My NaNoWriMo Day 12
Aubrie loved it when the strange men with goofy hair and odd, brightly colored clothes came on. She couldn’t understand what she was saying, but then again, she had trouble following what anyone was saying. The show was unlike anything she had ever seen. They lived in such a strange world! Beyond anything she could have imagined. It didn’t matter that the picture was fuzzy or would randomly cut out and become covered in snow. The music, the pictures, the sounds, they were all so… Alien.
Chapter 8
Carolyn took a nervous gulp as her train pulled into the Brandlington Station. Her heart pounded in nervous anticipation of her first day. She would finally find out exactly why they had hired her. Here she was, arriving in a new city with just a single suitcase, no home, and no idea what her new job even involved. She just couldn’t be happier! Upon arriving she made a beeline to the Octagon where the Defense and Exploration department was located. There hadn’t been time to secure a hotel. Even if she had, there wasn’t time to check in. Her train was delayed in Terraceberg and now there was barely enough time to make it in time for the initial briefing, and she refused to be late for that.
Hastily she walked through the front doors into the multi-toned wood paneled lobby. This building was brand new, and still had the sheen of bright new future all the modern architects were so fond of these days. Carolyn appreciated the clean lines, but sometimes it felt a bit plain, lacking character. And what was with all the avocado green and goldenrod? Whoever decided those colors would go best with a deep crimson and chrome apparently never went anywhere without sunglasses.
“How can I help you today?” An attractive young man at the front desk asked, putting down his novel. Apparently this was not a high traffic area.
“I’m here for the staff briefing for Section 47,” she said, trying to keep the excited grin desperate to take over her face from coming out.
“Ah yes. Your name and ID?”
“Grant. Carolyn Grant,” she said handing him her identification.
“Grant?” He said, looking though a large book on his desk. “He looked up, his face looking half apologetic, half suspicious. “I’m sorry, but I don’t have you in my list of authorized visitors.”
“There must be some mistake,” Carolyn said. She felt her cheeks flush.
“Section 47, correct?”
“That’s right.”
“I’m afraid your name is not there.” He looked at her apologetically. “I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to call security. Standard procedure if someone attempts to enter when not on the list. I’m sure we can straighten this out…” Just then his intercom beeped.
“Front Desk, visitors lobby.” He said automatically into the machine. Carolyn heard the familiar voice of Mr. Thatcher on the other end. If a woman named Carolyn Grant shows up, please have her wait in the lobby, she should be here any minute.”
“She’s already here, sir,” the receptionist answered, still sounding embarrassed.
“Ah, well she won’t be in the book. Please have her wait for me, would you?. I’m sending an intern over with her paper work. It only just finished getting processed.”
“Of course, sir,” The young man said, flicking off the comm. He turned back to Carolyn. “I’m sorry about the confusion. Everything regarding Section 47 is still being sorted out. Things are pretty hectic in the mean time. If you’d like to take a seat over there, I can let you in as soon as the paperwork arrives.”
“Thank you,” Carolyn said turning to one of the tragically modern looking sofas between the columns. She hadn’t even started, and things were far from business-as-usual. This was a promising sign.
Within a few minutes, a slightly haggard looking intern rushes in and hands the man at the front desk a stack of papers. The receptionist looks over them, then looks over to Carolyn. “Your security clearance has been approved. Sorry about the confusion. You may go on back now.”
“Thank you,” Carolyn said. She picked up her suitcase and walked through the large, well secured door.
