Circa: Somewhere In Time
It was just weeks before we'd hear "Pomp & Circumstance"; and our emotions & stress ran high - as our future laid before us.
And like every other High School Girl-Graduate in the Washington D.C./Metro Area, our eyes were on the Government! Or go off to College if we were looking to get our M.R.S. - which I always thought was so prosaic.
That's right; at least one member of every family works for the Government. It's decided at birth! It's even on the baby's wrist: "BOY-JONES-Department of Commerce"!
I always wanted to get married & have children. And, I did just that. And in that order! And, I want Points for that!
But while I was looking for Mr. Goodbreeder; I passed my time getting a Clerk-Typist paycheck & lived at home.
Oh, I wasn't just a 1 Trick Wonder; I also took Shorthand, Office Machines & knew how to make Coffee! Okay, that's the only fib - and I still don't know how!
But to make those goals happen; it all came down to passing my Typing Class Finals.
But there was a major incident that taught me both about "Murphy's Law" & "The Peter Principle" - that Murphy doesn't have any Principles!
Luckily for you; the pain remains fresh - so I could share this Tale with you!
As I recall; my heart pounded waiting for the 5-10 Minute Test; where Speed & Accuracy counted more than any other time if we were to get a jab - yeah, like this!
While 50 other Typists adjusted Chairs & Typing Books; others were getting the Typing Paper to behave; as we rolled it through the Cylinder & snapped it back into position. But most importantly; we had our hands poised on the Home Keys - like a Horse; awaiting the Bell to start the race.
Everything was riding on this One Test & at this juncture in our lives; nothing else seemed more important.
I can still hear that ominous Bell, the deafening cacophony of that room, and the unrelenting clacking of Keys.
With my head twisted to one side devouring the Text; my fingers danced from A to Z with the precision of a Prima Ballerina. But with questions that I posed to myself as I stroked the carriage; waiting for its return:
"How's my time"? "Am I behind or ahead"? "And, when do I breathe"?
The Bell finally rang to stop & I was spent. When I pulled out my last sheet of paper from the typewriter & took a look at my work - I was in shock!
The Typewriter Paper was Blank!
I was so stunned; I was "struck dumb" until I figured out that the Metal Knob that adjusts the Typing Ribbon from "Red" to "Black" to "White" - was on "WHITE"!
On the Bottom Far Right you can see...
I had not checked that before I started the Test!
"I'm finished! I'm done! I'm not getting that job"!
The bottom line is I did get the job! And during those 5 years there; I rose 2 more Grades & Positions.
But I won't say which Paper Pusher Agency I worked for; but it was on Constitution Avenue - between 2nd & 14th!
Either the Government was hard-up; or someone felt sorry for me & gave me an E for Effort - I'll never know.
I certainly didn't sleep with anyone; I know that! I saved that for my late-blooming Show Business ambitions! ha ha
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V.Corso
OS Weekend Fiction Club
Thoth
Blinddream
Procopius
Rob St. Amant
Salon.com
Comments
And how we actually managed to live - after them!
Awesome post!!