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Isaac
Isqueeze the stress ball in my pocket as I walk up the walkway to the front door of the Captain’s house.
The Captain doesn’t usually welcome firefighters into his personal home, so I dress up my best to show my respect to him and gratefulness for his time.
I hesitate slightly before ringing the doorbell but finally press the button.
The Captain answers the door quickly, wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt.
“Come in, boy. Come in!” He welcomes me.
“Thank you for seeing me, sir,” I express my gratitude right away.
“Thank you for the fine service over the years. Come with me into the living room. Can I get you a drink?” the Captain asks.
“Sweet tea? It’s hot out,” I tell him as if he didn’t already know.
“How about a beer?” he suggests.
“Sounds good to me,” I reply.
I follow him through the house, and I can’t help but notice pictures of Emma on the walls at various stages of her life, including when she had braces and a perm.
The Captain enters the living room, grabs two beers out of the mini-fridge, and sits down in a recliner. I sit in the other recliner that faces him.
“I take it you want to talk about the promotion,” he gets right to the point.
“I believe I make a good candidate. I just want to ask your opinion on the best ways to move forward throughout the interview process, as someone who did it successfully,” I explain.
“What questions do you have, son?” he asks me.
“Do you think my seniority will help me?” I ask.
I know some people applying don’t have the same length of experience as I do, and I hope this will give me an edge.
“Possibly, but you need to nail the interview. These guys hire based on the impression they get from someone,” he tells me.
“What do they look for in the interview?” I inquire.
“You want to give off leadership qualities while also demonstrating self-control and quick judgment,” the Captain answers immediately.
“Do you get those vibes from me?” I wonder.
“A leader wouldn’t ask that question,” he retorts with a smirk and a quick wink.
I nod and sit up a little straighter.
“What else do I need to do during the interview?” I ask.
“You need to nail both the physical test and written test. Looking at you, I don’t think the physical test will be too much trouble. However, I do recall you asking me the language they speak in Ireland once, so I recommend studying thoroughly for the written test,” the Captain hints.
“I’m fully aware that they speak Gaelic in Ireland now,” I declare proudly.
He shakes his head a bit with a laugh.
“Just study,” he advises.
“I will,” I promise.
