CHAPTER ONE: THE MEETING
It was on the last week of May that she captivated my heart, a few weeks short to the start of the school year. She had everything I could ever love in a woman. Long black hair, slender body, a killer smile and this is the tale of how I tried to love and be loved by her. My name is Dean McKinsey and I was then on my early thirties when I met her in our office, she was a wearing jet black skirt and blouse to complement her white complexion; She approached me, with a folder in her hand, I can surmise she stood at 5”6 compared to my 5”4 frame, she was very slim for her body probably around 92 lbs. and said “Sir, I am ready for the interview”.
Without hesitation I arranged my tie, sat firmly on my chair. As I reached out for her credentials I said “Can you tell me about your past?” She told me about her dreams of working for our company, how she was the youngest sibling in their family of which she had 7 brothers and 6 sisters; all of which got married at a tender age of 17, except her. She graduated in the same school that I went to, in San Jose, although I finished my master’s degree four years ahead of her.
“What do you expect to be given by an education company aside from a free school bus ride and free ball pen? Ha ha ha.” She smiled at me with the most beautiful smile I have ever seen, I can sense she was laughing at the joke although it was really lame; I sensed it made her comfortable. “Well Sir, I expected to be given a chance to make a name in the educational field and to share my knowledge with my students.”
“Suppose you are asked to chose between love and career what would you select?” Gosh, you know I shouldn’t have inserted a question like that but here goes nothing. “Sir I don’t have a problem with that since I am not in a relationship.” “I see, but just suppose you are then. What would your answer be?” “Um if that’s the case Sir I would chose my career; for after all my career, in financial crisis would help me but love can not.” “You know, that’s a very logical answer” I said with a soft laughter mixed to it.
“Ms. Penny Covey, you are aware that the company gives minimum wage but as your performance would improve so would your status and pay check in the company. Seeing your qualifications are in order, you can begin working under me with the Marketing Department by Monday”
“Um, Marketing?” she said. “Yes, marketing. Your qualifications as commerce major, I believe, would greatly help you in this department.” “Oh I thought this was the Human Resource Development of Calape Educational College?” I quickly glanced at her application letter which said in Bold letters: College Teacher. My Goodness! I thought she was applying for the Marketing Division under me, what the heck was I thinking??!! She giggled at the mistake, we both committed. I stood up and said “Err I’m sorry I thought you were applying for Marketing. Rats, I ate up ten minutes of your time for nothing.” She was clearly laughing at me albeit she tried hard to hide her white teeth. “Anyway the HRD is on the second floor, third door from the right. Don’t worry I’d call the HRD gals and tell them that it was my mistake that you got late for your appointment.”
With that she trotted her way to her first official interview.
Later that afternoon, I was told by the HRD Manager, Mrs. Stephanie Sandoval, that Penny did well on her interview and cautioned me to be a bit more careful. “Well, Ma’am Sandoval. You know she was really looking great and I couldn’t help but stare.” “Yeah you said the same thing to me during my first collegiate interview” “Oh C’mon but you were 24 back then and still single.” She whacked my arm with a 12-inch ruler while saying “Yes, I would have been single had I not married a former student” We both laughed for we knew a teacher-student relationship rarely works, Stephanie fell in love with Paul Sandoval during her third year of teaching; I kept their secret safe from the administration since we were bosom buddies by then.
