie's POV.

I'm reading one of the fashion magazines on the coffee table, who new mini-skirts would be so trendy now! About five years ago, skirts were forbidden to go above the knee.

I hear Eileen call me "Mr. Morris will see you now."

I walk nervously into Mr. Morris's office.

I walk into the office, its full of books cases high enough to touch the ceiling, there's a stair case to reach the books on top. It's a very traditional design that screams old.

I finally see Mr. Morris; I've only ever heard about him and my description of him was far from what I imagined. To my surprise, he is this large brooding ,aging white man staring at the view of the public library on 5th Avenue.

He turns to me, and his eyes widen;

He gives me a long look. In a deep and gruff voice, he says "Ms. Addams, glad you can find time in your busy schedule to see me, have a seat, and we'll get right to it."

(I say while sitting down) Thank you so much, sir, for seeing me I had traffic on the way here, and well, anyways, I'll get right to it, Sir; I'm a Columbia graduate student. I have a degree in communications...

Mr. Morris interrupts me and says "You went to college?"

Yes, I did; I also, 

He continues "How old are you, Ms. Addams?"

 Twenty-two.

He smirks and says "Do you have any kids?"

No.

Mr. Morris replies with "Are you married?"

I stop and think to myself why the hell does it matter?

I'm not. 

Mr. Morris replies "Good, very good"

Why is that good?

He continues "I've interviewed over 100 ladies this week who happened to be wives and new mothers."

Continues "You see I asked if they could pull a 60+ work week and many of them couldn't leave their bundle of joys at home for the first three months."

Continues "And the wives, we'll let's just say I wouldn't want my own wife working in an office"

I'm listening but wondering where he's going with this.

Continues "Ms. Addams I need a woman with a masculine state of mind, who's going to take charge at the office and not give a crap about a baby in diapers at home."

I think you may have, misjudged what women can do Mr. Morris. 

Continues (Laughs) "Perhaps, but facts don't change nor do people, you know what changes Ms. Addams?"

I nod my head.

Continues "Structure, systems, and Money."

Continues "What kind of accomplishments have you had so far to convince me that you'd be the right person for this job?"

I have excellent leadership skills and creative problem-solving skills, and I can adapt to any environment Mr. Morris I'm a quick learner who can bring new innovative ideas to the poll. You need a woman at this table and I'm the perfect one, I see that you're struggling with a new perspective of the female product line, this is the 60s a decade of change you said it yourself structure changes and by having me on your board I can come off with an equitable amount of the female perspective, bigger than the pill. 

"What ideas did you have in mind?"

"