Jeremy Saint had finished his morning jog around the neighbourhood but something was playing on his mind. Usually he would come home after a run and grab a glass of water or fruit juice but this time he headed straight for the bedroom and sat down in silence on the bed. His girlfriend, Barbara, knew the signs that all was not well with him.
She knocked on the bedroom door. "Are you OK, sweetie?" she said.
"Oh, yeah, you can come in if you like" came Jeremy's reply from inside.
She walked in to see him there, still in his running gear, sitting on the bed with a serious expression on his face. She could guess what it was.
"Worried about today's interview?" she asked, gently.
Jeremy let out a sigh. "Yeah, it's the third and final one and I haven't prepared for it...well, I can't prepare for it: Landgraab's haven't told me a single thing about it other than the time, the place and that I have to attend. I don't know what they're going to ask me or what I'm expected to do. They've seen my resume, they've seen my portfolio and they've interviewed me...what could this third interview be about?"
"Maybe that's the point? They don't tell you anything in advance so they can throw some questions at you to see how you react spontaneously? But I'm sure you can cope with chance and randomness...after all, that's how we met" she said, smiling warmly at him.
"You're saying I should stop getting wound up and go with the flow, eh?" he replied.
"Precisely. Now make sure you're not late. You go and have a shower and I'll lay out your suit on the bed for you."
An hour later both of them had headed off to work. For Barbara, she hit the ground running at Pack's Clothing, which was particularly busy today...
"What room do I go to from there?" asked Jeremy.
"You'll already BE in that room" she said, curtly.
Jeremy followed the directions down to the ground level and then on to a door right at the back of the building. This part was deserted, where no employee set foot by the looks of things and, if he didn't get his directions right, there was no one to ask for help.
He approached the door to room 9 and knocked on it. There was no answer. He tried knocking again and there was still no response from within. He slowly turned the door handle and found it was unlocked. Slowly opening the door he poked his head around it and found it was uninhabited. What was contained in the room were ducts, pipes, machinery and all kinds of industrial accoutrements: Could this possibly be the correct room or had he stumbled into the maintenance room by mistake? However, there was an elevator at the far end and he remembered that the officious secretary said to take it down one level...
The elevator doors opened and he stepped inside it, the brushed aluminium walls contained no mirror and only two buttons: Up and down. Jeremy pushed down and wondered what would be waiting for him there.
The doors opened and revealed a large, sparse dark room illuminated by a single bank of lights on the wall behind the elevator. There was almost nothing in this room except for an ultra modern chair atop a low dais and, facing it, a large projector screen flanked by two speakers.
A voice boomed from the speakers. "Please sit down, facing the screen. Once you are seated, the test will begin..."
Jeremy slowly made his way to the chair and sat down, not knowing what to expect.
Then the room went completely dark before light from the projector screen came on to provide some illumination. Strange, electronic music emanated from the speakers and a series of images appeared on the screen.
A deep, booming voice came from the speakers.
"THE LANDGRAAB CORPORATION...SINCE 1810 IT HAS GROWN FROM A SMALL, PROSPERIOUS TRADING COMPANY TO THE MASSIVE CONGLOMERATION IT IS TODAY. EVERYTHING YOU USE, EVERYTHING YOU WEAR, THE TOOLS YOU DEPEND ON EVEN WHERE YOU LIVE....MADE BY OR PROVIDED BY LANDGRAAB...."
Oh great...thought Jeremy...one of those motivational publicity films.
"FROM BIRTH, THROUGH LIFE AND UNTO DEATH: LANDGRAAB IS WITH YOU, EVERY SINGLE STEP OF THE WAY"
Jeremy sat there watching to the montage of all the "achievements" and aspects of the Landgraab Corporation whilst listening to the commentary but every so often an image accompanied by a word would flash before his eyes. Images that passed so quickly they were recognised unconsciously by him.
Jeremy remembered that time he met with Geoffrey and had a warm memory from it. That was the day Geoffrey had offered him a position at the corporation...yes, he was being friendly that time. Actually he was always friendly to Jeremy...
Wait...how did they get a photograph of them that day? The thought had evaporated when the next images appeared on the screen. But then an image of Nancy Landgraab came and went in a flash.
Wait, what? Jeremy thought. That's Mrs Landgraab...although his own mother had fair hair and green eyes like Nancy's. But then another warm thought came into his mind...Mrs Landgraab was a mother, a carer, someone who shoulders maternal responsibility. More images flashed by him in an instant.
Was that Edna Sneedley on a "League of Decency" protest?
I get it, he thought, bins are my enemy? Maybe the garbage collectors?
Action? My enemy? But....
Yes...Geoffrey is my friend.
Suzy...Suzy....is....my....
Action...Action...is....my...ENEMY!
THE VISITORS ARE OUR FRIENDS said the booming voice over the speakers.
"The....Visitors...." Jeremy replied, dazed and increasingly confused by the pulsating sound and flashed images.
THE VISITORS ARE OUR FRIENDS....LEARN THE WORDS, SAY THE WORDS
"The....Visitors....are our.....friends" he gasped.
SAY IT AGAIN
"The Visitors are....our friends"
LOUDER!
"THE VISITORS ARE OUR FRIENDS!"
WHO IS SUZY KENT?
"Suzy Kent is...my..."
SAY IT!
"Suzy Kent is....my....ENEMY!"
The music and film stopped. The lights came up again. Jeremy sat there in a trance. Slowly, he started to regain his senses.
Thank you, Mr Saint. The test is now complete. You may leave.
"Wait? Was that it? Surely it hasn't started yet! I just sat down in the chair and..."
You may leave.
"But what was the test? When will I know the result?"
You will be informed. Stand by for further instructions.
Meanwhile, back at Pack's Clothing, Barbara had her hands full selling clothes and redressing mannequins. The stock was flying off the shelves today. She didn't have time to notice a well known customer approach her.
"Are you the manager?" came a snooty, refined voice. Barbara turned around and saw Nancy Landgraab standing behind her.
"Yes I am, how may I help you?" Barbara replied.
"My name is Nancy Landgraab, maybe you've heard of me?"
"I have. Is there something in particular you desire from our range?"
"Yes, I have a very important social event to attend....very important, you understand, and I require the most 'with it' party dress you have."
"A with-it party dress you say? Let me think what we have in store...."
"I saw something in your shop window that is pleasing to my eye. The blue dress with the chiffon sleeves."
"Oh that? Yes, let's take a look and see if we have one in the correct size. Is this dress for a younger relative?"
"It is for ME!" came Nancy's cold, harsh reply.
"The only reason I ask is that is a very young, contemporary look, generally favoured by those in their late teens or early 20s..." replied Barbara, apologetically.
"I keep my body in the peak of condition, Miss. I am the same dress size now that I was when I was 20. Which wasn't that long ago...."
"Of course..." said Barbara, diplomatically.
She found the dress in two sizes and offered them both to Mrs Landgraab to try on. Nancy emerged, a few minutes later with the larger of the two sizes. "This one fits me the best. Hmmm, it shows off my legs to wonderful effect!" she said, pleased with herself.
Barbara had to admit that Nancy Landgraab still had the legs, and body, even at her age. Her face, however, seemed set in a permanent sneer and which betrayed her true age. However, that particular dress was one of the most expensive items sold in the shop and it was yet another satisfying ring of the cash register till at the end of the day.
When she had flipped the shop sign to "closed", she looked at all the empty spaces on the clothes racks and shelves and counted the takings. At that moment, Jeremy had arrived.
"Oh Jeremy! This has been the best day's business since we opened! $1,400 dollars in takings this day alone...even with ground rent and restocking that puts us in a clear profit!" she said.
"That's........great" he said, haltingly.
"What's the matter, sweetie?" she asked him.
"I've got a headache, that's all." he replied.
"Oh, sorry to hear that. Anyway, how did your interview go?"
"It....was....fine. Yes, fine" he said, distracted by trying to remember what had happened but failing to think of a single thing that happened from the moment he sat down in that strange chair to the moment he stood up and left.
"That's good" said Barbara, looking concerned because she could tell all was not well with him. But she didn't want to press him. "Listen, sweetie, I've got a little bit of stocktaking to do but how about we celebrate your work and mine by going out to dinner tonight?" she asked.
"I'd like that. I'd like that very much" he said with a thin smile.
The Villa Bovine was their destination and, after stopping by home to change into more appropriate outfits, they were soon savouring the menu and the wonders on it.
"I was thinking" said Barbara "Suzy and Neil's wedding is coming up soon and I haven't a suitable outfit for the occasion!"
"What you're wearing now would be fine. I'm not bothering to get anything new" Jeremy replied, flatly.
"Really? I mean, wouldn't you want something a bit more snazzy than your work suits?" she asked.
"They'll do fine. I'll probably won't be going anyway" he replied, curtly.
"Not going? But we're invited and Suzy's one of your oldest friends!" said Barbara, shocked.
"Friend? I hardly think so. She's nothing but trouble that one"
"Jeremy, I'm shocked to hear you say that! We're neighbours, friends..."
"We'll be moving out soon, what with my pay rise. Good riddance to Suzy...and Action for that matter"
"Jeremy, this is a complete turnaround for you! These are people we know and like"
"LOOK! CAN WE STOP TALKING ABOUT SUZY KENT AND JOHN ACTION! Just for one evening?" he said in a sudden outburst.
Barbara dropped the subject. Something had happened to Jeremy...what that was, she didn't know. He barely mentioned his job interview today except to say it went 'well'; whatever that meant. He was clearly upset by something but he was revealing nothing. She had to keep a close eye on him...was it a co-incidence that as he was having his final interview at the Landgraab Corporation, Nancy Landgraab had visited the boutique? Surely a woman as wealthy and as influential as her would shop at the finest couturiers or, instead, have all her clothes perfectly tailored by the top fashion houses? No, she was visiting Pack's Clothing for something other than a few blue wisps of nothing much. In a world of mysteries, Barbara added another one to the growing list.
