My Mulligan

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

Mariah’s POV

“Mariah Palm?”

“Mariah Palm? You’re next.”, called the Human Resource personnel.

“Oh, that’s me. That’s me. Here, I am!” I hurriedly stood from my seat as I was awaken from my daydreaming.

There are other applicants waiting for their turn to be interviewed as well as others who left being interviewed already. I couldn’t help but feel insecure as others are so well-dressed, confident and seductive. They seem to be versed in getting the man, I mean, the job they come to be interviewed for.

I, on the other hand, am so nervous. My confidence dims a little seeing my competitors for this job so smartly attired while I dressed awkwardly in an old dress, a fresh graduate to boot and with a little experience working at the University’s library.

“Miss Palm, please follow me.”, said the HR personnel. She guided me to an office where a middle-aged man sat behind the desk. She knocked on the open door. The man looked up and waved his hand letting me inside.

“Please have a seat. I am Evan Fritz. Tell me about yourself.”, he said and smiled at me while scanning at a folder in his hand with my Curriculum Vitae in it, making me at ease.

I saw his nameplate on the table with his job designation as the HR Manager. He is a good looking man, with a fit physique.

“I am Mariah Palm, a fresh graduate of Business Administration in Marketing. Willing to be a sponge to absorb all knowledge with diligence and perseverance, Sir.”

I wanted to highlight my positive attitude towards work because I know that my work experience is quite negligible for the position I wanted to apply. With my less than stellar work experience and a long school gap before I graduated, I know that I’m unlikely to get this job. But, I’m willing to try and apply.

“That’s great! I like your energy, Mariah. Though, I see that you have a long school gap and less experience. Care to tell me why?”, asked Mr. Fritz. He stared at me with his kind eyes.

“I’m an orphan and lived growing up with my grandmother. She was diagnosed with lung cancer when I was in my junior year at the university. She was ill for a long while. I had to stop school. I took care of her while working in a grocer in our neighborhood. She died after three years battling with the disease. When she died, I came back to study and finished my degree while working also in the University’s library.”

Mr. Fritz looked at me with pity and kindness. He looked at my CV and tried to hide that he’s affected by my story. Though I know it’s petty to take advantage of his pity but I worked it good. I really wanted to be in this company so bad and Mr. Fritz seems to be a good man. He asked me many questions about life goals and dreams. He is nice to talk with and I did not notice myself unburden my problems and life’s quirks with him.

I left the interview and went home feeling light. I’m not confident that I’ll get the job because I know there are other applicants who are fit for the job as a Marketing Associate. But I feel good with myself. Being able to talk my problems away. Mr. Fritz is like a free psychologist for me. I don’t have any friends to call and share my day. With how busy my life was the past few years, the few friends I had before dwindled to nothing.

That night, with chores done, I’m lying in my bed reminiscing about a happy past. Before my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. When I was happy. When I had a boyfriend, who’d gone MIA just when grandmother started getting sick. I could not help feeling betrayed all over again.

“Oh well, it’s life!” I sighed and went to sleep.

The next day, I wake up to the ringing of my phone. I had to scramble in my bed to get my phone from the bedside table.

“Hello”, I mumbled sleepily to my phone.

“Miss Mariah Palm?”, asked the person on the other line.

“Speaking. Who’s this?”

“This is Maggie from Davidson Enterprises. Miss Palm, can you get here tomorrow at 9:00 in the morning for your final interview?”

“Oooohhh! . . . Oh, my god! . . . Yes, yes, of course! Thank you! Thank you so much!”

I jumped from my bed with joy. This is such a great start of my day.

Maggie told me some instructions for my final interview tomorrow before we hang up.

I excitedly breeze the day away in preparing for tomorrow. I have to make everything perfect. At last, for the longest time applying for different companies and rejected, I have one now. I’m so proud of myself.

For a new beginning!