Only in movies...
Yep. Only in movies would something like this happen. Now that I said that, I hope you won't be let down by the lack of special effects and anticlimactic ending.
Roll camera and... action!
My first day on the floor. Our instructors have coached us a bit on the people we'll be working with. I had worked with CY in the simulator so I already knew what type of person he was. You'd think he'd contribute in making trainees feel welcome. You'd think. Considering the unit is way understaffed and it's not going to get any better in the next 5 years. They really do need all the certifications they can get. But no, not dear old CY. He mutters sarcastic comments all the time and when he really can't resist, pulls me aside to share some of his expert wisdom. Obviously, he doesn't like me much. That in itself is pretty unusual. I'm a likable person.
Fast forward to end of the day. I walk out to my car and under a wiper, there's a note saying "Please come see security guard." Christine is with me. We both look at one another and shrug. So we go see the guard. I show him the note and ask him what it's about. He says: "You parked into someone else's car and made a mark. CY's car. He's a supervisor in the North unit and wants to know who did this."
Quick close up on my face. Freeze frame. Appreciate the horror and shock that soon melts into despair. You can almost see my future 15 years pass in fast forward in my eyes. Beautifully nuanced. Academy award performance right there.
Off camera, mad laughter is heard. Christine is almost crying. The security guard looks totally baffled. I feel like I'm Woody Allen for some reason. There are hundreds of people that work in this building every day. Of all people. It just had to be the one person I should avoid pissing off at all costs.
The next day is really busy. Lots of traffic, not a lot of staff. Yvon and I are never on break at the same time. Finally, when the day is almost over, I have about 5 minutes to talk to him. "I'd like to talk to you about something, Yvon." I adopt a meek demeanor. He turns towards me and says: "It comes to about 800$."
That devious security guard wrote down my name when I swiped my card as I left the building and gave it to Yvon, before I had a chance to talk to him myself. That's low. But, more importantly, I am convinced to this day that the whole story is false or at least wildly exaggerated. I never felt anything, there's absolutely no mark on my car and he says I was lucky not to trigger the alarm. Barely leaning on a car triggers the alarm so how much damage could I have possibly done? The story ends with him magnanimously telling me not to worry about it, and that he'll live with the scratch. Yeah. Wonder how he lives with the scratch on his heart. A dent even? No, no. I won't be mean now. Christine says he's just a harmless teddy bear. Teddy bear, maybe, but not harmless for as long as I'm not qualified.
Credits:
Meek little intern: me
Evil supervisor: Yvon
Unhelpful best friend: Christine
Traitorous security guard: still don't know his name but I'll never forget his face.
Roll camera and... action!
My first day on the floor. Our instructors have coached us a bit on the people we'll be working with. I had worked with CY in the simulator so I already knew what type of person he was. You'd think he'd contribute in making trainees feel welcome. You'd think. Considering the unit is way understaffed and it's not going to get any better in the next 5 years. They really do need all the certifications they can get. But no, not dear old CY. He mutters sarcastic comments all the time and when he really can't resist, pulls me aside to share some of his expert wisdom. Obviously, he doesn't like me much. That in itself is pretty unusual. I'm a likable person.
Fast forward to end of the day. I walk out to my car and under a wiper, there's a note saying "Please come see security guard." Christine is with me. We both look at one another and shrug. So we go see the guard. I show him the note and ask him what it's about. He says: "You parked into someone else's car and made a mark. CY's car. He's a supervisor in the North unit and wants to know who did this."
Quick close up on my face. Freeze frame. Appreciate the horror and shock that soon melts into despair. You can almost see my future 15 years pass in fast forward in my eyes. Beautifully nuanced. Academy award performance right there.
Off camera, mad laughter is heard. Christine is almost crying. The security guard looks totally baffled. I feel like I'm Woody Allen for some reason. There are hundreds of people that work in this building every day. Of all people. It just had to be the one person I should avoid pissing off at all costs.
The next day is really busy. Lots of traffic, not a lot of staff. Yvon and I are never on break at the same time. Finally, when the day is almost over, I have about 5 minutes to talk to him. "I'd like to talk to you about something, Yvon." I adopt a meek demeanor. He turns towards me and says: "It comes to about 800$."
That devious security guard wrote down my name when I swiped my card as I left the building and gave it to Yvon, before I had a chance to talk to him myself. That's low. But, more importantly, I am convinced to this day that the whole story is false or at least wildly exaggerated. I never felt anything, there's absolutely no mark on my car and he says I was lucky not to trigger the alarm. Barely leaning on a car triggers the alarm so how much damage could I have possibly done? The story ends with him magnanimously telling me not to worry about it, and that he'll live with the scratch. Yeah. Wonder how he lives with the scratch on his heart. A dent even? No, no. I won't be mean now. Christine says he's just a harmless teddy bear. Teddy bear, maybe, but not harmless for as long as I'm not qualified.
Credits:
Meek little intern: me
Evil supervisor: Yvon
Unhelpful best friend: Christine
Traitorous security guard: still don't know his name but I'll never forget his face.
posted by Nathalie at 3:23 PM
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