The Job Interview: An original, romantic, female foot pain story
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2022 5:11 pm
The Job Interview
Jennifer, living on the far outskirts of a big city, sadly lost her job due to her company closing down...With no savings and a big rent increase beginning the next month, she knew she had to find a new job quickly...
...Having no car, she also knew she had to plan out her job search very well, to minimize expenses...Carefully searching for all listed job openings, she picked out those close to bus or train stations, calling ahead to schedule each interview at a specific time...She scheduled all interviews for the same day, beginning very early at 7 AM, ending at 7 PM...Then she purchased a special one day transit pass, good for unlimited train and bus rides throughout the city, only for one day...Just $4.00, the transit pass cost...Jennifer felt so proud of herself, knowing she was saving so much money by properly planning out her busy day of job hunting...
On the day of the important hunt, Jennifer woke up early, carefully appllying her makeup, styling her hair, and picking out her most attractive and professional outfit to wear, knowing how important and valuable it is to make a great first impression on all potential employers...Of course she wore sheer stockings and almost brand new high-heeled dress pumps that she had purchased onty to wear on special occasions...In the back of her mind she briefly worried about how she would hold up in these shoes, so terribly unfit for walking any distances, knowing she would have to spend many hours continuously standing and walking all day long, and into the evening, but...she had no choice, the day was too important to risk rejection by an employer who judged her negatively based on the shoes she wore...
And so the day began at 5:30 AM with a 6 block walk to the nearest bus stop from her apartment, and by the time she reached the stop, already she knew she was in trouble...Her feet hurt, and it could only get worse and worse and worse...But it was too late to change, too late to go back to her apartment...She had her first interview scheduled for 7 AM and could never arrive in time if she went back to change her shoes...
All day long Jennifer travelled throughout the big city, standing and walking from bus station to train station to job interview site, and back to the bus station and to another job interview, and back to the train station...MIles and miles she walked on this hot August day, each step more painful than the last...
She could feel her terrible dress pumps pressing and rubbing on her baby toes, her bunion joints, and worst of all, her heels...She KNEW they were being rubbed RAW, the skin stripped off, only a matter of time until deep blood blisters formed, and eventually broke...
Passing by pharmacies, she was SOOO tempted to go in and buy a box of band-aids, but stopped herself. She was on a tight budget, and today was the day to find a job, not to spend any of her precious money...
By 12:00 Noon Jennifer was openly hobbling, deep stabs of pain shooting through both feet, and so hungry and thirsty...Passing a McDonald's restaurant, she just could not resist taking a lunch break, as she had wisely planned out for herself in scheduling her full day of interviews...Finally seated, she gingerly eased her agonized feet out of their Torture Chambers, softly sobbing and moaning. resting them on top of her shoes...They throbbed even more terribly for a few moments, raw and exposed nerve endings suddenly exposed to the cool air...
Jennifer knew she was in deep trouble. How to survive for the rest of the day?? Looking at the container of napkins on the counter, a thought came to her, and finishing eating as fast as possible, she glanced around nervously before grabbing a large stack of napkins and with a deep hobble, making her way to the bathroom...
Once inside, she locked herself in the farthest stall, eased off her shoes again, took off her sheer stockings, then carefully tried to cover and wrap her baby toes and bunion joints. She paused to consider options for the worst problem of all, her already openly bleeding heels. Jennifer realized if she applied them underneath her stockings, it would be impossible for her to discreetly take them off just before arriving for each job interview. And of course she would look ridiculous and borderline insane to walk into a Human Resources office with clearly visible McDonald's napkins sticking out from the backs of her dress pumps! That was just NOT an option! And so she decided to put her stockings back on, hissing sharply in pain as the bloody fabric once again made direct contact with the broken blisters. Her only option now, was to carefully place the napkins over her heels, in-between her stockings and the backs of her pumps...
She knew this was not the solution, she knew they would not offer much protection, not nearly as real band-aids, but...they were free, and at least she could try to keep going, to continue her job search...
And so Jennifer continued her marathon trek through the city, and she knew she looked...ridiculous, with napkins clearly visible sticking out from the backs of both her dress pumps, but she had no choice...Just before entering the building for her interviews, she would stop and take the napkins off from her heels, even though it was almost impossible not to limp as suddenly the pump backs were digging directly into her huge, open and bleeding heel blisters, with no protection at all...
It was just before 5 PM when Michael saw her through the big window in his office. He saw her leaning against the building, beautiful and elegantly dressed, he saw her slowly and gently, with hands trembling, ease off first one pump then the other, and carefully pull off a...white thing from her heel...What was that?? He strained his eyes to see more clearly...It was...a napkin, and he could see faint red stains on the napkin, and then, looking back at her heel, he could see it was red, very red, blood red...
Michael's heart skipped a beat and he felt like leaving his office, rushing down to the street to try to catch her, to follow her, to somehow get to know her...But of course he could not do that, because he was the Director of Human Resources for the company, waiting for his 5 PM job interview candidate to arrive...
Still straining to see, to not lose this enchanting moment, Michael was shocked to see her disappear suddenly from view...It looked like...she had come into the building, HIS building! Could she possibly...work in this building?? No, he would know if she worked here, he knew ALL the employees...Maybe she just came in...to see if there was a restroom open to the public?? To try to sit down for a moment, rest and minister to her agonized feet?? The thought was too much, and Michael quickly rushed to the small bathroom in his office, climaxing uncontrollably... Thank God I have my own private office, and it has a bathroom, is all he could think...
Just a few moments later the intercom sprang to life, and Michael almost jumped in fright, "Sir, your 5 PM interview is here..." As usual, Michael opened the door of his office and went out to the lobby area...He liked to first meet job candidates out in the open, instead of having them come inside his office...It gave him more of a chance to see how they presented themselves, their posture and how they walked...
And...there SHE was, the new object of his fascination and devotion, the one he thought he would NEVER see again...And so he tried his best to maintain a neutral expression as they both approached each other, Michael walking confidently and briskly, Jennifer desperately trying not to hobble... "Good Afternoon Sir, I'm Jennifer, here to apply for the Adminstrative Aide position, it's so nice to meet you, thank you for taking the time to consider me..."
Michael reached to shake her outstretched hand, hoping his own hand was not trembling, determined to act professionally, "Thank you for coming, let's go over to my office and sit down, it'll just take a few minutes to go over your resume..." Jennifer looked to the office door, trying to gauge the distance...It was maybe...50 or 60 feet from where they stood in the lobby, but to Jennifer it looked a mile away...It's okay, just WALK NORMALLY, a few steps...you can do it, no limping, God, I hope he goes first, in front of me, so he doesn't see my face...." Those were her desperate internal thoughts as they stood there together, each waiting for the other to actually start moving...
And so, with a deep gulp, Jennifer started towards the door, trying so desperately to walk normally, as stabs of pain shot through her baby toes, bunion joints, and bleeding heels...She thought she pulled it off well, but of course Michael, as a long-time Gait Analyst and Female Foot Pain lover, could immediately see that each and every step was pure agony...
Upon reaching the office, Michael gestured to the open chair, "Please, sit down, may I offer you a glass of water, you look...a little tired..." And as Jennifer slowly sank down into the chair, she could not suppress a soft sob, immediately trying to conceal it with a quick intake of breath... "Thank you so much, how kind of you to offer...I'm fine Sir, just been out all day long, applying at other companies...I...just...really need to find a job as soon as possible..." And as Jennifer looked into Michael's eyes, he could see how honest and sincere she was...and also how desperate and tired and in PAIN she was, and he knew...barring multiple felony convictions on her record, she was HIRED...
But of course he carefully looked through her resume, asking many questions, delighting in the opportunity to get to know the brand new Treasure sitting in front of him...He could not wait to offer her the job, right here and right now, so unexpected, so different from all the other interviews where they promise to "call you and let you know..." To see her reaction of delight and immense relief...
But at the same time he could not resist the opportunity to try something he often did with Sweeties who applied for jobs, Sweeties whom he suspected of having sore, aching, injured feet...This situation was different, he knew Jennifer was in DEEP distress, barely able to walk, but still, he could not resist...
"Well Jennifer, everything looks really good on your resume, you have so much relevant experience and skills that match exactly what we need here...and your Instant Background check, I just got the printout so let me look...well, it is perfect, not even a single traffic ticket in your entire lifetime?? Very impressive! And the fact you are available to start immediately, that is just the icing on the cake, as we need someone right away..."
Jennifer could hardly believe her ears, this HR Director was literally gushing in his words to her...This was by far the most positive and enthusiastic reaction of the day, from all of her interviews...Could it be, was it possible, that she would...get hired??? Jennifer felt tears welling up in her eyes and willed herself not to cry, not to blow it, not to ruin this desperately needed CHANCE...
But then, as Michael continued, fear suddenly sprang up, gripping her:
"...So Jennifer, that said, I'm wondering if you want to take a little tour of the building?? As an Administrative Aide you're going to need to know your way around, you'll need to know where every office is, where all the storage rooms and utility closets are, where each department is located, and all that...It's a big building, and very confusing for a new person in the beginning...So...if you have a little time...would you like to walk around with me and check everything out, it should only take...maybe...30 minutes..."
Jennifer's mind reeled in shock...He was literally, but not quite, offering her the job, but then he was asking her to WALK AROUND with him, first, and right NOW! And of course...I HAVE to say YES! I have to say yes, this thought raced through Jennifer's mind. I have to! He expects me to say Yes! How can I say No?? How can I blow this incredible opportunity??? But...I can't say Yes. It's...impossible! There's no way I can walk for 30 minutes straight without limping terribly, and then she realized...I can't do it AT ALL right now, because I took my Mcdonald's napkin cushions OUT of my dress pumps just before coming into the building! My heels are literally BLEEDING, if I try to walk around with him for the next 30 minutes, my pumps will be FILLED with BLOOD!
Desperately, Jennifer racked her brain to try to find an excuse to say No...Then it dawned on her, just be...honest, at least part of the way: "Sir...I...would just love to tour the building with you right now...But...there's just one thing...I already have one more interview scheduled for today, and it's for 7 PM, and I'm not driving, I have to take the bus and then the train to get there, and...I just don't think I can make it in time if we do a...tour right now...It just...wouldn't be fair of me to cancel that appointment at the last minute, and I would NEVER just not show up for an appointment, that would be so disrespectful...
Please...Is there any way I can...come back, first thing tomorrow morning, as early as you want, to do the tour???"
And now it was Michael's turn to suppress a soft sob...How could he have even TRIED to be so...cruel?? A Heroine was sitting across from him, a beautiful, kind, sweet, honest, sincere woman, willing to suffer and to sacrifice, so thoughtful and considerate...And he was so LUCKY to have an opportunity to try to befriend her, to get to know her over the next few weeks, months, years, FOREVER, he hoped!
Blinking rapidly, Michael took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, to cover up his own welling tears, and said:
"Of course, Jennifer, we...don't have to do the tour right now...We can do it, we...WILL do it...tomorrow morning. But...just one thing, please, don't go to your 7 PM interview. Don't go, Jennifer. Just...call them right now, and apologize for cancelling at the last minute, and tell them the reason is...you...just got a...job! You just got hired, by me, to work here!"
And again Jennifer's mind reeled in shock! A JOB, she had just got HIRED, just when it looked so HOPELESS, just when it looked like she was BLOWING this great opportunity by declining to do the walking tour!
Taking a deep breath to try to collect herself, to try to regain her composure, knowing she HAD to respond in a coherant way, Jennifer began to stammer: "Thhhaaank you soooo much Sir, thank you f...or giving me this chance...I...won't let you down, I promise! I'll be here...tomorrow morning...any time...the earlier the better...just tell me what time..."
And then all of her emotions, fatigue, and the many hours of throbbing pain overwhelmed her, and Jennifer began to cry, soft but deep sobs...She just could not stop them, could not control herself...And even as she sobbed, panic once again gripped her. She was BLOWING IT, she must look CRAZY, to be sitting in the office of an HR director, a complete stranger, and openly crying just after being offered a job. He must think I'm crazy, he's going to retract the job offer right now, the thought flashed through her mind as panic gripped her and she closed her eyes tightly, mentally willing the tears to stop...
And then she felt something on her hand, something touching her hand...What could it be???
As she opened her eyes slowly, she saw Michael sitting on the carpet next to her chair, and...he was softly stroking her hand...and he was...crying too! Again, Jennifer's mind reeled, and, trying to calm her own tears, she blurted out the first thought in her mind: 'Why are YOU crying????"
And Michael found the internal courage to just be honest and truthful, responding almost immediately: "I'm crying because...you're crying..."
And now they looked at each other, right through their tears, and really SAW each other, for the first time, simultaneously, in a way that few people ever see other people, ever, in their entire lifetimes.
They saw the affection, the humanity, the kindness, the fear, the vulnerability, the flaws and the perfection, each within the other.
And because it was too much to immediately process, like the flick of a switch, Jennifer's tears turned to laughter, and so did Michael's...They just looked at each other and laughed, not at each other, but WITH each other, for long minutes...Both feeling as if a great weight had just been lifted from their shoulders...
Michael slowly got up from the floor and got a box of tissues, giving them to Jennifer for her to wipe her eyes, before decided he had to continue being courageous: "Jennifer...can I tell you something?? Just by sheer...luck...I was looking out the window of my office just as you came to the building, and...I...saw you...take off your shoes...I saw you...pull tissues out of the heel backs, and they looked red, and I saw your heels looked...bloody, and...you had your baby toes and bunion joints covered with...I think it was napkins...too...and...it just...broke my heart, and touched my heart...
"Can I, please, take off your shoes for you?? You must be in agony, please...let me gently take them off, and carry you to my car, and drive you to your apartment, and then...take care of your poor feet, bathe them and clean your open blisters, to make sure they do not become infected?? Please Jennifer..."
And of course Jennifer's mind reeled once again in surprise, but she already knew it was okay, she already knew Michael's heart. He had cried WITH her, cried FOR her, in a way no man, no human being in fact, had ever done.
She didn't understand everything completely, but she knew she was safe with Michael, no matter where they were, no matter where they went, together, anywhere, everywhere, always.
The End.
Jennifer, living on the far outskirts of a big city, sadly lost her job due to her company closing down...With no savings and a big rent increase beginning the next month, she knew she had to find a new job quickly...
...Having no car, she also knew she had to plan out her job search very well, to minimize expenses...Carefully searching for all listed job openings, she picked out those close to bus or train stations, calling ahead to schedule each interview at a specific time...She scheduled all interviews for the same day, beginning very early at 7 AM, ending at 7 PM...Then she purchased a special one day transit pass, good for unlimited train and bus rides throughout the city, only for one day...Just $4.00, the transit pass cost...Jennifer felt so proud of herself, knowing she was saving so much money by properly planning out her busy day of job hunting...
On the day of the important hunt, Jennifer woke up early, carefully appllying her makeup, styling her hair, and picking out her most attractive and professional outfit to wear, knowing how important and valuable it is to make a great first impression on all potential employers...Of course she wore sheer stockings and almost brand new high-heeled dress pumps that she had purchased onty to wear on special occasions...In the back of her mind she briefly worried about how she would hold up in these shoes, so terribly unfit for walking any distances, knowing she would have to spend many hours continuously standing and walking all day long, and into the evening, but...she had no choice, the day was too important to risk rejection by an employer who judged her negatively based on the shoes she wore...
And so the day began at 5:30 AM with a 6 block walk to the nearest bus stop from her apartment, and by the time she reached the stop, already she knew she was in trouble...Her feet hurt, and it could only get worse and worse and worse...But it was too late to change, too late to go back to her apartment...She had her first interview scheduled for 7 AM and could never arrive in time if she went back to change her shoes...
All day long Jennifer travelled throughout the big city, standing and walking from bus station to train station to job interview site, and back to the bus station and to another job interview, and back to the train station...MIles and miles she walked on this hot August day, each step more painful than the last...
She could feel her terrible dress pumps pressing and rubbing on her baby toes, her bunion joints, and worst of all, her heels...She KNEW they were being rubbed RAW, the skin stripped off, only a matter of time until deep blood blisters formed, and eventually broke...
Passing by pharmacies, she was SOOO tempted to go in and buy a box of band-aids, but stopped herself. She was on a tight budget, and today was the day to find a job, not to spend any of her precious money...
By 12:00 Noon Jennifer was openly hobbling, deep stabs of pain shooting through both feet, and so hungry and thirsty...Passing a McDonald's restaurant, she just could not resist taking a lunch break, as she had wisely planned out for herself in scheduling her full day of interviews...Finally seated, she gingerly eased her agonized feet out of their Torture Chambers, softly sobbing and moaning. resting them on top of her shoes...They throbbed even more terribly for a few moments, raw and exposed nerve endings suddenly exposed to the cool air...
Jennifer knew she was in deep trouble. How to survive for the rest of the day?? Looking at the container of napkins on the counter, a thought came to her, and finishing eating as fast as possible, she glanced around nervously before grabbing a large stack of napkins and with a deep hobble, making her way to the bathroom...
Once inside, she locked herself in the farthest stall, eased off her shoes again, took off her sheer stockings, then carefully tried to cover and wrap her baby toes and bunion joints. She paused to consider options for the worst problem of all, her already openly bleeding heels. Jennifer realized if she applied them underneath her stockings, it would be impossible for her to discreetly take them off just before arriving for each job interview. And of course she would look ridiculous and borderline insane to walk into a Human Resources office with clearly visible McDonald's napkins sticking out from the backs of her dress pumps! That was just NOT an option! And so she decided to put her stockings back on, hissing sharply in pain as the bloody fabric once again made direct contact with the broken blisters. Her only option now, was to carefully place the napkins over her heels, in-between her stockings and the backs of her pumps...
She knew this was not the solution, she knew they would not offer much protection, not nearly as real band-aids, but...they were free, and at least she could try to keep going, to continue her job search...
And so Jennifer continued her marathon trek through the city, and she knew she looked...ridiculous, with napkins clearly visible sticking out from the backs of both her dress pumps, but she had no choice...Just before entering the building for her interviews, she would stop and take the napkins off from her heels, even though it was almost impossible not to limp as suddenly the pump backs were digging directly into her huge, open and bleeding heel blisters, with no protection at all...
It was just before 5 PM when Michael saw her through the big window in his office. He saw her leaning against the building, beautiful and elegantly dressed, he saw her slowly and gently, with hands trembling, ease off first one pump then the other, and carefully pull off a...white thing from her heel...What was that?? He strained his eyes to see more clearly...It was...a napkin, and he could see faint red stains on the napkin, and then, looking back at her heel, he could see it was red, very red, blood red...
Michael's heart skipped a beat and he felt like leaving his office, rushing down to the street to try to catch her, to follow her, to somehow get to know her...But of course he could not do that, because he was the Director of Human Resources for the company, waiting for his 5 PM job interview candidate to arrive...
Still straining to see, to not lose this enchanting moment, Michael was shocked to see her disappear suddenly from view...It looked like...she had come into the building, HIS building! Could she possibly...work in this building?? No, he would know if she worked here, he knew ALL the employees...Maybe she just came in...to see if there was a restroom open to the public?? To try to sit down for a moment, rest and minister to her agonized feet?? The thought was too much, and Michael quickly rushed to the small bathroom in his office, climaxing uncontrollably... Thank God I have my own private office, and it has a bathroom, is all he could think...
Just a few moments later the intercom sprang to life, and Michael almost jumped in fright, "Sir, your 5 PM interview is here..." As usual, Michael opened the door of his office and went out to the lobby area...He liked to first meet job candidates out in the open, instead of having them come inside his office...It gave him more of a chance to see how they presented themselves, their posture and how they walked...
And...there SHE was, the new object of his fascination and devotion, the one he thought he would NEVER see again...And so he tried his best to maintain a neutral expression as they both approached each other, Michael walking confidently and briskly, Jennifer desperately trying not to hobble... "Good Afternoon Sir, I'm Jennifer, here to apply for the Adminstrative Aide position, it's so nice to meet you, thank you for taking the time to consider me..."
Michael reached to shake her outstretched hand, hoping his own hand was not trembling, determined to act professionally, "Thank you for coming, let's go over to my office and sit down, it'll just take a few minutes to go over your resume..." Jennifer looked to the office door, trying to gauge the distance...It was maybe...50 or 60 feet from where they stood in the lobby, but to Jennifer it looked a mile away...It's okay, just WALK NORMALLY, a few steps...you can do it, no limping, God, I hope he goes first, in front of me, so he doesn't see my face...." Those were her desperate internal thoughts as they stood there together, each waiting for the other to actually start moving...
And so, with a deep gulp, Jennifer started towards the door, trying so desperately to walk normally, as stabs of pain shot through her baby toes, bunion joints, and bleeding heels...She thought she pulled it off well, but of course Michael, as a long-time Gait Analyst and Female Foot Pain lover, could immediately see that each and every step was pure agony...
Upon reaching the office, Michael gestured to the open chair, "Please, sit down, may I offer you a glass of water, you look...a little tired..." And as Jennifer slowly sank down into the chair, she could not suppress a soft sob, immediately trying to conceal it with a quick intake of breath... "Thank you so much, how kind of you to offer...I'm fine Sir, just been out all day long, applying at other companies...I...just...really need to find a job as soon as possible..." And as Jennifer looked into Michael's eyes, he could see how honest and sincere she was...and also how desperate and tired and in PAIN she was, and he knew...barring multiple felony convictions on her record, she was HIRED...
But of course he carefully looked through her resume, asking many questions, delighting in the opportunity to get to know the brand new Treasure sitting in front of him...He could not wait to offer her the job, right here and right now, so unexpected, so different from all the other interviews where they promise to "call you and let you know..." To see her reaction of delight and immense relief...
But at the same time he could not resist the opportunity to try something he often did with Sweeties who applied for jobs, Sweeties whom he suspected of having sore, aching, injured feet...This situation was different, he knew Jennifer was in DEEP distress, barely able to walk, but still, he could not resist...
"Well Jennifer, everything looks really good on your resume, you have so much relevant experience and skills that match exactly what we need here...and your Instant Background check, I just got the printout so let me look...well, it is perfect, not even a single traffic ticket in your entire lifetime?? Very impressive! And the fact you are available to start immediately, that is just the icing on the cake, as we need someone right away..."
Jennifer could hardly believe her ears, this HR Director was literally gushing in his words to her...This was by far the most positive and enthusiastic reaction of the day, from all of her interviews...Could it be, was it possible, that she would...get hired??? Jennifer felt tears welling up in her eyes and willed herself not to cry, not to blow it, not to ruin this desperately needed CHANCE...
But then, as Michael continued, fear suddenly sprang up, gripping her:
"...So Jennifer, that said, I'm wondering if you want to take a little tour of the building?? As an Administrative Aide you're going to need to know your way around, you'll need to know where every office is, where all the storage rooms and utility closets are, where each department is located, and all that...It's a big building, and very confusing for a new person in the beginning...So...if you have a little time...would you like to walk around with me and check everything out, it should only take...maybe...30 minutes..."
Jennifer's mind reeled in shock...He was literally, but not quite, offering her the job, but then he was asking her to WALK AROUND with him, first, and right NOW! And of course...I HAVE to say YES! I have to say yes, this thought raced through Jennifer's mind. I have to! He expects me to say Yes! How can I say No?? How can I blow this incredible opportunity??? But...I can't say Yes. It's...impossible! There's no way I can walk for 30 minutes straight without limping terribly, and then she realized...I can't do it AT ALL right now, because I took my Mcdonald's napkin cushions OUT of my dress pumps just before coming into the building! My heels are literally BLEEDING, if I try to walk around with him for the next 30 minutes, my pumps will be FILLED with BLOOD!
Desperately, Jennifer racked her brain to try to find an excuse to say No...Then it dawned on her, just be...honest, at least part of the way: "Sir...I...would just love to tour the building with you right now...But...there's just one thing...I already have one more interview scheduled for today, and it's for 7 PM, and I'm not driving, I have to take the bus and then the train to get there, and...I just don't think I can make it in time if we do a...tour right now...It just...wouldn't be fair of me to cancel that appointment at the last minute, and I would NEVER just not show up for an appointment, that would be so disrespectful...
Please...Is there any way I can...come back, first thing tomorrow morning, as early as you want, to do the tour???"
And now it was Michael's turn to suppress a soft sob...How could he have even TRIED to be so...cruel?? A Heroine was sitting across from him, a beautiful, kind, sweet, honest, sincere woman, willing to suffer and to sacrifice, so thoughtful and considerate...And he was so LUCKY to have an opportunity to try to befriend her, to get to know her over the next few weeks, months, years, FOREVER, he hoped!
Blinking rapidly, Michael took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, to cover up his own welling tears, and said:
"Of course, Jennifer, we...don't have to do the tour right now...We can do it, we...WILL do it...tomorrow morning. But...just one thing, please, don't go to your 7 PM interview. Don't go, Jennifer. Just...call them right now, and apologize for cancelling at the last minute, and tell them the reason is...you...just got a...job! You just got hired, by me, to work here!"
And again Jennifer's mind reeled in shock! A JOB, she had just got HIRED, just when it looked so HOPELESS, just when it looked like she was BLOWING this great opportunity by declining to do the walking tour!
Taking a deep breath to try to collect herself, to try to regain her composure, knowing she HAD to respond in a coherant way, Jennifer began to stammer: "Thhhaaank you soooo much Sir, thank you f...or giving me this chance...I...won't let you down, I promise! I'll be here...tomorrow morning...any time...the earlier the better...just tell me what time..."
And then all of her emotions, fatigue, and the many hours of throbbing pain overwhelmed her, and Jennifer began to cry, soft but deep sobs...She just could not stop them, could not control herself...And even as she sobbed, panic once again gripped her. She was BLOWING IT, she must look CRAZY, to be sitting in the office of an HR director, a complete stranger, and openly crying just after being offered a job. He must think I'm crazy, he's going to retract the job offer right now, the thought flashed through her mind as panic gripped her and she closed her eyes tightly, mentally willing the tears to stop...
And then she felt something on her hand, something touching her hand...What could it be???
As she opened her eyes slowly, she saw Michael sitting on the carpet next to her chair, and...he was softly stroking her hand...and he was...crying too! Again, Jennifer's mind reeled, and, trying to calm her own tears, she blurted out the first thought in her mind: 'Why are YOU crying????"
And Michael found the internal courage to just be honest and truthful, responding almost immediately: "I'm crying because...you're crying..."
And now they looked at each other, right through their tears, and really SAW each other, for the first time, simultaneously, in a way that few people ever see other people, ever, in their entire lifetimes.
They saw the affection, the humanity, the kindness, the fear, the vulnerability, the flaws and the perfection, each within the other.
And because it was too much to immediately process, like the flick of a switch, Jennifer's tears turned to laughter, and so did Michael's...They just looked at each other and laughed, not at each other, but WITH each other, for long minutes...Both feeling as if a great weight had just been lifted from their shoulders...
Michael slowly got up from the floor and got a box of tissues, giving them to Jennifer for her to wipe her eyes, before decided he had to continue being courageous: "Jennifer...can I tell you something?? Just by sheer...luck...I was looking out the window of my office just as you came to the building, and...I...saw you...take off your shoes...I saw you...pull tissues out of the heel backs, and they looked red, and I saw your heels looked...bloody, and...you had your baby toes and bunion joints covered with...I think it was napkins...too...and...it just...broke my heart, and touched my heart...
"Can I, please, take off your shoes for you?? You must be in agony, please...let me gently take them off, and carry you to my car, and drive you to your apartment, and then...take care of your poor feet, bathe them and clean your open blisters, to make sure they do not become infected?? Please Jennifer..."
And of course Jennifer's mind reeled once again in surprise, but she already knew it was okay, she already knew Michael's heart. He had cried WITH her, cried FOR her, in a way no man, no human being in fact, had ever done.
She didn't understand everything completely, but she knew she was safe with Michael, no matter where they were, no matter where they went, together, anywhere, everywhere, always.
The End.