Spoiler! :
The City isn't just a maliciously overcrowded place with beeping, over expensive taxis and people who refuse to look you in the eyes and steal the jewelry off your ears.
The City is overall, just that.
The first time I came to New York, a man stopped me on the street. He told me three things.
One, never be too kind. People will take advantage of you.
Two, people are busy, let them go on their way and don't bother them.
Three, New Yorkers are the best friends you will ever have.
So when we New Yorkers are labeled as the best companion, does that have to come with giving them our taxi?
“Stephanie. What kind of garbage is this?” Conner waved the newspaper in the air. “I am telling you it is just a load of crap. What day was this published?”
“It was published yesterday.” I told my assistant.
“I can't believe you wrote this crap. “People will take advantage of you,” what is that? Some sick joke? What if WomansHealth sees it and doesn't hire you? Oh, God Stephanie. Will you take your stupid coffee?”
I shifted my papers and folders under my arm and took my coffee back from his hands. I felt as overcrowded as Manhatten. The wind sprayed my blonde hair over my face and in my mouth. My coffee titled and and left a drop on my newspaper. Conner opened the door of the office and we continued walking.
“I already signed the papers for WomansHealth. They offered me two dollars a word. Concerning yesterdays column, I wrote it in the taxi on the way to the office. I was at a total lack of inspiration. Even if I screwed up on it, I got paid. And I was working on the rat infestation story at the old Chinese restaurant called Chinese Number One.” I squished up my nose to show my displease.
“At least your not stuck with Michelles bed bug story.” Conner said dropping his papers in his cubical as we continued through the office. “The boss made Michelle do a story on her own apartment. And of course she had bed bugs. New York is the number one state for bed bugs.”
“That fat bastard. I don't know why Jared was fired. He was a great boss.” I muttered.
I opened the glass door of the conference room and sighed in discomfort. Sitting at the front of the round wooden table was our Times Magazines new boss, Albert. He was a chubby, grouchy man that hated everyone, except the receptionist.
“Glad you could make it. But we could have started without you.” he snickered.
I reclined my neck to Conner who stood behind me. His hand was clasped on the doorknob but I quickly muttered,
“Conner, contact the Chinese restaurant and find out their closing date. I wanna go back there for some pictures.”
“Miss Horcid. Please sit down, we need to discuss yesterdays column.” Albert seethed.
I felt frustration sear through me. I was a respected writer. Who was he to lecture me on my column. Oh yeah. He's my boss.
“Is that all Stephanie?” Conner twisted the doorknob, pleading to leave. Oh well, just to piss Albert off.
“Oh. Well, you can go to target or hallmark and get a cheap card for my sister. Just write happy birthday, congratulations, something like that.” I turned to Albert and smiled.
“Last time, Stephanie. I'm your assistant. Not your mother.” Conner opened the door and stepped out.
I walked across the room and sat next to anther columnist, Elaine, a sarcastic friend that was much more bearable then the rest of the nuts in this office.
“Miss Horcid.” Albert started. “Your column yesterday was horrifying and I cannot let that one slide.” I gripped the pen in my hand in irritation.
“Sir, I understand. If you would like, I can finish the rat infestation story by tonight and...”
“God, Stephanie. No. That would not help the situation. I don't know why you are still working here. You should have been fired a long time ago.” he yelled.
Oh crap. He wouldn't go that far. Would he?
““Sir, I know can do better. I should have taken more time on it, but this won't happen again. I apologize...” The men and women around the table watched me with no emotion as I shook in my chair.
“Be quiet, Miss Horcid.” he demanded. That bastard interrupted me again! I tapped my long fingernails againsts the table, causing a loud cracking noise.
“Since I would likely be fired for letting you go and I hate seeing your face every God damn day, I want you to take Elaines story.” Elaine sighed in relief as I looked at her in confusion.
What story? The last story I saw Elaine do was the interview with Charlie Sheen. But that was published last week. I should ask Elaine about her stories more often.
“Sir, I have no clue as to what you are speaking of.”
“Of course you don't. Miss Stephanie, I would like you to take Elaines story. Which was to go to the South and write a column everyday for a month and e-mail it to me.” When he finished he raised his eyebrow for a response.
Did he say he wanted me to go to the South? For a month? And do what?
“And do what Sir?” I questioned angrily.
“Write about the difference between the City and the Country. Go to a farm and take pictures of cows, eat the food, they like to fry everything, things like that. It doesn't matter.” he explained as he scribbled with a pen on a peice of paper and handed it over to me.
Milk cows. Try the beer. Go to a rodeo. Interview a bull rider. Ride a horse. Interview Nascar fans. I read on the paper.
“Why for a month?” I pressed. "And the company better be paying for it. I can't even afford new curtains let alone last minute plane tickets."
“Yes, the company has already paid for it. Ask Elaine for the tickets. It doesn't matter for how long you go. You can be gone for a week and e-mail me thirty-one columns. But I doubt you can do it.” He smirked.
“When would you like me to leave Sir?”
“As soon as possible."
“Okay.” I took out my smart phone. I clicked on the American Airline app and asked, “Which state do you want me to go to?”
“North Carolina.” He laughed at my shocked expression as I clicked the Buy button.
And they all sounded the same, so it was already hard to follow! In fact, honestly, I thought the MC's assistant was the MC's boss. xD I was very confused for a long time. But as a reader who's been shoved into this cranky mood of crank, it was kind of annoying that everyone was shouting and I couldn't get even a hint as to what happened before this that made everyone so upset with Stephanie. I hope that makes sense. xD It just put me off a bit, and I disliked nearly everyone who spoke except Elaine, and she didn't even speak! But I liked her anyway. (the little cheer when she was released from that trip made me giggle! xD)
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