Chapter 1
" is regular
′ ′ is sign language
′aa′ is thoughts.
′Alright, Derek. Today’s the day. Hopefully.′
I sat in the lobby of a top rated architecture company looking for an interview. I was nervous. Why.
Well, my competition for the position are Anthros. That’s right, I’m going up against Furries.
“Rockwell, Derek!” shouted a voice.
I quickly stood up and grabbed my satchel.
“Here ma’am!”
She waved me in and I meekly passed the other applicants. I walked through the door and noticed the ones doing the interview were three of the top rated women of law in the state. Well, four if you counted the one that just sat back down.
“Oh this isn’t going to go good” I said.
“And why do you say that?” The Great Dane asked.
I gulped. Clearly I said what I wanted to think out loud.
“I’m sorry. I’m just a little nervous. This is my first of many interviews for an accounting position. Especially for an architecture company of this magnitude.”
“Hmm, and why would you be nervous? Clearly you seem like you’ve done interviews like this before” the Lioness said.
I sighed and sat my things down on the chair provided.
“High school and college job applications were easier. They just wanted laborers to just come in and work. No questions asked. Here, and possibly everywhere else, I’m expected to know everything that needs to be done. Both in timely and orderly manners.
Most of my previous bosses have given me wonderful reviews and everything. But I always feel like I could have done better.”
“Well, I did call a few of your previous bosses. One said you screwed up badly that they said you weren’t worth our time. But the other nine I called said you always gave it your all, took any and all overtime you could, and you helped improve some of the businesses. I’d say that’s praise worthy.”
I smiled brightly at the Cheetah. But something told me there was something hidden.
“But as we have other applicants to see, we’ll put you on the calling list. If you wish you can leave your resume on the desk” she finished.
I nodded and pulled out the piece of paper. I thank them for their time and left. I felt heartbroken because I would apply for some jobs three or four times and be told the same thing. Oh well off to the next interview.
*Cathy P.O.V*
“Well he was certainly eager to start working with us.”
“I agree” Mary said.
“We’ll interview the rest and see what we have to choose from” Amanda suggested.
‘We should have asked if he knew Sign Language’ Oksana signed.
Oksana was a deaf and a mute but her parents did make sure she was able to read lips. Both human and anthro.
“Hmm, yes we should have. Well, we knew he is qualified to work for us so he is in the do call pile. We do still have to interview the rest” Mary said.
We all nodded and continued with the interviews.
*Derek P.O.V*
*4 hours later*
I sighed. I had been to all of my job interviews and got told the same thing. I sat in a hole in the wall restraunt just trying to figure out what was next. I just picked at my food not really hungry.
“Hey you dumb bitch! Order or get out of line!”
I looked at the order counter to see a frustrated cashier and manager and, wait a minute she was at my interview today.
I got up and approached the counter.
“LISTEN, FOR THE LAST TIME.”
“Excuse me, but may I be of any assistance?” I asked the manager.
“Bug off hummie. This is fur business.”
“Well, before I go I thought I’d let you know she’s a co-founder of the city’s biggest architectural company and is deaf and mute” I said before I started to walk away.
“W-wait, the top rated one. The one everyone wants?” the manager asked.
I turned and nodded.
“But since you have caused a scene and seem to have made her emotionally distrout I will be taking her somewhere else.”
I turned and signed ‘I know a much better place that caters to the disabled and regular customers as well as being much more understanding.’
‘I’d like that. Please take me there’ she signed back.
“Good day.”
With that I gently took her hand and led her out. Well, guess I won’t be coming here again.
As promised we got on a monorail that took us to a different part of the city.
‘I’m sorry about that. I’m normally a regular at that restaurant but after seeing the manager disrespect you like that I don’t think I will ever go back.’
’It’s alright. I had wanted to try the food there. But I guess with my disability means they don’t cater to furs like me.”
‘That or they were caught off guard by not being able to recognize American Sign Language’ I chuckled using the sign for a chuckle.
She did the same thing before signing ‘But I will take your advice and sue the manager. He had no right to treat me like that and you were right when you said emotionally distrout. I was about to cry. I get bad panic attacks when I can’t fully understand the situation.’
‘Well I’m glad to have helped you. We should be getting close to our destination.’
“Next stop: 31st and West St.”
‘Right on que.’
We got off and the restaurant I had in mind was one of my old jobs. We entered and the hostess immediately saw us. Well me.
“DEREKS BACK!”
“Oh shit!”
I was tackled by three waiters, the hostess, and if you can believe it the chef. They dog piled me and refused to let me up.
“I coincide! I need air!” I shouted.
I got up to see the other customers chuckling at the show.
“What brings you back ya old mucker?” Nathan asked.
I smiled and gestured to the Pantheress behind me.
“I’m treating my hopefully future boss to a nice meal. The last restaurant wasn’t very accommodating to her needs.”
“Needs?” Rebecca asked.
‘Shes deaf and mute. But I going to bet she can read lips’ I signed.
“Aaaaah, not a problem. Just follow me” Becky said smiling.
I smiled and we followed her to a table.
‘Here is your seat. I’ll let you two go over the menu and be back shortly’ she signed.
We sat and the patheress signed that the wait staff was much more friendly than the other place.
‘Well, it’s run like a family here. Nobody is related to the others but we all felt like brothers and sisters regardless. If a customer made a poor show of respect then the whole staff would step in. True story on that.’
‘Oh? Can I hear?’
‘Maybe when we have more time. For now, I highly recommend the Smoked Trout and new potatos.’
To imply it was good I gave her the chefs kiss. She giggled and nodded. When came back we had ordered the same thing with a glass Mountain View Winery Devil Dogs.
We sat and had a good conversation in-between the bites of food which was actually better than being rude by talking with a full mouth.
‘So I’m curious. Why do you want to work in an all female business anyway?’ she signed.
I finished my bite of food and started to sign back ‘I’ve been told I was great with finances, money handling, as well as taxes. It didn’t matter to me if an audit was currently underway the auditors watched me input the information, double check, and find out what happened with certain items. The one that said I wasn’t worth it laundered money, stole paychecks, and even paid of the Health Department for unhealthy working conditions. After the second audit I just left. A few months later they were fined for not keeping for records.’
‘Seems like that boss was just greedy and just wanted the money?’
‘Big time. I knew his financial situation wasn’t going well so I after I left I guessed a year before he went bankrupt. I was off by four months.’
We chuckled at that. Becky came by and took out plates informing us that the meal was free for us. But I secretly slipped a 100$ in her apron with our her noticing. This must have caught the Pantheress attention.
Once Becky was gone I signed ‘I don’t like leaving without at least paying for something. She won’t check her apron until closing.’
‘Sneaky move. Come by the office tomorrow. 9 am sharp. ’
I stopped as we exited. She smiled and blew me a kiss before a nice looking car pulled up to us. She got in and left me standing there.
′Did, did I get the job?′
