Maggie did finally have the meeting with the other Pose workers, she announced her resignation from Pose, but would continue to be indirectly involved with Pose Magazine. Sissy Epson was distraught and upset; she felt that she deserved that position, not Elisa. Elisa looked over at Sissy and could see the disappointment and distraught look in Sissy’s face.
“Well if there are no questions,” Maggie said. “Elisa here will be your new Chief Editor of Pose Magazine starting as of now.” They all got up to leave. Sissy grabbed her things and walked out of the room. Elisa followed her.
“Sissy, Sissy,” Elisa called after her. Elisa had liked working with Sissy, but now she would be Sissy’s boss. Sissy had been there at Pose Magazine before Elisa.
“Sissy wait up please,” Elisa was chasing after Sissy. Sissy stopped and turned around to face Elisa.
“What Elisa,” Sissy said sternly. Elisa sensed the tension and hurt in Sissy’s voice.
“I did not know that Maggie would choose me for the Chief Editor position Sissy, you have to believe me. She called me into her office and we had a long talk. She told me and I was ecstatic yes, I have worked hard for this position.”
“So did I,” Sissy said vehemently, “I was here a hell of a lot longer than you and I have worked my heart out too for Pose Magazine. I deserved that position. You took it away from me. I should have gotten it.”
“Look Sissy,” Elisa said, with consternation in her voice. “I got the position; Maggie obviously saw a lot of talent in me. My designs received great reviews for Pose Magazine. Some of us, Sissy are meant to go to the top while others are more suited for the bottom step of the ladder. I am your boss now, and if you don’t like it, you can leave Pose Magazine anytime. Just leave your resignation on my desk and pack your things.
“My concern and always has been Sissy to keep Pose Magazine on top and a success. If you do not want to be a part of it, I say ‘sayonara’. I know we have worked together, but I moved up the ladder and if that is a problem for you I don’t care. What will it be Sissy?”
Sissy just stood there with her lips in a tight line. Elisa had cut her to the quick. Sissy loved Pose Magazine and was not about to leave. “I will not give you the benefit of the doubt of me leaving Elisa. Pose Magazine is my love just as much as it is yours and I care about it too and its success. I will work even harder Elisa much, much harder.” Sissy said defiantly.
“Good Sissy,” said Elisa. “That is what I like to hear. I was told that you did not know what you were doing on anything and nothing about fashion Sissy, but I beg to differ. I liked that you stood up to me and did not walk out of here and give me your resignation. That shows me Sissy that you love Pose Magazine and want to see it stay on top.
“I have worked with you Sissy. I know by working with you what you say is true, that is why I want to make you my assistant. You do not have to give me an answer now Sissy, but think about it and let me know.” Elisa walked away leaving Sissy speechless and watching Elisa walk away, her eyes wide.
A week later, Sissy knocked on Elisa’s office door, now saying Elisa Drinnings, Chief Editor. “Come in,” Elisa said. Sissy walked in. Elisa was looking through some Pose Magazines. She looked up. “Oh Sissy hello, please sit down.” Sissy did as she was told. “What is it Sissy?” Elisa asked her taking a sip of her coffee. She did not like to be interrupted from her work unless she called her workers in or it was of the utmost urgency.
“I have been thinking about what you asked me a week ago Miss Drinnings, and I would be honored to be your assistant and whenever you need me I will be there.”
Elisa smiled. “Well Sissy, I am delighted that you took the offer. You were my first choice and I know when I need you, you will be there. You have proven that to me when we worked together. I expect nothing less from you Sissy.”
“Is there anything else Sissy?” Elisa asked her.
“No Miss Drinnings, unless you need anything right now.” Sissy said, standing up to walk out of the office.
“Not right now Sissy, but when I do, I will let you know.” Sissy smiled and left the office. Elisa smiled to herself; this was her office now, the office that she had so long dreamed about, Chief Editor of a very successful fashion magazine, and it was just the beginning.
That was five years ago, after her mother passed away. Her mother would have been proud of Elisa had she lived to see it. Elisa had come a long way from Ohio to New York and there was no turning back. She took another sip of her coffee and got back to work.
*****
Elisa got to work and did not see the man on the sidewalk. She got to her office and Carl came up to her. “Miss Drinnings, I wanted to let you know that everything is fine and that the winter edition of Pose will be out and on your desk next week.”
Elisa turned to look at him, standing outside her office. “Good Carl, I will hold you to that. And if not, I will hold you personally responsible and you can kiss your job goodbye.”
“Yes Miss Drinnings.” Elisa smirked and walked into her office. She put her briefcase on the desk. She called Sissy into her office.
“Yes Miss Drinnings,” Sissy smiled.
“I want to move the showing of some new designs from next week to today. Call and get that taken care of and get back to me. I want it for this afternoon.” Elisa would go and look at new designs and give her opinions. Nothing was set until she was satisfied.
“Yes Miss Drinnings. I will get right on that.”
Sissy left her office. Elisa looked out her office window and still did not see the man on the sidewalk. She got right to work.
*****
Kyle Rimmer woke up with a massive and blinding migraine. Everything to him was blurry. It took him a while to get his eyes adjusted. He could swear his eyesight was getting worse. He felt sick to his stomach and his body was aching. He decided that today he would just stay under the bridge. He had enough food to get him through the day.
He sat there and ate looking around and hearing the birds. It was just him and nature. He remembers before his dad got sick that they would go to upstate New York and fish. His dad taught him to bait the hook and know when to pull on the line.
“Hey there boy, you’re doing great now keep it steady. Reel it in. Now you’re doing it.” Kyle reeled in his line. He had what looked to him the biggest fish he ever saw. His dad got a hold of the fish and took it off the hook. “Good job Kyle. I am so proud of you. I love you son. We catch some more of this; we will have some good eatin’.” Kyle smiled up at his dad.
After Kyle’s father got sick and died, Kyle never went back to that lake. It was too painful. He did not have a boy of his own to take there. Kyle remembers holding his father’s hand before he died. “I am proud of you son. Take care of your mother for me.” Kyle’s mother was standing in the bedroom crying. “Whatever you decide to do with your life Kyle, do it with honor, courage, and determination.”
“I will make you proud of me dad. I promise.”
“That’s my boy.” Kyle’s father died that night. If only he could see Kyle now, he would be so disappointed. Kyle homeless, can’t work, and living under a bridge begging for money from strangers. Oh yeah, his father would be so proud of him; a failed marriage too. He was glad that his father had not lived to see this.
Kyle had tears coming from his eyes. He remembers his father’s funeral. It had been a military funeral with a 21 gun salute. He remembers the American flag on his father’s casket and them folding it up giving it to his mother. Before she died, she had given it to him. When Janice left him, she took the flag. Kyle did not even have that.
He would hope when he died that he would get a military funeral but he