Read Online Between Land and Sea by Joanne Guidoccio - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Joanne Guidoccio
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voice reverberated throughout the office. “That’s it. I’ve had enough. You’re going to the hospital today. And I’m going to ask Dr. Androch to move up the surgery. You can’t go on like this and neither can I. Janice, get someone else to take her place here. She won’t be coming back for a while.”
“I wonder who’ll take her place,” Lois said.
Before anyone could comment, Janice re-entered her office. She spoke briskly, “We have a few clients waiting in the reception area. Let’s get back to business and try to have a normal day.”
The women hurried back to their work areas. Barbara breathed a sigh of relief as she sat down and organized her day’s work. She tucked the manuscript into her tote bag, determined to work on it after lunch.
Later that morning Janice buzzed and asked her to return to her office. Barbara tried to control her excitement as she entered.
Janice motioned toward one of the chairs. “I just finished talking with Raymond, Carolyn’s husband. He was able to get hold of her gynecologist and schedule an emergency surgery for Thursday of this week. Those doctors can certainly move very quickly when they want to.” She straightened a few papers on her desk and adopted a more businesslike tone. “Now, regarding her position. Can you start tomorrow?”
“Yes, I can clean out my desk and get everything organized for Leslie this afternoon.”
“Good. I’ll ask Lois to organize Carolyn’s personal items in a box. We can keep her things in the storage area until she returns.” She sighed. “I must warn you that Carolyn has not kept up with all her clients, and some of her paperwork is not up-to-date. So you may be facing a bit of a backlog at first. But I am certain you will get up to speed very quickly.”
Chapter 11
The afternoon sped by quickly with no time for editing. Barbara reconsidered her self-imposed timeline. It didn’t matter if the book was delayed by a day or two. She was excited about starting her new position at work.
Lois and the other counselors congratulated her. Katrina suggested that Barbara help her facilitate a dinner seminar on Thursday. Barbara looked forward to using her storytelling abilities but needed to practice using the PowerPoint technology.
Barbara hurried home and had a quick meal of soup and a sandwich. She would phone Graham in an hour or so. But first things first. She went into her bedroom, picked up the tablet, and pressed the green button. A smiling Lisa738 appeared before her.
“Greetings, Barbara. You look so happy. All must be well.”
“It’s great. I just got a promotion at work. I’ll be working as a career counselor for the next few months. I will be required to facilitate workshops, deliver presentations—”
Lisa738 interrupted, “You need another Specialist Skills button.”
“Can’t you just give me an ordinary button?”
“You already have twelve of those,” Lisa738 said. “You could manage the presentations on your own with the knowledge you already possess.”
“Managing is not enough. I want to deliver spectacular talks, speeches, presentations.” Barbara thought ahead to the readings and media appearances that would accompany the launch of her novel.
“You have other ambitions beyond this position.”
“Yes I do.” Barbara said nothing else. She was not prepared to tell the Numbers Mermaid about the book. Not yet. Not until it was out there in the world.
Lisa738 adopted a brisk tone. “I must prepare you for this Specialist Skills button. You will be able to scan documents and then regurgitate their contents, word for word. You will never experience stage fright or fumble for words.”
“What about the technology? Will I be able to use it effectively?”
“You already have that basic skill, Barbara,” Lisa738 said. “Now, do you still want this Specialist Skills button or not?” The pleasant smile was gone and the Numbers mermaid was all business.
Barbara nodded. She picked up the
“I wonder who’ll take her place,” Lois said.
Before anyone could comment, Janice re-entered her office. She spoke briskly, “We have a few clients waiting in the reception area. Let’s get back to business and try to have a normal day.”
The women hurried back to their work areas. Barbara breathed a sigh of relief as she sat down and organized her day’s work. She tucked the manuscript into her tote bag, determined to work on it after lunch.
Later that morning Janice buzzed and asked her to return to her office. Barbara tried to control her excitement as she entered.
Janice motioned toward one of the chairs. “I just finished talking with Raymond, Carolyn’s husband. He was able to get hold of her gynecologist and schedule an emergency surgery for Thursday of this week. Those doctors can certainly move very quickly when they want to.” She straightened a few papers on her desk and adopted a more businesslike tone. “Now, regarding her position. Can you start tomorrow?”
“Yes, I can clean out my desk and get everything organized for Leslie this afternoon.”
“Good. I’ll ask Lois to organize Carolyn’s personal items in a box. We can keep her things in the storage area until she returns.” She sighed. “I must warn you that Carolyn has not kept up with all her clients, and some of her paperwork is not up-to-date. So you may be facing a bit of a backlog at first. But I am certain you will get up to speed very quickly.”
Chapter 11
The afternoon sped by quickly with no time for editing. Barbara reconsidered her self-imposed timeline. It didn’t matter if the book was delayed by a day or two. She was excited about starting her new position at work.
Lois and the other counselors congratulated her. Katrina suggested that Barbara help her facilitate a dinner seminar on Thursday. Barbara looked forward to using her storytelling abilities but needed to practice using the PowerPoint technology.
Barbara hurried home and had a quick meal of soup and a sandwich. She would phone Graham in an hour or so. But first things first. She went into her bedroom, picked up the tablet, and pressed the green button. A smiling Lisa738 appeared before her.
“Greetings, Barbara. You look so happy. All must be well.”
“It’s great. I just got a promotion at work. I’ll be working as a career counselor for the next few months. I will be required to facilitate workshops, deliver presentations—”
Lisa738 interrupted, “You need another Specialist Skills button.”
“Can’t you just give me an ordinary button?”
“You already have twelve of those,” Lisa738 said. “You could manage the presentations on your own with the knowledge you already possess.”
“Managing is not enough. I want to deliver spectacular talks, speeches, presentations.” Barbara thought ahead to the readings and media appearances that would accompany the launch of her novel.
“You have other ambitions beyond this position.”
“Yes I do.” Barbara said nothing else. She was not prepared to tell the Numbers Mermaid about the book. Not yet. Not until it was out there in the world.
Lisa738 adopted a brisk tone. “I must prepare you for this Specialist Skills button. You will be able to scan documents and then regurgitate their contents, word for word. You will never experience stage fright or fumble for words.”
“What about the technology? Will I be able to use it effectively?”
“You already have that basic skill, Barbara,” Lisa738 said. “Now, do you still want this Specialist Skills button or not?” The pleasant smile was gone and the Numbers mermaid was all business.
Barbara nodded. She picked up the
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