The Desk

Here at main Reception we like to think of ourselves as the eyes and ears of the company. We are people watchers, we are gossipers, as well as a shoulder to cry on. I can sit here and tell you that this is the simplest job in the world or that its a great job to have if you don't like taking your work home with you but this is not true.



When I first became a Receptionist I was working for a top company, who offered fabulous benefits and a decent salary. However, there were people that worked for this firm that were not kind and some even sneaky as hell. As time goes on and as I work in this place longer I feel like I am going insane. I see a psychiatrist and a talk therapist in order to exist in reality; in order to keep working here.



Only seldom do I get really really sleepy here. I get tired but not tired enough to go into a room they have designated as the "bed time room". I see it as a weakness when people go to sleep during the day at work. People think that they have been out all night or not sleeping at all so, something must be wrong with that person. Today, I am tired. I can't even open my eyes for a second. I am desperate so, I mildly ask my co-worker with my tail under my legs, "may I use the bed time room?". Of course she says with a nice charming grimace.



There is a lot going on in my life and a lot that went on in my life in the past. So much that its hard to tell you where I should begin. Meanwhile I'll just take a short nap, which if you ask me is asking for more trouble. Cause I know I will feel worse later. "RING"!! The alarm clock sounds. I am sitting in a chair that is on its last leg that reclines. Its comfortable because its all worn in but if you move to quick, poom. You are shot out of the chair like an air missile. I was jolted out of my sleep. Was I dreaming but what about? Hmmm, I will have to think about this because my dreams have been so different so vivid, strange and unexplainable at the same time. Oh well, it will come to me later.



I creep with dread out into the hall and down the stairs. Taking my time making sure I am comfortable walking again. This nap was a dozy. I slept for sure, but now I feel lethargic and left confused. Oh well. Cat naps never worked for me. As I grasp onto the stair case rail with my hand pressed firmly I easily walk down to the level where I work. "What time is it?" I asked my co-worker. "Fifteen minutes until five." Holy Shi@! I thought. Did I really sleep for forty five minutes? That is not good. As I came around the desk I apologized over and over again repeatedly trying to think of quick ways to make it up to her. "Oh girl, its no problem at all. You know we are cool like that. If I needed to walk away from the desk or do something private I would do it. And you wouldn't think twice." she said with a smile. "Yes, this is true." I just felt so bad. I always felt bad for things. I felt bad for talking to much, I felt bad for walking into a room when two people are talking and interrupting when it clearly wasn't my fault. I felt bad for being quiet, I felt bad for sneezing. Lets put it this way. I was sorry for everything that I did. What a terrible way to live your life. In fear.



As the years passed by and days seemed longer, I began to get tired of my job. I found it hard to even put on a smile. I was probably one of the best fake smiler's there was and I couldn't even do that. I hated my job like people hate snakes. I couldn't stand to look at it, smell it, or even be anywhere near it. Once that feeling sets in, you are sh@! out of luck. You hate your job and need to either move on; or grin and bare it. I was sorry for hating it so much. As I ended my day in its usual manner. I noticed that the lights began to dim but just a little. Little enough for me to notice it. It was quiet and the phones finally stopped ringing so, time of closing the place up was not far around the corner. Oh god five more minutes. Please don't ring, please don't ring. I would repeat to myself over and over again. Almost every time I would get a call just right before the phones shut off for the night and it would be a bad call. For example, "did someone call me from this number?" "No, no one called you sir or ma'am" and I would hang up. Or the best one's were, "can I get a conference room, not sure of how many attendees or how long but was thinking...well,...pause. Maybe I will take the conference room in the corner with the windows." My reply would be, "ok, sure, what time would you be needing this room."... I think the worst part for me was having to drag each and every sentence out of the person. They simply didn't get it. You called me. You wanted something from me. And when you get on the phone you have no clue of what you want. Do you want me to make this meeting up for you? I mean truly you shouldn't even be having this meeting if you have no clue when its going to start. "Um, how about noon to one. yes, that is fine." the person would say smugly. "ok, all set." I would say with charm. I hated them. These people couldn't have a conversation with a real person even if they tried. Some of their Assistants were even annoying. I mean, you are an Assistant. You are getting paid more than me and don't have to deal with as many freaking people as I do and yet you still need help walking through the meeting request. "what time would you like to schedule the meeting for" I would ask. "Well, maybe." ....pause. This would go on day in and day out. I thought that this little song and dance would soon put me into a white shirt at an asylum. These people drove me mad. I seriously didn't know how to cope with such stupidity and dullness. I wanted out! Get me out of this straight jacket please?



The lights became just one tone under the last. Maybe our lights are slowly fading. Hmmm, will have to make note of that in my head so I can speak to the building manager in the morning. I shut off my phone and made my desk clear for the night. Tucked away my chair and walked around the desk grabbing my purse in one hand jacket in other and a bag from Duane Reade with a red bull in it and some chocolates. Oh shoot, I almost forgot, every night we had to make up a security letter for the next day and there it was on the desk nice and neat. I grabbed it and put it in between my teeth. Trying to put on my jacket I felt the urge to pee once more before I left for the day. I decided not to shut the door this time before I made my way to the desk and went straight into the bathroom. Leaving both my purse and the Duane Reade bag on the couch inside the small bathroom I sat on the pot with a huff. I rolled out the toilet paper and tore off a couple pieces. I am yawning at this point too. Finally, my day was almost over and I would be walking out the door and away from here. After washing my hands, I gathered my things and pushed on the heavy door leading out to the main reception area. The door was shut. Well, maybe someone felt that I forgot. Great, can't wait to hear about this tomorrow. I opened and dragged the door shut behind me. Woosh, a gust of air came with me as I shut the large glass door. Never felt that before. Strange. Pressing the elevator button I felt a heat. Heat from my finger to the button. Unexplainable in any other way but it was strange. At this same moment there are people waiting on the elevator on the floor above me. When the elevator bell rung once I knew the doors would open and that I would be stepping into the elevator. But this time the wind came back. With me flew in the air and all around me the hair on my head and my hairs on my arm stood up. The doors shut. I felt the heaviest feeling that was indescribable. Like there was hardly any oxygen in the elevator. It thankfully started to move. At this same time the people on 19 enter the elevator. But as the final person tried to step on the doors shut with haste. Bang! One of the women screamed out "hey!" The elevator started to move. The gentlemen left behind sat there staring at the doors of the closed elevator wondering what the heck was going on. Then with a flash the keys on the elevator lit up and burnt out causing a spark. The people were now going fast down the elevator. Then with a giant crash they stopped. Everyone was holding onto something, a person, and arm rail or the ground. Panic was set in. Everyone was waiting to see what would happen next. And finally one of the women hit the panic button on the elevator. I was slowly going down unaware of what just happened, I started to take off my coat because I it was rather warm. The doors opened up and I left the elevator with the wind. Looking behind me wondering what the hell was going on. There was nothing to be seen. The area was free from people, and things. I walked past the door man and just kept moving along. "Have a good night." I said slightly. He responded back with the same slightness. What had just happened? for more of the story,...



Stay tuned.. =)