ScallionLove

"Lord," I said.  "When will she be here?"

"Tomorrow," Ann replied.  "Yeah, she even had a thick southern accent."

Yesterday, Ann informed me that there would be a girl stopping by to interview us about development.  Specifically - how it relates to a foundation which supports a dance company.  We both grumbled, annoyed about spending time explaining our jobs to some 22 year old with bright eyes when there were more important things to attend to - budget planning for next year, letters to everyone in our database, prospect compilation of possible donors and a payment request to the city's cultural affairs department.  There was no time for this girl.  But, we couldn't say no, she'd asked so nicely.

At 1:30 today Dan buzzed to say that she was here.  "Crap," Ann said.  "I totally forgot that girl was coming in to talk about development."  "Oh jeeze," I said with an eye roll.  "Ok, let's do this thing."  I went out to get her while Ann retrieved a couple of chairs.

Sitting there in her tights and frock and with her long eyelashes over sparkling blue eyes, she annoyed me.  "Hi," I said very matter-of-fact.  "I'm Jessie.  I believe you spoke to Ann."  "Yes!" she replied.  "I'm ___, it's so nice to meet you.  Thank you so much for your time."  I noticed braces-perfect teeth and a smile that didn't break for the entirety of our interview.  And what's worse - it was completely genuine.

So I went from being annoyed with this disruption to wanting to make a good impression.  God knows I don't want anyone, least of all this bushy tailed ingenue, to know that i'm basically faking it...winging it...what have you.  And, maybe there was some slim chance I could actually impart something that might be usefull!....or shape her life's path!...I explained the facets of institutional fundraising and she smiled at me, completely devoid of hidden agenda, just happy that we were willing to answer her questions.

It didn't take long to notice her voice...her ADORABLE voice.  High pitched but soft with a heavy southern accent.  You can't help but adore that.  And want to put it in your pocket.  And have tea parties with it later.  What?

Anyway, as the interview progressed it became less and less formalized until I finally realized that Ann and I were smiling and giggling back at her.  She had infected us with her jubilance and sweetness and we were brought back to a time before New York and it's coldness, before having to learn to be aggressive - brought back to a place of being sweet and kind just for the sake of being sweet and kind....because it felt good to be sweet and kind.

And after she'd gone Ann and I fawned over her cuteness and earnest.  Wishing, perhaps, that that girl in each of us didn't have to become so hidden by toughness and survival and self-sufficiency.  Wishing, perhaps, that she could come out and play more often.