Interview

   "Who is going to be next?" Artemus thinks. "Make sure the file is complete. The furniture is clean. All the organized files are here. All right..., onto my next client. He's at the door right...now."

    "You may now come in," he says.

    "Sorry. I know I'm late," a man says.

    "Don't worry. Please close the door."

    "Should've gotten early, kid?"

    "It's not your fault. Please have a seat. Shall we start the interview?"

    "Ah, I'm ready when you are."

    "Ok, just let me double-check your file?"

    "Yes. Oh…, kid, where are those two doors lead?"

    "Applicants will know after this."

    "Ah, yes. I see it's quite of a rule here."

    "Let me prepare to write notes."

    "Oh, I forgot. Do you have a piece of paper? It is because I have memory gaps nowadays. Thanks. I must remember this conversation."

    "But you need to breathe, Sir. You look tense, to be honest."

    "I'm fine, kid. Don't stress it. It's a job interview, after all."

    "Ok…, let us start. Can you introduce yourself?"

    "Ok, my name is Thomas Civilete Nightt. I'm 58 years old. I have three kids. I'll be a senior soon. But I still wisely spend my time. Even though my kids graduated, I still need to give them an example, & I'm just saving for retirement."

    "Ok, it checks most of your resume here. What's next? Um..., how did you find interest in the company?"

    "Um, yes…, Let me fix my posture for a sec... I found this guy running dropped a business card. I then "knew" this company's name & I had it in my pocket, I think. Huh? It's gone. I must've forgotten it at home. Um..., my earlier job is being a staff & accountancy manager at a factory called Cyann-Nithe Pharmaceuticals Co.

I attempted to leave because it has gotten onto its edge nowadays. So, I became interested in joining a new company early on. I thought about joining the company, but I didn’t immediately apply. I researched everything I can on the company. Examples of my research comprise your safety measures, of course. Your work ethic, just in case I cooperate effectively. And your achievements, of course, so that I will know your legitimacy."

    "Um…, thank you for your prudence in our company. We make sure that we have dignity in our work ethics to offer service to workers & civilians alike." 

    "Suddenly, I got out of the company. My contract ended, I learned many things, but I am glad I got out. I know you make tremendous things from your company. I like to partake & even contribute to your company."

    "So, do you have any other jobs besides the company?"

    "I first became a high school janitor from 1991 to 1995, then the new principal made me leave. Then, I saved money for a degree in accountancy. I went to this broke company called the Pisong Bayan Co after that."

    "Oh, that company really grew since the 2000s."

    "Thanks, Um..., then I quit when it grew because there was an emergency on finances & I can't make ends meet with the board on their "guaranteed" insurance. They haven't had that compromise at first."

    "I'm very sorry to hear that."

    "It's alright. It's been two decades ago. Then, I had a small business with my wife & it grew, with my children, into a restaurant named Heaven's Diner. It grew till everyone sabotaged us in the face, from the competition and even on my own staff.

Out of desperation for my son's hospital bills, I finally found a job in the pharmaceutical industry. I thanked them for my son's immediate hospital insurance. Then, I was promoted as a manager of staff and medicine management. It is a big building. Someone's gotta do the job."

    "I believe that you have a very bumpy career, but successful, nonetheless."

    "Thanks, gotta sustain the family."

    "Now, your resume. It says that your skills comprise diligence, leadership skills & you are a fast learner?"

    "Yes, I can do anything on the spot, but only realistic orders." 

    "So, to be specific, you can do, cooking, welding, cleaning many kinds of things, um … chess? Um…, accountancy, as you mentioned, sharp thinking, fluency in 2 languages, computer skills, marketing, great communication skills, and many others."

    "Um..., I do all mentioned, yet some are not needed, right?"

    "Maybe your boss is that observant when he wrote the file about you."

    "Well, give my thanks to him. Eh..."

    "I know from your resume that you can do anything at any given moment. But if circumstances, such as hospital emergencies, events, sudden deaths happen, what would you do?"

    "I will give a pardon to my boss, or to my closest higher-ranking manager, just in case. Whether it will be the kids' health or my wife's, any event, anything important so that my kids would still feel love despite my absence. I don't mind my own. The job is for them, right?"

    "You're absolutely right. You have accomplished that excellently."

    "Uh..., thank you. Oh..., May I ask you, kid?... What is your job besides being an interviewer?"

    "Oh, um..., I am a manager for... recruits, yes, recruits. I'm an almost full-time interviewer, but I still list every new recruit. It explains these drawers behind me... We'll continue, um..., since you have known us... very recently, what do you know exactly about us... & the job that you're going to take?"

    "I know that you innovate truly eco-friendly furniture & the company would promote new methods of disposing trash directly to governments across the world..., generally.

I'm applying once again for management or accountancy. Don't wanna waste my skills. I still have my command towards people, but not much to cause people to revolt. I still have my energy at my age."

    "Yes, yes, it is most understandable, Sir. We still need to push on change. Speaking of pushing on, do you actually push your workers to their absolute best?"

    "Yes, I want people to be at their best. Not limited to my employees & to my family proper. But, also to myself. I pushed myself to the point that all of my decision-making in life & in work becomes auto-pilot. I wasn't perfect, but I always improve for my community's betterment."

    "Huh, what am I seeing?" Thomas thinks. "A flash of light, I'm holding a diploma, then I'm holding a bouquet with my wife, now I'm carrying a baby, who looks like my son. Now, I'm grabbing a suitcase, grabbing a door handle, then a flash of light again."

    "AAHHhh."

    "Sir?"

    "AAAAAHhhhh. Wow, I think I have a massive headache."

    "Are you all right? Here is a glass of water." 

    "I thought my brain is going to explode for a second. I might get a screw loose. Perfect for my age."

    "Have you had a check-up ... before?"

    "Good thing I did not say anything. What will you say next then, Art? Do not tell him too early. Control yourself," he thinks. "I hope he understands later."

    "How are the kids?" he says.

    "Huh, pardon?" Thomas says.

    "Oh, I mean, do you provide your needs & education to your children?"

    "Oh, I didn't expect that question. Um..., yes, since my post-job hunting."

    "Never mind, um..., have you any had accomplishments on your previous work job?"

    "I had once solved a hurdle during the US economic breakdown. It had also affected my country. My daughter saw me at home, typing all day. One day, she approached me and when she observed something, she said, "Why don't you lower the prices in the meantime? The stocks & other services have risen already," I thought it was a great idea.

I suggested it to the board. They did it, & we almost avoided bankruptcy. Then, the company board kicked me out of MY RESTAURANT because of my carelessness, but I never regretted it. I knew it would be better to serve others than to hoard services. Other businesses & restaurants closed after CEOs are held guilty of graft and other felony cases. I'm not bragging about it. It's that the weights in me became lighter."

    "That's a…, genius solution & you considered the community. That's whom we are finding here. We got fewer recruits this year. Many did not pass the standards. Quite unfortunate for them. They should've listened."

    "Listened to what, sir?"

    "Listened to the cries of the people. It is on my left-side door placard, 'LISTEN TO THE CRIES OF THE PEOPLE!' That is our motto in this company."

   "May I ask …, I just noticed something. Are you capable of firing people, or does someone quit from here? I mean your record is impressive. Too impressive, in fact."

   "Yes, it's possible. Only the boss makes the call when it at its worst. The community nor the board can do anything. That worst-case scenario is the rarest to occur here. A long time ago, before me, he fired hundreds of workers. Hundreds. And he even fired his best man because he made standards of his own & built his own company.

Yet, he is more merciful nowadays, due to a certain ambassador that he appointed a long time later that incident. Now, there are more recruits since then. And we get to meet him, almost anytime we want."

    "Ok. ok. ..., you sure all fancy that guy. You reach him personally, for advice to work, right?"

    "Yes, yes. Certainly. We even celebrate the success anniversary of the current administration."

    "Huh. It's a convenient company here. Too convenient. I might work well with you if I had the chance. Can I ask something else, if you mind?"

    "Yes, you can, Thomas."

    "Um..., What will be the salary if I work here?"

    "The salary will be enough for you and your family."

...

    "What is this flashing light again?" Thomas thinks. "Flying debris, burnt glass, wood, linen? A car has blown away from some blast. A kid on a seatbelt is crying. Who is this guy with shards on him? Am I tripping? I think my head hurts. Ooww!!... OOWWw!!...."

    "AAAAAAHHHHHhhhhh!!!!!!!"

    "Sir, Sir, don't stand up too much, Sir. I think you should sit."

    "Thanks, kid. I just had something in mind."

    "This kid said nothing," Thomas thinks. "Try to calm down, Tom." 

    "Sorry for the intrusion, kid," he says.

    "Don't sweat it, sir."

...

    "And, that ends our interview. Thank you for your time. Please wait because the result of your interview will follow shortly."

    "Thanks, kid. Oh..., I forgot to ask you something."

    "Please, continue."

    "What's your name, by the way?"

…

    "It's…, Diafoy. Artemus O. Diafoy."

    "We both have weird names, huh?"

    "Couldn't agree more. How about some tea?"

    "Thanks, I appreciate the interview, kid. I'm sure you did great interviewing me."

    "Thank you, sir."

    "What's that rumbling noise?"

    "Something is coming out of the chute."

...

    "Huh, you still use newspapers."

"Here is it, Art," he thinks. "Don't say it yet. Just give it to him."

    "Um, sir … I think this is for you," he says.

    "What is it? Did something happen? Let me read it," Thomas says.

    "Cyann-Nithe Blast Kills Thousands

    Cyann-Nithe Pharmaceuticals Co. factory has caused an explosion that killed approximately 1346 people within a 10-mile radius of Parañaque City last Thursday, January 4, 2022, at 10 PM. It has caused infrastructure and economic damage because of evidence of the destruction of the factory & its surrounding buildings near the 5-mile radius, & its company stocks plummeted after the explosion.

    After investigating the site, the police investigators find evidence of a campfire (As evidence of intact burnt wood and severely damaged tents & clothes.) few meters near the factory sewers. The explosion seemed to have started by accident caused by a lit match (as evidence of phosphorus by forensics) near the medicine stockroom full of chemicals such as nitroglycerin, low radioactive solvents, and high amounts of hydrogen cyanide. There are reported leaks of such chemicals near the stockroom walls because of inadequate staff management & poor construction because of the low budget.

…

…

    Those who mourn the victims from outside the city are joined at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. They held flowers, pictures, letters, placards, and other memorials to this sudden tragedy.

    "Hey, I think someone is calling you."

    "Yes, thanks for noticing. Hello? Oh, good morning, Sir. Yes, I already gave him the item."

    "Names of those who lost during this tragedy (with proven family accounts):

Aaron U. Ackermann, 86

Afrida T. Accromia, 67

Isabella R. Agravas, 31

…

…

…

Kylinda U. Mussorgsky, 34

Somalia I. Muscroth, 45

Polinto P. Naambi, 45

Saarbi N. Nagario, 34

Umeras Y. Nefario, 24

Tempest G. Niberia, 28

Samuel T. Nigatine, unknown

Kenneth A. Nigeline, 42

Samantha D. Nigeline, 16

Grace R. Nightingale, 36

Thomas C. Nightt, 58

Celestino R. Nigormose, unknown

Julian Z. Nomando, 47

Stacia D. Normandy, unknown

Gulliver G. Nulibie, 36

Turman Y. Oregano, 38

Ytterby E. Ottomen, 45

Lumiere U. Oustine, unknown

Justinian J. Ovatio, 47

Tracy D. Parlinda, 83

Garfield I. Patsermon, 19"

    "God, this many died? I know I work with some of them, and it is in my workplace and my city — wait a minute," Thomas thinks.

    "Yes…mhmm…mhmm…yes," Artemus replies on the phone. "I'll finish the job."

    "Let me look at the list again," he thinks.

"Kenneth A. Nigeline, 4

Samantha D. Nigeline, 16

Grace R. Nightingale, 36

Thomas C. Nightt, 58

Celestino R. Nigormose, unknown

Julian Z. Nomando, 47

Stacia D. Normandy, unknown"

    "Hey, kid. What does this mean?"

    "Um..., Sir, please, you may stand up now. You are accepted for the job."

"Huh?... Oh..., Ok. Thank you very much, kid."

…

    "Let me guide you through the door. I'll open it for you."

...

    "Huh?... Why is it so bright?... Don't tell me."

...

    "You're going to heaven, sir."

...

    "Huh? .... Heaven? Am I really on that list?"

...

    "It all makes sense now..., The corpse I saw, it's me. The shattered glass, it's on me. The sirens. The noise. The cries. They're everywhere. The list is accurate."

…

...

...

    "Then… THEN… WHERE IS MY FAMILY, KID?"

...

…

…

    "Your family is in good hands."