"kids"

So, there I was, not dressed up but not looking like the nearly homeless and hopeless guy I am and feel like. My intention was simple; fill out the application, attach the CV,and be on my way. Little did I know these folks are actually interested in those that apply and therefore call the department and ask if they can submit you. What a surprise. Glad I shaved and had my tats in hiding.

So, off I go down the semi-spiralling stairs. Of course, I walked on the right which is the side with the wide section of stare and therefore, the most awkward to walk down. Already feeling a bit self-conscious for being underdressed, I felt even more out of sorts trying to navigate the steps smooth and confident. Just the right width to mess up my stride. Two inches taller or shorter and I would have been golden. It always comes down to two inches with me.

So, the guy I am sent to see is in his office but not the one who comes out to talk to me. I introduce my self and tell him why I am there. He has on a rather large blue-tooth looking device. While we talk he occasionally gets this look like he is not really listening. Then he reaches down to a pager-size pack on his belt, touches something, and the light goes off. So – he is hearing voices while I am trying to dazzle him. Great.

So, I am guessing this guy is about five to ten years younger than I am. Three times he made reference to the fact that they had just hired two ‘kids’. Twice he called the person leaving (whose job I was hoping to acquire with a little insider info) as ‘a really good kid’. Then there was the fact that they had scheduled ‘a kid’ to come in for an interview even before knowing the ‘really good kid’ was leaving.

So then, he paused briefly, looked me up and down and asked, “You know this job is outdoors right? Have you worked outside before?” It was on my way to the car that I allowed that really sink in. At the time I just wanted to reassure him that, although I was not anyone he would ever refer to as a ‘kid’, I was capable of doing the job. I am not even sure of that since I really have no idea what it is I am trying to get them to pay me to do. I just made sure he was convinced.

So, I’m just figuring, if it is something ‘kids’ can do, and be supervised by a kid themselves, it is something I can force my tired old ass to do too?

At least there as not one of those tediously long and frustrating true and false tests. I did one for Lowe’s today. It would not let me go any further than the test. That was very reassuring!

A V