Paper-Stacks on a Highrise 3

At this, I wasn't quite sure what to think...or do. I didn't want to let the Boss down. I had promised to find a qualifying Employee to be the Agent, but the more time I spent with the Boss, I wanted to become the Agent. Each Employee that came into the Board Room was so hopeful, even the usually melancholy ones. Why can't I possess the same great hope just because I can never be Agent X? But early on, I told myself not to hope because I knew that I would just be let down for I could never--EVER--be an agent; I was good only as a Gopher. Indeed I was the best Gopher the Business had ever seen. I did my job quickly and efficiently, with a good attitude. I had always had a good work ethic; mostly because I had always been so organized, even as a young child. As I thought about myself and my qualities, my thoughts shifted back to the task at hand. I must find someone, somewhat like myself, to fill the position of Agent X. The Boss had liked my ability to stack papers; maybe I could find someone who could stack papers as well as I. And I thought I knew the Employee who would be just as organized. I paged the Secretary. "Secretary?" "Yes, Interviewer," she said with much spite and bitterness. "Could you send in the 'Organizer'?" I inquired. "But you still have a few others to interview that are waiting here in The Waiting Room. Can't you just interview them first?" she snapped back. "No. I want to speak with the Organizer. I need to speak with the Organizer," I explained. "Fine then. It will take a few minutes though. I still have to call and then she'll have to come then I will have to send her in and---" "Well then! Get on it!" I interrupted her. She has a tendency to babble on about nothing. She was wasting my time. She was wasting the Boss's time; and I couldn't let her do that. Whilst I sat waiting for the Organizer to come, I jotted down some notes concerning the type of person the Boss would need. They were mostly character traits. I then compared that list the notes I had of the Employees I had already interviewed. No one possessed all of the qualities. I wonder if anybody did. I wonder if the Boss even did. I was repulsed that I had thought that. How could I think bad of the Boss this way? He had enough character to build this Business; I'm sure he still has enough of that character to maintain it. I'm glad I got that straightened out. But I still was surprised that that thought just popped into my head. I had never thought ill of the Boss in any way before; and now I found myself to be almost mad at him. I mean, after all, why would he pick the least qualified person to interview the others? At this I was convinced that he just wanted me to be the Interviewer so that I could never be the Agent. This angered me. I felt hot in the face. But I must regain my composure; the Organizer will be here soon. I sat. I twiddled my thumbs. I strummed my fingers. I grew impatient. I grabbed the intercom, which was inches away from me, and slapped it down upon the table. With an angry and clearly annoyed voice, I said, "When will she be here, Secretary? I have been waiting forever!" "Interviewer, I told you it would take a few minutes. I paged her and she said she was coming as fast as she could. You could interview one of the others while you wait," she suggested politely. "I don't want to do that, I told you. Page her again. She's not coming fast enough!" I commanded. I threw the intercom back in its place. I wallowed in my anger for a few moments. Then I realized how incredibly child-like I was being. I became embarrassed at my behavior. I wish that I hadn't snapped at the Secretary. I wish that I hadn't been angry. I was ashamed. I felt as though I had let the Boss down, without his knowing it. I must straighten my act up...and soon. The doors opened and in walked the Board Room. I smiled. "Sorry it took so long getting here. I'm really sorry," she said, fluttered and nervous. "I would have gotten here sooner but The Maintenance was cleaning the elevator so I had to run up the stairs from the first floor. I'm really sorry." I became red in the face from my embarrassment. I supposed she got the message that I was pretty angry. I must somehow change her impression of me and soon. "Well, it's really okay. I just didn't want to waste the Boss's time, if you know what I mean," I said all cheery-like. "Oh, yes. I know what you mean." I shuffled my papers around, searching for a blank one. "So, I assume that you know I'm interviewing each Employee for the position of Agent X?" I asked, still searching. "Oh, yes. I am aware," she replied humbly. "Ok, so I'm not going to ask you any questions, as I did with the other Employees. I have a mere test for you. Once you finish, you can leave. I will take notes throughout the test, and will documents the results for the Boss to see and evaluate. Sound good enough?" "Oh, yes. That's entirely fine." Her voice cracked from her sudden nervousness. I suppose she wasn't one for tests. I proceeded to throw my papers on the floor beside us. We both looked down at the papers. "Oh!" she piped, surprised at my actions, probably more confused at what her test would be. I explained. "Each pack of papers is stamped either "Suitable", "Unsuitable", or it's not even stamped at all, simply because I haven't interviewed them yet. I want you to stack these papers in three piles as best as you can." I paused, bending over to rustled the pages more. "You may begin." I was secretly timing her. You may think that I was just concerned with how the stacks looked; but I was also looking for a few other things. First, I wanted to know how seriously she would take this job. Basically, I longed to see her attitude about whatever job she was given. So far, so good. Secondly, I wanted to see if she could be trusted. I intentionally told her what the papers were. She would be able to see the names of the Employees who were suitable and not suitable. With that information, she could tell the respective Employees how their standings. If she had integrity, she would not look at the names. She would only look for the stamp. I observed her closely. Not once did she ever glance at the names. She was fast and efficient at stacking likewise. Although she seemed a bit timid, I think she would be most definitely suitable to be Agent X. This made me both joyous and sad. "I am done." She stood to her feet and placed the stacks neatly on the Meeting Table. "Thank you. You may go. Thank you for your time...oh, and for coming quickly." I grinned. She smiled back and proceeded to walk out towards the Doors. She paused, her right hand already grasping the handle. She spoke quietly: "Is this what Agent X will be doing? Because, if it is, I don't want to do it." She walked out. "WHAT?!?!?!?" I thought to myself. Her statement surprised me so. I examined the stacks of papers. Not only were each of the papers in their respective stacks, but they were also alphabetized! The neatest stacks of papers I had ever seen lie before me. I looked at my stop watch: three minutes. Only three minutes. She had done such an excellent job and passed my test, probably more like surpassed my test. And then she had to say that as she exited! What she said ruined it for her; it really did. For the next few following moments, I pretended that I didn't hear her say those words "I don't want to do it". I took my notes and praised her abilities. I wrote down the character traits she possessed. I compared it to the list I had written earlier. She had every single character trait I had listed. She has to become Agent X! It's her fate. It's who she is destined to become. But she said she wouldn't want to stack papers. I didn't even know what Agent X was going to be doing; but she couldn't have that attitude. I was scrutinizing her and judging her just based on her last statement. Then I realized what courage it took to say something like that. I realized how honest that statement was. I admired her for saying something. Maybe she just wasn't ready to become Agent X. I look at her evaluation sheet. I had not included her last statement. To be fair to the Boss, to be fair to her, I wrote my thoughts about what she said. I called for the Boss. "I just interviewed the most suitable Employee in my eyes. You have to come take a look at my notes about her," I informed him. "Okay. I'll be right in." In no time at all, the Boss was sitting next to me. "Here is my evaluation of her. I'm quite impressed with her. He started to read through it; but before he got to the bottom of the page, I interrupted him. "But, Boss, I would like some more time with her if you don't mind. I just thought she would find her interesting." "Oh, yeah, no problem. Take all the time you need. This is interesting. I'll continue looking this over in my Office. Thanks so much!" He smiled big and boyishly scurried out of the Board Room. "Umm..Secretary," I paged over the intercom, "could you send the Organizer in one more time. There's actually a few more things I need to discuss with her. And I'm sorry about snapping at you." "Oh, no problem. I understand the pressures of the job can get to you sometimes. I'll send her right in." How could the Secretary be so understanding? I didn't doubt the sincerity of what she had just said. Why all the sudden was she being nice to me, when she had been so rude to me earlier? I wondered at this. I suppose I still felt bad for snapping at her. The doors opened and the humble figure of the Organizer appeared. "Yes?" she said nervously. "Come, take a seat and relax. I have a few questions I actually wanted to ask you before I sent your evaluation to the Boss."