Heidi's Guide to Four Letter Words(6)

“Cheese and rice, Peggy, how will that fix anything?” Aunt Margie asks with a roll of her eyes that makes me struggle to contain my laughter.

“We’re going to need another Sunday school teacher, Margie. Pay attention! It’s not a paying job, but at least it will keep Heidi’s teaching skills sharp. I’ll just go over there right now and put the bug in his ear and get the ball rolling,” my mother states, starting to turn away from us.

Before I lose my nerve, my hand shoots out and I wrap it around her arm, stopping her from walking over to our pastor.

“You don’t have to talk to Pastor Bob or make anyone food, because I already have a job interview for tomorrow that I’m really excited about, and it’s not a teaching job, but it pays pretty well, and there’s no need to worry, because everything will be fine!” I gasp for air.

“Oh, Heidi, that’s wonderful news. See, Peggy? I told you she was a smart girl,” Aunt Margie smiles, wrapping her arm around my shoulders and giving me a tight squeeze.

“What job interview? Where is it? What will you be doing? Why didn’t you tell me about this? Is it safe? Who will you be working for? What do you mean it’s not a teaching job?” Mom asks rapid fire in a panic.

“It’s a newer company in Eden Prairie and they need an administrative assistant. I saw the ad in the paper, I sent them an email, and they called me right away for an interview,” I tell her, not wanting to give her too many more details in case she gets it in her head that she should go down there with a basket full of baked goods.

“Okay, but what do they do there? Can you work your way up to a teaching position?”

“Give it a rest, Peggy. Our girl has a job interview and she’s going to knock them dead, aren’t-cha, kiddo?” Aunt Margie encourages.

“I certainly hope so,” I reply as butterflies start flapping around in my stomach when I think about tomorrow.

The only thing I know about this company is that it’s called EdenMedia, and they do some sort of audio recordings there. It’s something new and exciting, and it’s not teaching, which scares me a little bit, but this is what I want. Something different. Something out of my comfort zone that will help me decide what I want to do with the rest of my life if I’m not going to be a teacher. And it’s a job my mother has no part in helping me get, which makes it all the more enticing.

“Call me when you’re on your way, and then call me as soon as the interview is over so I know you’re okay,” my mother demands. “And give me the address, and the name of the owner. I’ll drop off a pan of my lemon bars tomorrow afternoon.”





Chapter 3





“You’re hired.”

I blink rapidly and my mouth drops open in shock when Jessica, the hugely pregnant woman standing next to me behind the receptionist desk of EdenMedia, winces and rubs her hand over her belly.

Our interview has only lasted five minutes, where she quickly listed off all of the things they were looking for in an administrative assistant, and the only question she asked me was, “Do you think you can handle all that?”

“Oh, jeez, are you okay?”

She takes a few deep breaths as the pain leaves her face and she shoots me a huge smile. “You betcha! Just some Braxton Hicks contractions. I no longer have ankles; I wouldn’t be able to see them even if I did. My back hurts, I’m tired all the time, and my husband told me if I didn’t start my maternity leave now and get some rest before the baby comes, he’d hide my car keys and stop stocking the freezer with mint chocolate chip ice cream. And he’d do it, believe you me.”

I return her smile, not really knowing what to say to that, since I’ve never been pregnant and mint chocolate chip ice cream isn’t my favorite. Jessica leans down with a groan and grabs her purse from the bottom drawer of the desk, sliding the strap over her shoulder.

“So, like I said, you’re hired. You only really need organizational skills to do this job, and since you were a teacher, I’m sure you’ve got those in spades. You seem sweet, you’ve got a great smile, and you dress professionally. Everyone here is super nice, and they’ll help you out if you have any questions,” she explains, moving around the desk toward a long hallway.

She waves to me with her hand, indicating I should follow her, and I quickly scramble around the desk to catch up to her.

“I’ll just show you around really quick and introduce you to some people before I head out. You said over email you’re able to start immediately. You’ll be fine sticking around for the next couple hours, right?” she asks as we pass by a few dark, empty offices.

“Um, sure,” I tell her, not exactly sure I’m sure, but I don’t want to be rude and tell her I’d much rather start after I’ve gotten the lay of the land and actually know what I’m doing.

EdenMedia is located in an office park where it’s one long, single story building filled with a bunch of different businesses that all share the same parking lot. My mother and a bunch of her friends all go to the dentist that is located right next door, which should ease her fears about where I’m going to be working and whether or not it’s safe.

“Don’t worry; there’s not much going on today aside from one recording in progress. You’ll just need to answer phones and check on the narrator who’s here today. See if he needs anything to eat or drink, that sort of thing,” Jessica explains as we get to the end of the hallway and turn a corner, stopping right in front of a huge glass window.