Need You

CHAPTER O8

I thought that I'd be able to get a really good sleep as part of my preparation before my interview but I didn't.

Instead, I woke up from a nightmare which reminded me of what I had been through in prison, and then there was obviously the nervousness that came with going for a job interview.

I hadn't been to one in a while.

Away from all of that, I thought I looked good for the interview. The yellow dress shirt Nikki picked out for me looked nice with the black pair of trousers.

Coming out of the bathroom, Ethel met me and said, "You look nice."

I smiled back at her.

"At what time is your interview?" She asked.

"Nine."

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm nervous." I sighed. "I haven't been to an interview in a while. I hope it works out and I get the job."

She nods, giving me a supporting smile.

"Um... Thank you very much for everything." I paused. "I didn't think I would get an opportunity at a job interview this soon, especially with the situation I was in, so thank you for helping me."

"It's fine." Ethel said. "I'm glad that I was able to help you."

I appreciated the moment.

"Nikki sent me the location of the interview. I'm going to take you there."

"Oh, you don't have to do that. I can take a taxi." I politely declined, hoping that she would offer again. I didn't have enough money for a taxi.

"No, I'm going to take you." She said. "Give me a few minutes to get ready."

"Okay."

"Breakfast is on the counter in the kitchen." She added as she entered her room.

The drive to the place I was going to be interviewed, took a while. The time displayed above the car's radio screen was 8:53 A.M.

Looking out at the two storey building through the windshield, I saw the name of the company on a billboard above it - HARDWARE HOUSE.

From what I read on the internet, it was a branch of a bigger company which bore the same name.

"Are you going to go to the restaurant after the interview or will you go home?"

"Um..."

"Just go to the restaurant. I'll meet you there."

"Okay." I said and as I made a move to open the door, Ethel held up a small brown envelope and said, "Take this."

"What is it?"

"It's money."

"Oh I can't take that." I said. "You've done so much for me already. It's not necessary for you to do any more." I told her politely, and I was being honest about that.

"Do you have money to get you to the restaurant?" She asked, still holding up the envelope.

I didn't. "No."

"Then take it." She smiled.

"Okay." I reluctantly took the envelope from her and said, "Thank you."

Opening the door, Ethel said, "Good luck Harry."

"Thank you."

The pale yellow walls had big wooden shelves up against them filled with a variety of items - hammers, lines, nets... It seemed quite busy.

With the reception to my left, I walked to it and told the man behind it that I was there for an interview. Next to the receptionist's desk was an opening which revealed a staircase.

Following his direction, I walked up and into the second level of the building. It had more of an office setting. In front of me was a high desk with a lady in a dark gray short sleeve shirt behind it. Adjacent to the desk was a long sofa, currently occupied by only two people.

Acknowledging the presence of the two men already in the couch, I approached the lady behind the desk. "Good morning."

"Good morning." She greeted with a pleasant grin. "How can I help you?"

"I'm here for the job interview."

"Okay. What's your name?"

"Harold Hammond." I said. Her eyes were focused on the computer screen and then she looked at me and said, "Please sit. I'll call you when it's time for you to go in."

"Thank you."

We sat on the sofa in silence - it made me a bit more nervous. Staring at the floor, I heard my name being mentioned.

"Yes." I stood.

"You may go in."

I took a deep breath and opened the door which led to the interviewer's office. It had the same pale yellow colour on the walls and a couple of narrow shelves against the wall.

"Good morning sir." I greeted the seemingly older man in a black suit sitting behind the black desk in the center of the office.

"Good morning. Have a seat."

"Thank you sir."

"Okay, let's begin." I sat up in the chair. "What is your name?"

"My name is Harold Hammond sir."

"Okay Harold, tell me about yourself."

"Okay um..." I didn't know exactly what to say. "As I said, I am Harold Hammond but I prefer to be called Harry. I am twenty-eight years. I graduated with first class honors in Business Administration and Finance from State University." What else could I add? "Um... everything else I might be missing is in my CV." I said, handing him the brown envelope containing it.

I thought I was off to a good start and then he asked, "From what I'm looking at here, your last job ended three years ago." I mentally sighed. "So what have you been doing between that time and now?"

"Um, sir," Should I tell him the truth. I should - he'll appreciate the honesty. "I was in confinement."

"Confinement? Can you tell me what you mean by that?"

I wasn't sure how he would react to what I was going to say but I told myself that the honesty would be appreciated so I said, "I was in jail, sir."

"You were in jail." He said coolly. "Can you tell me how that happened?"

"Um, a fault on my part made me guilty of embezzlement of funds." I said lowly. "But I promised never to repeat that, especially after my conviction." I added, not wanting him to have a wrong idea of who I was and what I could do.

"Okay. Glad to hear that." I was happy with that response. "Your CV looks good and it clearly shows how qualified you are."

"Thank you sir."

"We need a new accountant and I think you'd be a good addition but there are others to interview so, you'll hear from us."

"Thank you sir." I smiled.

"Thank you for coming. You may leave."

I left the office after I shook his hand.

Going down to the first level, I caught a glimpse of someone passing by and he looked really familiar. I couldn't believe my eyes at the sight of the person who was in front of the counter.