Real pity.  Against my better judgement, I showed up to this breakfast meeting. The working girl in me knew that someone like me would not continue with this particular news company for long. The working girl in me suspected that this was understood and that the morning’s meeting was just one of those power plays necessary to those who must grasp at any (last) vestiges of “power”.  I knew I would hear how he/they would have loved to have me on the team- that that was exactly what was needed- a team. (Not some stubborn freelance girl with some stink of freedom on her.)

The plain old girl in me was also questioning the appropriateness of a breakfast meeting when there was so obviously nothing to say. But, before I knew it- that other side of me took over again.  And, I couldn’t wait to hear what this editor/writer/manager/CEO and et cetera thought was left to be said.

In fact, the evening before, just after his phone call and before I slipped back into my celebratory day off, I tried to imagine the entire scene that would take place the next morning.

Action!  The leaning forward to confidently tell me that my value to the company was immense. The pausing for a moment to take a call or answer an email or text message right away to prove just how busy and sought after one of us was as a man in charge of a news company that was going places.

Then, there might even be the earnest look to say that the purpose of the meeting was to convince me to change my mind about things. Then, here comes the sigh when my mouth says “we’ll see” but my eyes burn with “not in a million years”.  Another moment for a pause….maybe use this moment to hail someone at an adjacent table. Maybe, even hold a lengthy conversation with them- while I’m sitting there.

Then, some talk about how keen one is to build a strong team and the plans to take the company beyond Antigua. Insert here some evidence of how capable one is of doing this- drop the names of media workers in other islands who could help achieve this. Then, for no apparent reason, talk poorly about another employee at the current news company. That’s always worked to win the trust of others. Now bring the curtains down with a sorrowful shake of the head and the assurance that this is not goodbye, but, a team has to be built, you see…. (Can't have a wayward employee who doesn't fit the mould.)

So, I showed up to this meeting. And the thing in me that wants me to be open minded pushed all cynicism out of my mind. The other side of me warned the working girl and the plain old girl to be quiet and listen.  And the working girl, the plain old girl and the other side of me- all three of us- we got quiet to listen- really listen. And then…

There was the leaning forward to confidently tell me that my value to the company was immense and that he was on my side trying to get us through this.  Then, there was the moment for a pause to be engrossed in his BlackBerry....

The working girl and the plain old girl sighed inwardly in disbelief. The other side of me got giddy and nearly fainted from sheer amusement….

Coming Next Tuesday: #36 It's A Pity....