Paper-Stacks on a Highrise

"BEEP BEEP BEEP!!!" I slam my alarm, almost crashing it to the ground. There is no snooze button on my alarm clock; and for good reason. My job is all too important...to me, my employers, and society as a whole. I can afford to waste no time. I hastily get ready and speed to work. My high-heels clank on the concrete walkway. "Thirty-eight...thirty-nine...forty..." I count the steps as my feet touch the rise of the concrete stairs, clanking. My shoes clank a total of fifty-two times, one clank for each step. I pause reflectively before I enter the tinted double-doors. I reflect the importance of my job. I must perform well today; I must. It is imperative that I do. My right arm extends to the metal handle of the right door. The tips of my fingers touch the cold metal, sending chills throughout my body. I firmly grip the handle now, just about to open the surprisingly heavy double glass-paned door. It is a heavy door indeed. I firmly plant my feet on the ground, preparing myself to open the giant. Just as I was about to swing the door open, a shady figure of a man appeared behind me. "Here, let me get that for you, ma'am," the hefty man offered in a bellowing voice. "Oh, sure. Thank you very much," my voice cracked, startled from his sudden appearance. I hastened into the building, kindly thanking the man for his good deed and scurried off. He seemed a bit odd to me. I have never seen his character around this region. No matter though. I am quite sure he has his own business to attend to. And, not to mention, I have my own business to attend to--very important business indeed. I practically ran through the building, trying to reach the elevator before the doors shut. Needless to say, I did end up making it to the elevator in time, only to find it packed with countless others that needed to be in their respective offices by 8 a.m. There was no other choice, in my mind. If I am to make it up to the ninety-ninth floor before 8, I must take the stairs. I stood, momentarily, staring up the flights of stairs I would soon be trekking up. I mustered up my remaining energy, and nearly bolted up the marble staircase. My high-heels again going "clank-clank-clank" all the way up. I exasperatingly halted at the fiftieth floor, pausing quickly to gasp for air. I then continued up the rest of the flights. I ran and ran and ran. Exhausted, I finally reached my destination at the ninety-ninth floor. I stopped, regained my composure, and with poise I continued to the Boss's office, the secretary cutting me short. "Excuse me, ma'am," she said in her high-pitched voice, feigning politeness. "Do you have an appointment with the Boss? Because he's not seeing anybody today without a scheduled appointment," the secretary explained. "No, I do not have an appointment; nor do I need one. I work for the Boss," I politely explained, trying to hide my irritation. "Oh?" she inquired, obviously not believing that I could work for the Boss. She's no more qualified than I am. "I am Agent X," I authoritatively stated. "Oh my. I'm very sorry, Agent X. Go in, go in. The Boss has been waiting for you. You should've said something. Go on ahead. I'm sorry." First of all, I shouldn't have to say something. But as soon I as declare who I am, people bow before me. I told you my job was important. At work, I am known only as Agent X. It wasn't always this way though. It was a few years ago when I started college. I was working my way through college. I needed a good paying job. Thus, I applied at the largest corporation in the city: the Business, as it's called. I was the errand runner; they called me "gopher". I had established myself as a trustworthy gopher so the Boss promoted me. This is when I became known as Agent X. I remember that day like it happened yesterday.
......
My alarm clock sounded; as I did everyday, I slammed my clock: but this time it actually fell to the ground. The rest of my day is usually dependent on how the first 5 seconds of the day goes. Within the first 5 seconds of this particular day, my alarm clock had fallen to the ground and broken into pieces, I jumped out of bed onto these tiny pieces and secured cuts on the bottom of my feet. I then proceeded to stumble over my dresser and chair, almost as if I were drunk. This day is not going to be good. I could only imagine how work would go. I would get there late and The Boss would be infuriated. The Boss and The Employees will send me, as the "gopher", to The Coffee shop. I will have to stand in line and order 500 drinks, which I will then have to wait for and then try to maneuver all of these drinks out of the store and into my compact car, suited only with 2 drink holders, which do a lousy job at actually holding the drinks in their place. I will then speed over to The Business and gather all the drinks, half of which have spilled from the drive over. I then, quickly and efficiently, will have to match the right drink with the right person before The Meeting can start. This is my job, yes; but I am not prepared for it today. Oh what a great day this will be. I realize now that I am still standing in the midst of my room, mid-day dream. I mustn't day dream. I have no time for this! I am already delayed. I fear that my day dream(or rather nightmare) is coming to fruition. I finish getting ready in no time at all; although my hair is especially "kinky" today. I know not why. To solve this dilemma, I pull my red hair back into a simple bun. I look composed and poised outwardly; but inside I was a wreck. Despite my prediction, I made it to work on time. I walked up the stairs to The Doors. I entered in, sure of my fate. I was doomed today; doomed to fail at my relatively easy job as "gopher". The elevator doors swung open and a mob of Employees entered the encasement. I heard whispers behind me in the elevator: there was talk of the firing of Agent W. Agent W worked closest to The Boss and was his most trusted Employee at The Business, even more so than his Secretary. I had a few run-ins with Agent W. He was a lanky fellow, awkward with his hands and feet, and adorned a well-trimmed mustache at all times. None of the other Employees were allowed to have mustaches, male or female alike. The Boss felt that possessing a mustache on one's face meant that he was in fact "hiding" something, covering something up, if you will. Figuratively speaking, of course. The Boss made an exception for Agent W though, regretfully so. There was talk for quite some time about Agent W's departure. A lot of rumors abounded. And I, as the gopher, got to here it from everybody. All of the employees told me their opinions about why Agent W was being let go and such. They would then proceed to tell me why they would be suitable for The Boss's next closest companion, who would be deemed 'Agent X', simply because it comes after 'w'. As soon as The Boss suspects someone of something, he fires them. The Boss has gone through so many agents. I believe that Agent W was one of the longest kept agent though. And no wonder, he was a sweet talker. And The Boss bought into it. Sad story really because the other employees all saw right through him(...could it have been his invisible wardrobe, perhaps? I think not.) The elevator took us all up to the 99th floor of The Building. The doors slid open and the mob exited and found their respective spots at The Meeting Table, all 500 employees, sans one. The Boss waited until we were all seated around the gigantic meeting table, crafted with the hardest oak. The Meeting Room was dead silent, almost piercing to the ears. "As you can see," began The Boss in his bellowing low voice, "one of my Employees is not in attendance at this meeting. And, surprising to all of you, is that one was my closest, most trusted companion in this Business." WAS...the Boss emphasized. "Agent W was a fine man; but he had one minor character flaw: he was dishonest. This lead to my firing of Agent W. As you know, I will pick one of you to become my next agent." The Boss paused, scanning everybody sitting anxiously around the table. "....One of you will become 'Agent X'." Gasps filled the once awkwardly silent room. Which one of us will become Agent X? Everybody began looking around the table, comparing themselves with all of the other employees, thinking that they themselves are more deserving of the spot. As is custom in situations as these, The Boss appoints one employee to interview each employee, seeking information about them and why they think they deserve the job. The Boss usually appoints his next closest companion in the Business. The Boss again scanned the room, now looking into the eyes of each person individually. Each employee's heart was pounding inside of his chest cavity. Each employee filled with nervousness. Each employee anticipating. The Boss took the pen from the inside pocket of his pin-striped suit coat. He walked to the precise middle of the table and removed the centerpiece: a mere pad of notebook paper. He laid the pen down and without hesitation, he spun it. Around and around the pen circled, pointing at each employee around the table. Everybody was quite surprised by the methods that The Boss was using; so unconventional. So...unlike the Boss to leave something as this up to chance. But I suppose he trusted all of us because we were all his employees. Around and around the pen spun; most employees were now at the edge of their seats, hoping it would stop at them. I figured that even if it did stop at me, the Boss would pick somebody else for the temporary job, because, after all, I am just the gopher. Around and around the pen continued to spin. It finally stopped......at me! This was really the first time during the whole meeting that I felt particularly nervous. I am not cut out for this job, I am a mere gopher! The Boss looked up at me and opened his mouth. He paused; probably thinking twice about having me do this job. "Looks like we have ourselves a winner! Gopher, please rise to your feet. Boy, am I sure glad that the pen stopped at you. I was hoping it would." I stood to my feet with a grimace on my face, the cuts on my feet still hurting from my encounter earlier that morning. "Congratulations, Gopher!" The Boss said with delight. The employees clapped. I awkwardly stood, slightly embarrassed by all of this. The Boss determined that the meeting was over and called me to stay back. "Gopher, please stay here. In fact, sit here. " I shuffled to the appointed spot. "You know," the Boss continued, "I would have spun that pen over and over again until it landed at you?" "Really?" I questioned him. "Oh yeah, definitely, " The Boss said as he sat back in his chair and placed his feet on the tabletop. "I have been watching you perform your duties, day in and day out, with the same cheery attitude as always. Even with such a minuscule job as being the gopher, you really take your job seriously. I feel that I can trust you....I can read your energies," the Boss finished, with a mischievous smile. Doubtful I thought. The Boss continued to explain my duties for this job and told me what he expected from me. I promised to perform as he wished. As I rose from my chair, I began to think about the job that the agents do. No one quite knows what they do; in fact, you don't know your job requirements until you have been deemed an agent. I wonder why it is regarded so highly. I want to be agent x. I can make a great Agent X, whatever Agent X is supposed to do. But, all hopes of being Agent X are squashed. I can never be Agent X; simply because of the fact that I am the one who is supposed to interview the employees for the position of Agent X. I cannot interview myself. I cannot be Agent X. But I was sure flattered that The Boss wanted me to do the interviewing. Maybe I could move up from here, if he does indeed trust me as much as he says.
....
I sat in the board room with my pen and notebook handy, ready to write down all of the employees' responses. The first employee walked into the room, quite hesitantly might I add. I went through the list of questions and took notes. The first employee seemed pretty confident and trustworthy; but I'm not quite sure that he would have been qualified for the job of Agent X. I was pleased with the information that the employee had provided me, so I sent him away. The second employee entered. Just as confident as the first. I followed the same procedure; this employee was really no different from the first. Away I sent him. The heavy oak doors opened again, and now entered the third employee. Again, I followed the same procedure. I sent her away, clearly seeing that she was not the one for the job. By the twentieth employee, I had grown bored of my temporary appointed responsibility. I was still quite pleased and flattered that the Boss had chosen me; but it was becoming monotonous. All of the employees who entered were the same: they were all very qualified for their current positions; but none had that extra "zip" that was really quite a requirement for the job of Agent X. I began to get very hopeless. At one point(I believe I was interviewing the 103rd employee) I almost scurried out to the Boss and told him that there was no hope for finding Agent X within our Business. But alas, I could not. The Boss was dependent upon me to do this one task; and if I couldn't accomplishment that task, what need would he have to keep me around, even as the Gopher? This was indeed the only thing that kept me from jumping out the window at some point in all these interviews. Some of the employees were especially boring and lacked all charisma and manners. Others were smooth as chocolate; but were clearly lying about who they were. I had just finished interviewing employee number 327--she used to be a librarian; but now, at the Business, she is the Bookkeeper. She does an excellent job. She even looks the part of a bookkeeper. She nose is up-turned, but not snobbish, which is a plus. She wears reading glasses at the tip of her nose; and has huge eyes. While she was talking, I couldn't help but liken her appearance to that of a bird. An interesting character, yes; but not Agent X. I grow weary. Before I called the next employee into the Office, I slumped down in my chair. I just needed a few minutes to gather myself and my perseverance. While in the midst of this, the door opened. It startled me so. I jumped back up; my posture now corrected. It was the Boss. He had since taken off his suit jacket and rolled up his oxford sleeves. No employee has ever seen him in such a relaxed state of being. I was flabbergasted by the sight of him. He walked all the way to the end of the conference table where I had taken residence. He sat down; his posture bad. "So..." he began, "I imagine you're growing a wee bit weary of this task now, eh?" I didn't want to admit to it; but I couldn't lie to the Boss. "Well, yes. There are a lot of employees, some of which like to talk a lot!" I finally spouted out. "Oh yes, I know. I once had to interview all of them too. I think you were one of the easiest to interview...honestly. Anyway, I thought that since you have been in here seemingly forever, that you should have a break. I was going to send the Gopher to fetch you some coffee; but, ironic thing, you're the gopher. So, I couldn't send you. I sent the secretary instead. She wasn't too happy about that," he chuckled. "But, she needed to come off her high-horse sometime, don't you think? You deal with her everyday.." I couldn't help but laugh. I think that simple reaction to his question gave him an answer. I hadn't never seen the Boss act like this before. He was not intimidating at all; but rather inviting. "So....how's the interviewing been going?" the Boss said after awhile, a slight smile still on his face. "The interviewing has been going alright, I suppose. All of the employees I've interviewed so far are very qualified for their current jobs; but none of them have that extra "zing" that being Agent X requires. But, I still have alot more employees to interview; I'm sure I'll find one by the end of the day. Do you mind my asking what Agent X will be doing? Just so that I can have more insight into what exactly you are looking for?" The Boss sat up and placed his elbows on the table: a sight never seen during a meeting. He seemed so relaxed. It was distracting to me, simply because it was an unseen sight. "Well, Gopher, I'm afraid that if I told you Agent X's job requirements, one of two things would have to happen: First, either you would have to become Agent X yourself; or secondly, I would have to kill you AFTER you find someone to be Agent X," the Boss said, chuckling aloud. "You wouldn't really kill me, would you? You need me around and you know it," I snapped back. "Ooo, sassy." The Boss had a sheepish grin on his face and I saw his slight embarrassment of that fact that he was attracted to me. "...no, I could never kill you," he added, with a newly straight face, getting serious. Just then, as if by divine intervention, the Secretary walked paged the Office. "Boss, I am back from my mission," she said sweetly. The Boss's face had changed: he had resumed his business-like mannerisms. He sat up; and gathered himself to muster up the reply "Thank you. Go ahead and bring the coffee in pronto," his bellowing, intimidating voice echoing throughout The Board Room. The Secretary pushed the heavy oak doors open with her back, each one of her hands holding the coffee cups containing the best coffee in the city. It was from The Coffeeshop.