Rosetta cocks a brow. “You like the looks of him, don’t you?”
I almost choke on my own spit. “Uh…”
“Don’t worry about it,” she says. “I mean… look at the man. I get it. If I were ten years younger, I couldn’t work here. I couldn’t focus long enough to get anything done.”
I smile and nod, not knowing what else to add.
“But ever since I hit menopause, it’s like Arizona down there. I don’t quite look at men the same way I used to.”
I can’t help but laugh a little.
“Just don’t get any ideas about him.” She leans over her desk, her dark eyes serious. “He’s kind of stiff. I haven’t seen a single woman around. He might secretly be a monk.”
I smile, wanting to know more.
She presses a dainty finger under her chin, deep in thought. “Except for the ex-wife… she’s quite a character. I suppose he’s not gay if he was married…” her words trail off. “He could be asexual…” She shakes her head. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be talking like this. Forget this whole conversation.”
“What conversation?”
She laughs. “I like you. I’m sorry… it’s just that I work mostly alone here, save for Mr. Barely-Ever-Talks, and I love people, and sometimes I kind of go batty around here. And you… You have the kind of face that makes you… You know what I mean?”
I nod. “I get it,” I tell her, “because I’ve been going batty too, alone in my apartment with no one but a two-year old. His vocabulary is kind of limited.”
She laughs. “I think we probably both need a friend.”
I smile. “I think so too.”
I’ve so nailed this interview.
We proceed with the interview. She tells me all about the position, and the charity, which has yet to be named. I tell her about Ethan, and how I already have daycare, and it shouldn’t be a problem. I want her to know that I’d be fully dedicated to the job. I tell her that this is the perfect opportunity for me, and make sure she knows I’m very interested.
We leave with a hand shake and a hug, which is kind of atypical for a job interview. I don’t think I’ve ever hugged a potential employer before.
I leave with a smile on my face and a bounce in my step.
