What company is it?
I don’t want to work at a desk.
Tell them I love working in the office.
Don’t mispronounce anyone’s name.
Or anything.
Shake their hand sort-of firmly,
Don’t touch your hair while talking.
Where am I going?
Pretend I will trade my life for this.
Don’t look desperate.
Can hoop earrings be professional?
Are slacks too prudish?
My nylons are too orange.
What if the interviewer is cold?
What if they make moves on me?
Wear pants.
I put on a pencil skirt,
Knee-high for sanity.
Can someone without a degree get this?
I hope they can.
Am I even qualified?
Do I shower now or right before?
Will my hair be frizzy?
He might notice: hippie or slut? Pick one!
Resist the urge to stalk him online—again.
I couldn’t find anything about him.
This is a set up.
Is it a mistake?
What time?
Does it really matter if he is attractive or not?
I’m going in blind.
Where have my morals gone?
I bet he’s a momma’s boy.
Weak spined.
Why is he still single?
Why am I single?
Oh.
That’s it.
I bet he’s in a cult.
I’m not going—
make this work, he’ll be here in five.
Just breathe.
Sell yourself.
I reach for a new path.
I fidget under the table.
Fears rage against weak hopes.
My showy personality is read in moments.
The decision already made.
An interview to still do.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
What are your strengths?
Weaknesses?
Tell me about your experience.
Do I sound like I am bragging?
Is my collar even?
Am I smiling enough?
Is my lipstick still here?
What kind of worker are you?
Are you a team player?
What asset will you bring to our company?
I sit with a stranger.
I cross my legs.
In the first minute, judgements are made.
Feelings sparked,
Or squashed as attractions waver,
Questioning,
What are your plans next week?
Do you like dogs?
Cats?
Tell me about your life.
If I talk about travel too much, will he see me as a flight risk?
Is my shirt too low cut?
Am I talking too much?
Oh god, is something in my teeth?
What’s your favorite movie?
What are your pet-peeves?
Are you looking for…something?
Danni Lynn
Danni Lynn is a freelance fiction writer with a bachelor of arts degree in creative writing. Her poetry reviews can be found in the Hiram College Poetry Review Journal.
IG: @writingdaydreams2reality
Header image by Daniel McCullough.
