Praefectus Praetorio
R.I.P. Brother of the Quill
Samantha Byerly fastened her seat belt and relaxed as Delta flight 4556 from Montgomery to Atlanta backed away from the terminal. Though she regarded Darden as a hopelessly sentimental and doddering old do-gooder, she did appreciate that his G14 grade allowed them an upgrade to business class. After a long day of interviewing, it was nice to stretch out in the larger seats and indulge in a glass of Gabriëlskloof Rosebud 2018, a surprisingly flavorful Rosé from Bot River, South Africa, immediately after being seated.
Shortly after takeoff, the Flight Attendant appeared to refill her glass with the chilled blush. Already feeling relaxed from the first glass on an empty stomach, Byerly sipped at the second while reviewing, the dispute with her "team leader."
Samantha prided herself on the high standards she set. She had attended the most challenging schools and achieved top grades. Though that seemed to come naturally to her, Samantha expected others to do the same if they just applied themselves. Yes, she wasn't the center of laughs in the office and had a limited social life, but that was again due to her unwillingness to let down her standards and the resulting jealousy of others. She’d overheard the whispered nickname, Ms. Impatient. There was no good reason, she thought, to let low-achievers into her inner circle.
Thus, the argument with Darden followed the usual lines of their discussions. While the two had quickly agreed that most of the interviewees were unacceptable for the Department, Terry had not accepted her summary rejection of Ms. Thomson. In his slow, easy drawl, he suggested that she was a "diamond in the rough" and would be a mistake to overlook her qualities. Yeah, Samantha had thought, you didn't miss her boobs almost falling out of her blouse and her skirt riding up to just short of her crotch. Those are not proper “qualities” to consider!
As the discussion continued and Darden was unmoving in his support for the “young slut” as Samantha thought of her, the intensity increased, at least on Byerly’s side. Darden, as always, remained level, calm, and pleasant. Samantha dismissed Trixie's record as "grade inflation" at a "Fourth Rate Imitation of a Junior College." When she said that, Terry wondered how she would rate his alma mater, Grambling. But he was used to her snobbish attitude and instead kept probing to find any objections to the girl based on substance.
As Samantha became more irritated by Terry's quiet, steady arguments, she, in turn, became heated in her objections to the trashy young woman. Her strong protests were met, as usual by Terry's calm, undisturbed, smiling countenance. If only based on the other candidates, Samantha strongly believed that anyone from the "Institute" was incompetent for such important work as the Department did. Once, her frustration almost caused her to voice her suspicion that the old fool only favored Thomson due to her blatant display of leg and cleavage. Everyone in the office knew that Darden appreciated an attractive young woman (however, no one questioned his absolute fidelity to his wife of thirty-seven years). Samantha was sure that was the real reason he championed the TPT.
As she finished her second glass of wine, Byerly chuckled to herself at her use of that derogatory, sexist term, if only in her mind. Even so, it fit Trixie to a 't'. Having seen, if only briefly, Evergreen, Alabama, Samantha could well imagine the degraded filth of the girl’s home in Branchwater. When the attendant offered a refill, she hesitated a moment, then nodded yes. It was over her usual two-drink limit – but it had been a long day, she told herself. As the wine mellowed her, Samantha thought back less emotionally and more calmly on the argument. She had to concede that Thomson interviewed very well. Poised and outgoing, the girl could be very charming to some (like Terry) Byerly thought. And she maintained her cool under some of Samantha's most insulting grilling. As Terry had asserted, that trait was indeed valuable in a legal secretary. And her transcript and recommendations were all top-notch. Oh well, Samantha sighed to herself. It is done. Terry makes the final decisions until they put him out to a much overdue pasture. Still, it rankled her that the redheaded slut would get the job. Samantha thought back to the ginger she’d known in high school who was her nemesis. Quite a snot-pot as Byerly had called her and her ilk.
Samantha comforted herself with the thought that Ms. Thomson would be washed out quickly at FSI. That gave her an idea. That supervisor at FSI that she been paired with, in a training exercise last summer. What was his name? Watson! Yes, Tom Watson. In the morning, I'll call him to give a head's up on the kind of trash that will be arriving on his doorstep.
Beatrice had asked the Librarian to let off Trixie early to celebrate and was greeted by an immediate and very pleased yes. She led the girl to her car in the faculty/staff parking lot. Trixie tried to conceal her wonder at the almost new 2019 white Toyota Corolla S.E. Hatchback and slipped into the soft seat without having to climb a ladder to get in. Beatrice started the engine, slipped it into gear, and effortlessly pulled out of the lot and headed across town to the restaurant she had chosen.
Chosen perhaps incorrectly implies the degree of choice available. In Evergreen, there were several places to eat, but few of any quality. There was the usual Waffle House, Arbys, Shoney's, and Zaxby's. The was the Shrimp Basket for cheap seafood and The Shack for greasy, overcooked barbeque. The only place offering something vaguely like an upscale experience was the Black Angus Steakhouse just off I65, catering mostly to drive-bys on the Interstate.
Shortly after takeoff, the Flight Attendant appeared to refill her glass with the chilled blush. Already feeling relaxed from the first glass on an empty stomach, Byerly sipped at the second while reviewing, the dispute with her "team leader."
Samantha prided herself on the high standards she set. She had attended the most challenging schools and achieved top grades. Though that seemed to come naturally to her, Samantha expected others to do the same if they just applied themselves. Yes, she wasn't the center of laughs in the office and had a limited social life, but that was again due to her unwillingness to let down her standards and the resulting jealousy of others. She’d overheard the whispered nickname, Ms. Impatient. There was no good reason, she thought, to let low-achievers into her inner circle.
Thus, the argument with Darden followed the usual lines of their discussions. While the two had quickly agreed that most of the interviewees were unacceptable for the Department, Terry had not accepted her summary rejection of Ms. Thomson. In his slow, easy drawl, he suggested that she was a "diamond in the rough" and would be a mistake to overlook her qualities. Yeah, Samantha had thought, you didn't miss her boobs almost falling out of her blouse and her skirt riding up to just short of her crotch. Those are not proper “qualities” to consider!
As the discussion continued and Darden was unmoving in his support for the “young slut” as Samantha thought of her, the intensity increased, at least on Byerly’s side. Darden, as always, remained level, calm, and pleasant. Samantha dismissed Trixie's record as "grade inflation" at a "Fourth Rate Imitation of a Junior College." When she said that, Terry wondered how she would rate his alma mater, Grambling. But he was used to her snobbish attitude and instead kept probing to find any objections to the girl based on substance.
As Samantha became more irritated by Terry's quiet, steady arguments, she, in turn, became heated in her objections to the trashy young woman. Her strong protests were met, as usual by Terry's calm, undisturbed, smiling countenance. If only based on the other candidates, Samantha strongly believed that anyone from the "Institute" was incompetent for such important work as the Department did. Once, her frustration almost caused her to voice her suspicion that the old fool only favored Thomson due to her blatant display of leg and cleavage. Everyone in the office knew that Darden appreciated an attractive young woman (however, no one questioned his absolute fidelity to his wife of thirty-seven years). Samantha was sure that was the real reason he championed the TPT.
As she finished her second glass of wine, Byerly chuckled to herself at her use of that derogatory, sexist term, if only in her mind. Even so, it fit Trixie to a 't'. Having seen, if only briefly, Evergreen, Alabama, Samantha could well imagine the degraded filth of the girl’s home in Branchwater. When the attendant offered a refill, she hesitated a moment, then nodded yes. It was over her usual two-drink limit – but it had been a long day, she told herself. As the wine mellowed her, Samantha thought back less emotionally and more calmly on the argument. She had to concede that Thomson interviewed very well. Poised and outgoing, the girl could be very charming to some (like Terry) Byerly thought. And she maintained her cool under some of Samantha's most insulting grilling. As Terry had asserted, that trait was indeed valuable in a legal secretary. And her transcript and recommendations were all top-notch. Oh well, Samantha sighed to herself. It is done. Terry makes the final decisions until they put him out to a much overdue pasture. Still, it rankled her that the redheaded slut would get the job. Samantha thought back to the ginger she’d known in high school who was her nemesis. Quite a snot-pot as Byerly had called her and her ilk.
Samantha comforted herself with the thought that Ms. Thomson would be washed out quickly at FSI. That gave her an idea. That supervisor at FSI that she been paired with, in a training exercise last summer. What was his name? Watson! Yes, Tom Watson. In the morning, I'll call him to give a head's up on the kind of trash that will be arriving on his doorstep.
Beatrice had asked the Librarian to let off Trixie early to celebrate and was greeted by an immediate and very pleased yes. She led the girl to her car in the faculty/staff parking lot. Trixie tried to conceal her wonder at the almost new 2019 white Toyota Corolla S.E. Hatchback and slipped into the soft seat without having to climb a ladder to get in. Beatrice started the engine, slipped it into gear, and effortlessly pulled out of the lot and headed across town to the restaurant she had chosen.
Chosen perhaps incorrectly implies the degree of choice available. In Evergreen, there were several places to eat, but few of any quality. There was the usual Waffle House, Arbys, Shoney's, and Zaxby's. The was the Shrimp Basket for cheap seafood and The Shack for greasy, overcooked barbeque. The only place offering something vaguely like an upscale experience was the Black Angus Steakhouse just off I65, catering mostly to drive-bys on the Interstate.
