A debt to be paid
by Angus Shoor Caan
Genre: Humour
Swearwords: None.
Description: You can't hold what's not in your hand.
Swearwords: None.
Description: You can't hold what's not in your hand.
I'm always positive, nothing ever seems to get in my way I'm so positive. The office suite I had to attend for the interview was on the forty-seventh floor of the tallest building in the shire and I had it well within my sights as I drove into town. Not exactly the penthouse but not too far off it. I was early, purposefully so in case I had trouble finding somewhere to park the car within walking distance. I had fifty minutes to kill so I pulled up a chair at the Nagasaki Sushi and Noodles eatery directly opposite the big front doors to eat squid and do some people watching.
They gave me a clip-on visitor badge at reception and pointed me in the direction of the elevators.
As the high fliers say, I aced it, almost instantly agreed upon by the three board members I faced for the interview; I had been told that's how things would land by the friend who put me in for the position in the first place, I was just what they were looking for. I managed to avoid the pitfalls when asked if I had any questions and didn't go anywhere near vacation time, an office with a window, an office with a decent view and bonus structures; happy to know I would be on a six figure salary. I had been so confident I even had my new car picked out.
Three firm handshakes and I was out of there just in time before my guts started rolling. It wasn't nerves, I don't often do nerves, if ever. It was the Sushi, the squid. It was obviously wrestling with my digestive system, and winning. I nipped into my friend's office, high fived, thanked her for the intro and arranged a night out.
I looked around for a rest room but came to the elevator first, remembering I saw one in the foyer on my way in. That would just have to do.
I had the elevator to myself until it reached the forty-first floor, by which time the squid had picked up the pace. In stepped perhaps the most beautiful example of womanhood it had ever been my pleasure to gaze upon, and that's no lie. Her dazzling smile and twinkling blue eyes had my pulse racing the second the doors opened. I was about to hit her with my best chat-up line as she pressed the same destination button I had selected when the squid secretly made its presence known, its essence in fact.
There was no getting round it as the elevator took what seemed an eternity to plummet groundward, and no way through it, either. Dense would best describe it, eye stinging, throat burning dense. I was never so glad to hear the ding signalling our arrival at ground level.
I had a compelling urge to say something by way of an apology, knowing full well I had blown my chance of asking her out on a date. I decided to keep it light. “That's one you owe me,” I told her before breaking into a run for the men's room. I wasn't sure was it a smile or a grimace she flashed at me but my money would be on the latter.
They gave me a clip-on visitor badge at reception and pointed me in the direction of the elevators.
As the high fliers say, I aced it, almost instantly agreed upon by the three board members I faced for the interview; I had been told that's how things would land by the friend who put me in for the position in the first place, I was just what they were looking for. I managed to avoid the pitfalls when asked if I had any questions and didn't go anywhere near vacation time, an office with a window, an office with a decent view and bonus structures; happy to know I would be on a six figure salary. I had been so confident I even had my new car picked out.
Three firm handshakes and I was out of there just in time before my guts started rolling. It wasn't nerves, I don't often do nerves, if ever. It was the Sushi, the squid. It was obviously wrestling with my digestive system, and winning. I nipped into my friend's office, high fived, thanked her for the intro and arranged a night out.
I looked around for a rest room but came to the elevator first, remembering I saw one in the foyer on my way in. That would just have to do.
I had the elevator to myself until it reached the forty-first floor, by which time the squid had picked up the pace. In stepped perhaps the most beautiful example of womanhood it had ever been my pleasure to gaze upon, and that's no lie. Her dazzling smile and twinkling blue eyes had my pulse racing the second the doors opened. I was about to hit her with my best chat-up line as she pressed the same destination button I had selected when the squid secretly made its presence known, its essence in fact.
There was no getting round it as the elevator took what seemed an eternity to plummet groundward, and no way through it, either. Dense would best describe it, eye stinging, throat burning dense. I was never so glad to hear the ding signalling our arrival at ground level.
I had a compelling urge to say something by way of an apology, knowing full well I had blown my chance of asking her out on a date. I decided to keep it light. “That's one you owe me,” I told her before breaking into a run for the men's room. I wasn't sure was it a smile or a grimace she flashed at me but my money would be on the latter.
About the Author
Angus Shoor Caan is in an ex-seaman and rail worker. Born and bred in Saltcoats, he returned to Scotland after many years in England and found the time to begin writing.
Angus is the author of thirteen novels, two short story collections and twelve collections of poems. All but four of his books are McStorytellers publications.
You can read his full profile on McVoices.
Angus is the author of thirteen novels, two short story collections and twelve collections of poems. All but four of his books are McStorytellers publications.
You can read his full profile on McVoices.