Brokenhearted in Bakersfield

 

61 - MY TIME TO SHINE

“The truth is,” Maggie said, “RobbinsYUZ had kind of a bad year this year.  So I don’t think we can get as much out of them as I would like to.  But you ought to be able to press them for at least a vice presidency somewhere.  I’d push for the Board of Directors, but the way things are, we’ll put that off for another year.  Okay?”

“’K.”

There was no movie on our flight, but the ride was worth the trip.  So was the landing.  We came in really low over a big lake, and just when I thought we was gonna start treading water the rubber met the road.  Being right up front in First Class, Maggie, me and Owen hurried to get off the plane first.

The airport was like the biggest Greyhound bus depot in the world.  There was people coming and going and running around and kids was crying and folks was dragging their suitcases behind them, and right there in the center of the commotion stood a man in a black suit, holding up a hand-written sign that said MAGGIE GATO in big black letters.  Maggie went over and introduced herself, and the man in black took us outside to where this big black limousine was waiting.

Maggie and Owen got in the limo like they owned the damn thing.  I sort of hung back taking in all the sights and excitement of everyone coming and going in cars and buses and cabs.  Even the hubbub of downtown Bakersfield wasn’t anything like this.

Maggie shouted, “Come on, get in.  We’ve got important business to transact.”

Owen reached out and yanked me inside.

I felt the sumptuous leathery upholstery and realized how much I could get used to going for a ride in a luxury limousine.  It was really spacious inside, and the ride was a long smooth glide.  This limo had more buttons than a starship.  Windows went up and down with the push of a button, music came on and off with the push of a button, and seats moved around with the push of a button.  I’d hardly got the chance to push half the buttons before we was rolling up in front of the biggest building I’d ever seen.

The man in black opened the limo door.  I craned my neck looking up in awe at this tall building.  Over brass and glass doors I read the big golden letters:

RobbinsYUZ Corporate Headquarters

Inside, a couple of dudes dressed up like rent-a-cops stood behind a tall marble counter.  Maggie told them we was here to meet with the big boys.  One of them got on the phone and began talking real hush-hush.  Seconds later this lady who looked like a teacher, acting all frigid and sober, showed up.

“I’m Betty,” she announced.  “If you’ll follow me, please.”

Betty held the door of an elevator while the rest of us got on.  We lifted off, and after the doors opened Betty escorted us through a dark and wood-lined hallway with lots of doors on either side.  Each door had its own individual brass plaque and crystal knob.  The carpet was so thick we practically bounced up and down as we walked.

At the end of the hall our lady escort opened two huge doors and a blinding light came flooding out.

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