e-mails, which meant that their correspondence became easier, and more regular. They had never spoken or met, but that didn ’t matter. At least Virginia had someone to confide in.
Virginia told Susie of the latest development at work, then asked how the problem with Susie ’s boss had been sorted out. The message was long, and when she was satisfied that it contained no spelling errors she clicked on send. If she got a new job she would visit Susie in Toronto: she would love to go there, to see her only friend, and have a holiday. Yes, that was exactly what she would do. She would go on her first ever holiday. The excitement of planning for the future infected Virginia’s whole being.
At half past three on that Friday afternoon, her diligence and patience were rewarded by an e-mail from Helena saying that she was setting up an interview next week for her with the head of the Private Client sales department. She read it and re-read it, felt herself go pink and took a deep breath. Here in front of her was a real opportunity. An opportunity that might take Virginia to her dream job.
Virginia went through the directory and found out who worked in the Private Client department. She needed to make sure she had a full knowledge before the interview. It was on a different floor in the building, which made things easier. Then she found the Private Client site on the Internet and read all about SFH’s prestigious division. She was going to be prepared.
Just before half past five Helena e-mailed her more information about the position. There was an opening for a junior salesperson in the Private Client business. The division had its own floor, the second, due to the kudos attached to the SFH Private Client list. They were clients who carried a lot of money and influence. It was like a dream come true for Virginia. A real job, with real prospects. As she watched the others on her desk, she wished she could jump for joy.
She also wished she had someone with whom to share the news, but her parents would only ruin the moment, and she didn’t want to send another e-mail to Susie until she had heard back from her. The only thought that consoled her was that when she got her new job she would make friends. She would stop being surly, serious and insecure. If she got this job, and something told her she would, she would be friendly and she would learn how to be fun. She looked forward to that. She would be friends with her colleagues because she would be someone . She would no longer be a failure: she would be a salesperson.
After work Virginia went home and had her dinner. Then she got on to her scooter and went to the cinema to see a Hollywood blockbuster rather than an art-house film, which she usually chose. She sat on her own, eating popcorn and laughing at Julia Roberts interacting with a gorgeous actor on the big screen. She told herself that this was the beginning: she would become normal, and she would stop trying so hard to be someone she wasn ’t. The only flaw in her plan was that she still wasn’t sure what normal was. And she wasn’t sure how to find out. The other problem was that she didn’t have the first clue about who she really was.
***
When her alarm clock went off Clara woke up with a start. She looked at the time, which she couldn’t quite comprehend. Six a.m. She almost went back to sleep before she remembered about her new start. She crawled out of bed, jumped into the shower and washed quickly. She pulled on the suit she had put out the night before, and when the taxi-driver rang the doorbell at half past six she was ready.
She applied her makeup in the cab and was amazed at how short the journey was at this time of the morning when the roads were empty. She had to ask the driver to slow down a number of times. If this was the way things were going to be every morning, she might give up wearing mascara, she thought. She had just applied her lipstick when the cab arrived at her office.
As she
Virginia told Susie of the latest development at work, then asked how the problem with Susie ’s boss had been sorted out. The message was long, and when she was satisfied that it contained no spelling errors she clicked on send. If she got a new job she would visit Susie in Toronto: she would love to go there, to see her only friend, and have a holiday. Yes, that was exactly what she would do. She would go on her first ever holiday. The excitement of planning for the future infected Virginia’s whole being.
At half past three on that Friday afternoon, her diligence and patience were rewarded by an e-mail from Helena saying that she was setting up an interview next week for her with the head of the Private Client sales department. She read it and re-read it, felt herself go pink and took a deep breath. Here in front of her was a real opportunity. An opportunity that might take Virginia to her dream job.
Virginia went through the directory and found out who worked in the Private Client department. She needed to make sure she had a full knowledge before the interview. It was on a different floor in the building, which made things easier. Then she found the Private Client site on the Internet and read all about SFH’s prestigious division. She was going to be prepared.
Just before half past five Helena e-mailed her more information about the position. There was an opening for a junior salesperson in the Private Client business. The division had its own floor, the second, due to the kudos attached to the SFH Private Client list. They were clients who carried a lot of money and influence. It was like a dream come true for Virginia. A real job, with real prospects. As she watched the others on her desk, she wished she could jump for joy.
She also wished she had someone with whom to share the news, but her parents would only ruin the moment, and she didn’t want to send another e-mail to Susie until she had heard back from her. The only thought that consoled her was that when she got her new job she would make friends. She would stop being surly, serious and insecure. If she got this job, and something told her she would, she would be friendly and she would learn how to be fun. She looked forward to that. She would be friends with her colleagues because she would be someone . She would no longer be a failure: she would be a salesperson.
After work Virginia went home and had her dinner. Then she got on to her scooter and went to the cinema to see a Hollywood blockbuster rather than an art-house film, which she usually chose. She sat on her own, eating popcorn and laughing at Julia Roberts interacting with a gorgeous actor on the big screen. She told herself that this was the beginning: she would become normal, and she would stop trying so hard to be someone she wasn ’t. The only flaw in her plan was that she still wasn’t sure what normal was. And she wasn’t sure how to find out. The other problem was that she didn’t have the first clue about who she really was.
***
When her alarm clock went off Clara woke up with a start. She looked at the time, which she couldn’t quite comprehend. Six a.m. She almost went back to sleep before she remembered about her new start. She crawled out of bed, jumped into the shower and washed quickly. She pulled on the suit she had put out the night before, and when the taxi-driver rang the doorbell at half past six she was ready.
She applied her makeup in the cab and was amazed at how short the journey was at this time of the morning when the roads were empty. She had to ask the driver to slow down a number of times. If this was the way things were going to be every morning, she might give up wearing mascara, she thought. She had just applied her lipstick when the cab arrived at her office.
As she
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