First Chance At A Second Impression
Originally posted on May 10, 2008
Annette: Mr. Sebastian?
Dana: *teasing tone* Is this “Ms. Applebaum?” Don't you think you should call me Dana now?
Annette: I…. all right. Dana. Could we….. could I ask you a few more questions, for the interview? I’m afraid I’ve done a rather incomplete job of it so far.
Dana: *amused* You did leave kind of suddenly... and I agree. We really should finish the interview that we started.
Annette: I was….. I was wondering…I was hoping we could just do this over the phone? It will save time and….
Dana: Nope.
Annette: No, it won’t save time?
Dana: Nope, I don’t want to finish the interview on the phone. But if you can get here in the next half hour or so, we can wrap it up during my morning coffee break. That little coffee place on Third Avenue. Can you find it?
Annette: *sighs* If I must. No, I mean, yes, I’ll be there.
Annette: Hi.
Dana: Hi. I can order coffee for you? Or something else?
Annette: No, no, I’m…. fine. Thank you. And thank you for agreeing to answer the rest of my questions.
Dana: Not a problem. Hey there - shouldn't the interviewer be looking at the interviewee during the questioning?
Annette: Well if you must know…. I’m a little embarrassed.
Dana: No need to be.
Annette: I just want….. to get this over with.
Dana: Okay. We can do that. Fire away.
Annette: I had to spend a lot of time last night going over my interview questions and coming up with new ones. You know of course, how surprised I was to find out that you’re….. that you’re not a……
Dana: Member of the female persuasion?
Annette: Yes, that’s one way to put it.
Dana: And so?
Annette: And so, I suppose I have to ask different questions now, different than the ones I prepared when I thought you were......different.
Dana: Why would you have to do that?
Annette: Because some of these……..*points*…. aren’t very appropriate under the circumstances.
Dana: OK, now you’ve got me curious. Can I see the questions? I’ll let you know if I think they’re inappropriate.
Dana: Ms. Sebastian, can you tell your readers more about where your stories originate? Do they come from real life experience or do you rely on something else to inspire you?
Dana: Well, Ms. Applebaum, I think to be believable, a story should originate from real life experiences with a bit of embellishment to protect the innocent, or just plain add interest. Let me tell you about my former life as a thirty-something mother of triplets whose hunky next door neighbor moves in with a poorly-trained St. Bernard dog who has a penchant for digging up hybrid roses, and...
Annette: *stifling a giggle* Oh, stop….
Dana: *smiling* Well, I don't know now. I hate to see these well thought out questions go to waste.
Dana: Please do tell us about your dream man, Ms. Sebastian. Is he anything like any of your romantic heroes? Is he a real person or does he live only in your imagination?
Dana: Why Ms. Applebaum, I don't mind revealing this to you, but I simply must insist that you keep this very personal information to yourself, or simply everyone will be wanting to snag this dream man for herself. I see a ruggedly handsome man, about twenty, with a square jaw line, smoldering dark eyes, long, shaggy blond hair, well over six feet tall, oozing with irresistible charm.
Annette: *laughing uncontrollably* Oh Dana, where on earth are you going to find anyone like that?
Dana: *mock chagrin* Hey, you're not getting any of this down. What kind of an interview is this?..... Annette………. You’re beautiful when you smile. And no, this is not a line from one of my books.
Dana: But when you laugh……… you're heart stopping incredible.
