11 Days

THE INTERVIEW

Six and I were sitting in Sam's office in complete silence. In my hands I still had the yellow envelope which contained Six's information, all his personal data. Previous address, telephone, other contact methods, copies of identification ... The typical things that one gave when one was going to be interviewed or were about to fill a vacancy. If he had brought all his paperwork, it meant that he felt very confident about getting the position. The right thing to do was to take the sheaf of papers out of the envelope and leaf through them while we talked, however I was in a predicament. The fact of not knowing who Six was actually added to the illusion of the mystery as he could be anyone. I didn't want to know who he was before, I just wanted to know him today and now. So I ignored the envelope as much as I could and managed to open my mouth and force words out of it. “Alright, why do you want to be a volunteer here?” I said leaning my back against the chair and snapping my hands together in front of me upon the desk, giving the full impression I wasn’t about to go easy on him. He surprised me with a smirk. Oh, this guy was smug alright. But then I remember he wouldn’t be able to voice it out and felt like an i***t. Biting the insides of my cheek I reached blindingly into one of the drawers for a piece of paper and then handed it to him. “Sorry.” I muttered and assumed back my previous position as if nothing had happened. I was trying to keep my cool with him.

Six winked at me and took a pencil from the mug Sam used to keep trinkets. I was distracted by the golden glints of his hair under the office lights. He is quite attractive... Aviana control yourself! I reminded myself. He put the pencil back in the cup and raised an eyebrow. Slowly, he turned the paper in my direction so I could get a better look.

I came here to be able to reinvent myself. I come from a place where people are very frivolous and don't care where the coins in their pockets come from as long as they keep coming. Make no mistake, just because I can't speak doesn't mean I don't like being taken seriously. I consider myself a serious person and I do not tolerate disrespect; eventually I always make sure that people who don't understand the concept of humility learn it from me-

I gasped, snapping my eyes back up at me. His face was stone cold, completely different from the guy who chased me down the street. Not the same guy at all. He tapped at the paper. Read. He meant, and so I did.

I decided to follow your advice that day because it seemed like a good idea. When I got here, I realized that I was in the right place. I want to help and watch over those who have no voice. And the truth is that I have always liked dogs.

He had left me speechless then. I contemplated the words written then with the most beautiful handwriting I had ever seen. Clean edges, no orthographic mistakes anywhere -or none that I could actually spot- his pulse was steady, and his resolve made of iron. My demeanor changed as well, matching his own. “You meant to teach me a lesson by giving me that money after all, huh?” It was more than obvious. He smiled but the smile didn’t quite reach his stone-cold eyes. “And you wanting to volunteer here has nothing to do with you wanting to teach me any other lessons?” I had to make sure. Who the hell was this guy? He shook his head, reached back for the pencil and underlined the words reinvent and the last two sentences. “I’m afraid I can’t let you work here.”

The expression on his face was priceless; I could tell he wasn’t expecting to receive a negative today. If anything, he seemed offended. And then something in my head made a click. Six hoped that with a donation his place in the shelter would be assured. So, he is used to using money to get away with it. “I like what you said, I do. But I’m afraid I’m not the one who decides whether you stay, or you leave.” He smirked, thinking he had the upper hand for having dealt with Sam before. “Sam isn’t your knight in a shining armor, big guy.” Oh, now he seemed really puzzled. “It’s all about the dogs” I could read his lips just fine as he mouthed What with a baffled expression masking his features. “If they don’t like you then you can’t stay.” I explained feeling more comfortable as the ice melted behind his eyes. “The first part of the interview helps me to know a little about yourself and understand what you’re all about. The second part is about the kids getting to know you and you getting to know them and see how they interact around you.” He was nodding at my every word now. “You have to understand that these guys have gone through a lot and I just can’t have them being mistreated by some stranger.”

Six grabbed the paper and pencil and jotted as fast as he could. I would never do anything to hurt them!!! I’d cut my hand before I hurt them on purpose. “That’s very sweet… and disturbing at the same time.” I cringed at the last part he’d written. “Well, since you’re so passionate about it, you will handle the dogs today. I will introduce you to the kids and then explain you how things work around here, then you will see that the tasks of today are done.” He nodded seemingly sure of himself. “Let’s see how you do it and if they like you and Sam approves, you can stay.”