The president has arrived

Linda brought me into a spacious hall divided into dozens and dozens of work stations built of light wall-like partitions (these were called “cubicles,” as I found out later). A loud working hum made up of bits of conversations, ringing phones, rustling papers, key strokes, steps, and many other unidentifiable clicking, clacking, rattling, and buzzing sounds, filled the entire area. There seemed to be a flurry of activity going on in each cubicle, but the partitions were too high for me to see anyone. My curiosity increased along with my heartbeat.

At last, Linda stopped, took out a small wireless microphone from her pocket and announced: “Attention, everybody! I am happy to deliver some great news – our new company president Ms. Liza Klim has arrived!” (She was talking about ME!!!) A second later dozens and dozens of curious faces appeared all over the room: some peeked over the cubicle walls; others leaned out of the cubicle entrances. All those people were … children! I just gave up on trying to understand what was happening and decided not to ask any questions. That day was really something! Not to be caught by a policeman in the middle of the busy downtown on a school day was unbelievable enough, so I just decided to accept any other surprises life prepared for me.

Truth or Dare?

The receptionist girl flung her arms and exclaimed (just imagine!): “Finally! Nice to meet you, Miss Klim! It’s such a pleasure to have you here!” She jumped off her chair, ran to me and gave me  a hearty handshake with both hands. I couldn't believe my eyes and ears but decided to stay calm and to see what would happen next. I was just afraid that my heart would jump out of my chest from excitement, fear and bewilderment I felt at the same time! The girl introduced herself as Linda, the company’s executive secretary. She also said she would be delighted to help me with anything I might need. I think I mumbled something in response and followed Linda through the glass door behind the reception counter. As we walked, Linda could not stop talking in great excitement:

“Since Mr. Glater, the former CEO, submitted his unexpected resignation letter, our entire business has been in shambles. The initial plan was that Mr. Glater would attend the BEC convention in Marseilles, followed by a few PTOs, but less than a week later he made the decision to retire. Of course, the company’s bylaws allow for early retirement but not on such short notice . . . especially considering all of the things that take place on the executive level! Besides, this is such a busy time of the year…” I simply couldn't comprehend that foreign language she was speaking. So many words I’ve never heard at school or from my mom. CEO, BEC, bylaws, PTOs. What the hell was the saying? Besides, I felt stupid because I didn't even remember the name of the company which I SUPPOSEDLY would run as president!!!

Back to work

I’m back! The trip was wonderful. People, please travel by train. Let’s convince the government that the rail network should be further expanded and improved. While on the road, I had plenty of quiet time to work, to read, to think as well as to enjoy beautiful views. The meeting in DC was also very productive with several promising projects and successful resolutions we agreed on.

Now, back to my story about how I ended up living this busy and exciting life of a business professional.

So, the girl of my age who was sitting at the reception counter looked at me very intently for a few seconds and then asked very politely, if she could help me. What was I supposed to say? That I was hiding from the police and I had no idea where exactly I was?! I felt very stupid and, naturally, just mumbled in hesitation: “Hi . . . Hello. I’m . . . hmm. I am…” Like an idiot, seriously. Then I did something I didn’t expect that I would ever do. I stepped forward to the counter and all of a sudden introduced myself in a calm and firm voice which I did not even recognize:

“Hello. I am Liza Klim, your new company PRESIDENT.”

Why on earth did I blab that out? I’m still unable to explain. I think it was some smart-mouthed fairy that pulled me by the tongue and made me say such a crazy thing! The receptionist’s eyes opened very wide. I stopped short and gasped expecting the girl to get mad or at least to laugh.

Now, you guys guess and tell me what she did….

The first employed human...

The elevator stopped on the fifteen floor (so, it was the button 15 I pushed downstairs when I didn’t look and didn’t care). I got off and saw several wide doors with companies’ signs on the left and on the right. Nothing particularly extraordinary and worthy of seeing. I did want to jump back into the elevator, but heard a man’s voice speaking on a walkie-talkie. It must have been the same stupid policeman who was probably reporting about me to the security people all over the building. I needed to hide behind one of the doors.  I pushed open the first door on the left. Out of the corner of my eye I caught the name on the door sign – three giant letters “A . . . F . . . M.” Something-Fun-Something . . .  whatever! Who cared?!

Inside, I saw a colorful display of international flags standing on high poles in a semi-circle around a large reception counter. There seemed to be no one behind the counter, but when I went closer, I saw a skinny, very serious-looking girl in glasses. An employee about my age! How bizarre…

O.K., my friends, this is what took place some time ago. Now, I have a different (and exciting!) life. I promise to continue the story in a few days but have to pack now. Tomorrow I’m off to Washington DC for a conference on global sustainability. By the way, I’m taking a train because I’ve been wondering why the country with a largest number of airlines has only one national train company?! Is there anything wrong with travelling by rail? I’ll find out!

I walk in...

As soon as I touched the door handle, I felt as if I had already been to this unknown place many times. I walked into a spacious lobby, unusually empty for the busy morning hour.
There was a huge digital clock on the wall, some plants in the large marble vases on both sides of the entrance, and three elevator doors with no people waiting. I did sense that it wouldn't be easy to get rid of that policeman. I suspected he would follow me into the building. So, I rushed to the middle elevator, smashed the call button, jumped into the opened door, and a few seconds later I zipped up.

This is what's now

This is what I am now. But I will continue my story about what happened prior to this video blurb:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOBhwtuZDjo

A step into the unknown

I began to walk down the street trying to look as busy as possible. As if I knew where I was going. I had no idea it would be so hard to pretend that I knew my destination. Was that police officer still following me? I didn't want to look back because I was afraid I would make him even more suspicious. Then I used my favorite maneuver. I stopped  and tapped my shoe on the ground as if something got into it. Then I bent down, took my shoe off and shook it a few times like there was a pebble in it or something. When I was bending down, I managed to check if the police officer was still there. He was! On my side of the street, talking on his radio. I put my shoe on and looked up at the building at which I happened to stop. It was tall and bright, one of those downtown glass and steel beauties. Well, this was it. It was my "destination." No way, I'm going to show that police officer that I didn't know where to go. I decisively walk up to the building and grabbed the heavy metal door handle.

Downtown alert

I got off the bus in the middle of downtown. Well, not exactly “got off” - I was carried off the bus by a large crowd of busy-looking people. Wow! Downtown was awesome! So loud and colorful. It must have been the most bustling place on earth: buses, cars, billboards, traffic lights and hundreds of people hurrying in different directions.  I think I was the only one who didn't drink coffee on the go (I’d better learn to drink coffee since I plan to become a busy professional; I think a coffee cup is almost a required thing for a business person to hold in the left hand (and iPhone in the right). I wanted to take just a little bit of time and to look around but I noticed a policeman who seemed to watch me from across the street. Darn it! I was sure he was looking for someone to detain and I was a perfect candidate: a lonely teen in the middle of a busy morning only meant for adults. I tried to think if a place to escape.

To the coffee house at the corner? No! I only had money left for the bus. The bookstore? It was too small to get lost among a few morning visitors. Get on another bus? No! Bank? No! There was another policeman by its entrance. Just to run down the street like mad? This was a stupid idea. In the meantime, the policeman began to cross the street looking straight at me….

First step (and lie:-( on my career path

I had to sneak out of the house before my mom got out of the shower. "The school bus is here!" I shouted on the top of my lungs, threw my backpack in the closet (I didn't think it would go well with my professional black and white outfit) and rushed outside. Miss Rush the bus driver waved at me. "Sorry, Miss Rush. We should have notified you earlier. My mom would give me a ride today. Actually...." (I've decided to lie elaborately)..."My mom's work scheduled changed and she would be driving me to school from now on."
"No problem!" The chubby Miss Rush turned out to be the easiest obstacle on my long career path. She pulled the lever and the school bus took off. Phew...
Now I needed to run to the bus stop as soon as possible before mom peeked out of the window to make sure I got picked up by the school bus.
I made it to the nearest city bus stop in three giant leaps, got on the bus, took the front seat and did my best to look calm, cool and professional. I pulled my hair in a tight pony tail. A few people had told me before that I looked older with my hair like that. This is what I needed - to look older and not to raise any suspicion among the people on the bus. I am NOT a kid who's skipping school. I have MY important business to go about. This is what I tried to tell everyone around with my cool looks and calm demeanor. My efforts seemed to work....

OMG!

Oh My God! I can't speak, I can't eat, I can't sleep! It's just huge and overwhelming!
Thank God, I can write, so I can share with everybody what happened to me on Monday (it's still hard to believe it happened to me!!!). I'd like to be as detailed as possible because I'd like to record every single moment of that day to remember it for good. So, there I was, awake in my bed at 7 a.m. Strangely enough I woke up by myself with no help from this mean cruel creature called an 'alarm clock.' I don't think it ever happened to me  to wake up before the alarm clock went off. I got dressed in the white blouse and the black skirt, which I was lucky to find in my closet and rushed to the kitchen. I practically inhaled my food because I was afraid mom would have her morning coffee, get a bit more alert and notice that I wasn't wearing my usual jeans and a t-shirt (the times when mom was so particular about my school outfit and made sure everything matched were long gone). Sorry, I have to stop here. Mom is coming and she has no idea what happened to me. Till soon!

Scared

I'm really scared. Now when I have my plan in the works, I can't get rid of this eerie feeling. What if something goes wrong, what if I fail, what if there is no job for me out there. Who am I? What can I do? What should I learn? I can't wait until I become a doctor or a lawyer. It will take me forever to become one. I must rely on one and the only recipe: skills + luck + magic!
Speaking a foreign language has always been a marketable skill. I'm good at learning languages (at least, according to my Spanish teacher Ms. Guerra.) But everyone knows some Spanish around here. It no longer impresses people. What language should I learn? There is a Russian food store a few blocks away from our house. That place is always full of people and they speak non-stop. So, Russian?