ordinary me

"And though I don't deserve this gift of mercy and abounding grace, you blessed me with anyway."

Callie was anxious and she hated being anxious. She was sitting on her hands, making a conscious effort not to pace the room. Firstly, because pacing was completely counterproductive. Her logical mind knew that. But mainly she was refraining from pacing because she was in a waiting room, presumably being watched by the people she was trying to impress. Her logical mind also knew that pacing was not impressive. So she tried to sit quietly, to think of calming things like oceans and stars and other crap.

Finally, the receptionist approached Callie with a plastic smile glued on her face. Callie couldn't remember if her name was Becky or Bonnie and she couldn't read anything from her super-fake smile. Becky/Bonnie asked Callie to follow her, so she did. Down the long hallway to the conference where she's had her interview two weeks ago. But they passed the conference room this time and approached a large door at the end of the hallway. Callie knew exactly whose office this was, the only man that she had been hoping to see at her interview but was absent.

The anxiety heightened accompanied by a ridiculous amount of glee. She had been wishing for a day like this for so long, and very specifically this day for the last few weeks. Since she'd first applied to the opening in this office. Callie's life had been full of average accomplishments. A few scholarships out of high school, graduating with a decent GPA from a large state school, getting a job after college that had provided her with steady promotions. A degree of success had stayed with Callie most of her life. When the job opening had first come to her attention, she hadn't planned to apply for it. Her life was settled and comfortable. She had so much more than so many other people that it seemed selfish to want more. But working for the mayor had been a dream for so long. Something that wouldn't just be an accomplishment on paper but that had the possibility for real world good.

Callie walked into the office, glancing back briefly as Becky/Bonnie closed the door behind her. There she was, face-to-face with the mayor. Her mouth was dry and her hands were shaking slightly. It wasn't really about the man, it was the title. It was the office, how much she wanted the job, and all the opportunities that existed. The meeting was brief and mostly a daze to Callie. She remembered being offered the job and graciously accepting. She remembered being glad she hadn't completely jumped for joy. Or vomited from joy. She remembered shaking hands, taking a new employee packet from Becky. Bonnie. Whatever. Then she was in the elevator. And she knew they could see her but she no longer cared. She did a full out happy dance in the elevator, smiling so hard her face hurt.