Mirrors’s reflections #1 – Chapter IV: The girl who said no (for the record)

Previously

“Do not let your concern for me cause you to make wrong choices my daughter” he said, starting towards her.

“Your place - yes, is not in the farm,” he continued, and taking her hand, finished: “but whatever you do, whatever choices you make, remember this: dirt in the hands is better than dirt in the soul”

Sofia had just come in, when Tracy excused herself, “Just a minute,” she said, leaving to see out the two gentlemen she had been with in the office. Alone, Sofia’s eyes regarded her friend’s office.

They wandered from the executive desk behind which the swinging chair stood, through the carpeted floor to the wall décor and the LG screen on the corner desk, finally resting on the picture frame on the table before her, of Tracy.

Funny how life can be! She quietly mused. How could she who always topped their class, who helped out Tracy with her course work, and who had the better degree, still be unemployed?

Had she made the wrong choices? What could she have done differently? What was she willing to do differently?

She knew why she had missed out on the previous job listings, and now wondered if this would be any different. Was it time to start making some compromises?

What was she willing to trade? Things obviously couldn’t continue the way they were. She needed a job. Papa needed to do his medical procedure, else…

“Ahem,” she cleared her throat, deliberately breaking a line of thought that sent cold chills down her spine.

But there was just so much, so many what-ifs, her thoughts wandered far, and probed deep still, she didn’t notice when Tracy returned.

She was only jolted back by the squeak, as Tracy drew out the executive chair, to take her place behind the office desk. “Ahem, em”, she again cleared her throat; “You came back!”

“I have been here for an hour now!” Tracy smiled, obviously trying to bring her some cheer, “You were deep in thought, so I just let you be. Otherwise congratulations.”

“There is still a long way to go,” she said.

“But at least the first step is over.”

Sofia had just come from attending the initial interview. The screening was over, and she had qualified for tomorrow’s follow-up interview.

“True,” Sofia reluctantly conceded. It was only courteous that she showed some gratitude. It was Tracy who had recommended and got her this job interview. So much for friendship!

Tracy who was much upbeat continued, “Speaking of tomorrow, are you ready?”

The heck she was. Whatever that even meant. And then, did it even matter? It hadn’t before. Would it this time?

“Yea, I am.” She halfheartedly answered, obviously more out of courtesy rather than candor.

“It is going to be okay,” Tracy said, reassuringly. And knowingly, it seemed to Sofia, from the look on her face.

“Aha, I mean, why?”

“Did you notice the gentleman clad in a black suit?”

“Of the two you saw out?”

Sofia obviously had. It was hard to miss the stout bald head.

“Yes”

“He is the CEO and will be the lead panelist tomorrow. The other is the Business manager, and I have already told them about you. So we can say it is all covered for you.”

And that was it? Just like that? Sofia had the feeling there was a ‘but’ somewhere.

And she was right.

“But only if you will do them a few favors,” Tracy said, dropping the bombshell. “The business manager just wants some money, and you will be his pick.”

With forced calmness, Sofia was honest, “But Tracy you know I don’t have any money to offer. If anything, I need money for papa’s medical procedure.” She said, “You know about that."

“I know, that is why I struck for you a good compromise. You don’t have to worry about giving the money now. You only have to forfeit to him your first three months’ salaries.”

Sofia was thrown into a feat of indecision. She bit her lips, wiped her brow as though to buy time to think over.

“It is a fair compromise, Sofia,” Tracy pleaded. “You can’t get better than that. You only have to say yes.”

Sofia sighed, swallowed a lump of saliva. Tracy was right, it was a fair compromise.

And she reflected it on it, reflected on her past, on her choices, and then fast to the present, on her state, her family’s plight, papa’s condition…

“If not for any other reason, do it for your father’s sake, for his life’s sake,” Tracy argued. And she was probably right.

Time was running out for papa. She nearly said yes, if it wasn’t her lips somehow refused to part, and now papa's words the previous day returned. “Do not let your concern for me cause you to make wrong choices…”

Sofia made her choice and, sighing, threw it all to the wind, blurting the words out quickly before she could change her mind, “No!” she said, and emphasizing with growing conviction, shook her head, “That is still a bribe, Tracy. I won’t offer it.”

Tracy’s disappointment was obvious, “Sofia please! There is no other way.”

But of course Tracy knew better than expect Sofia to change her mind, she offered an alternative.

“Fine, we can go round the Business manager. But not the CEO. He has the final say.”

“It makes no difference, Tracy,” she coldly cut in, her frustration starting to get the better of her, “I have no money for bribes.”

"He doesn’t want money, or bribe, whatever you call it!” Tracy cut in, keeping her look on Sofia.

“So what?”

“He likes you, Sofia!”

Now Sofia would not take any more. Her frustration gave way. “They may keep the job. I will keep my body. You can tell them I said that.” She lashed out, shaking her head in frustration, and picking her hand bag, making to leave.

This time even Tracy lost her cool, “Fine, go back and dirty your hands in the farm!”

Sofia was surprisingly calm, “Dirt in the hands,” she started, “Is better than dirt in the Soul,” she now finished, starting up the chair to leave.

That was when the door opened behind her. The CEO, the business manager, the secretary who had early in the day welcomed her in, and several other corporate dressed men and women came in clapping.

Gesturing to the screen on the right, the CEO pressed the remote control: a record of their conversation! Sofia was speeches, confused.

After introducing everyone, the CEO finally addressed her, “For the record, everything Tracy asked was a test and we were all watching, following from the boardroom. The follow up interview, Sofia, is over. You are one in a million, and we are honored to hire you.”

The firm, the CEO finally revealed would right away advance her some money for her fathers’ medical procedure

Sofia’s eyes gave way, sobbing in Tracy’s embrace.

3. Chapter III: Choices ( fool)

2. Chapter II: And if a house be divided against itself...(ash)

I. Chapter I: Yellow Horizons