chapter five

“I love working on other peoples problems as it distracts me from my own.” No she couldn’t write that on the form, it made her sound like a nut case, a fruit case, whatever the saying was.
She was in a room with fifteen other hopefuls, some younger than her, some older. A complete mixture.
Why would you fit into our team? Because I am a party loving girl. Now she just sounded like a druggy and alcoholic. Why could she never fill in these forms properly. Now came the hard one. Her experience as a problem person, she couldn’t exactly write that she had nearly helped the producer commit suicide.
But it was too late.
“Annabelle Neam”
Oh god, the moment she had been dreading, she started to go red before she had even entered the studio, her face boiling with embarrasement, they were about to find out she was a fraud, a phoney.
“OK all we want you to do, is be yourself. Don’t worry and just relax, forget we’re even here.”
How could she forget all these strangers and cameras and lights on her. Right, I can do this, just imagine you are a presenter, act the part, you have done it your whole life, you can do it now!
And that is what she did. She became another character, almost removed from herself. She had to pretend to be offering someone some advice about their daughter, well she could do that based on her own experiences. Then had had to talk about divorce, again not an issue. Everyone seemed very impressed with her, she even surprised herself.
After she had finished her turn she was allowed a short break, she stood behind the scenes, watching everyone else. Then she spotted him, he was tallish had dark hair and wore a gorgeous blue shirt. He had blue eyes a perfect mix. He was in charge of the camera. Annabelle casually walked over to where he was working, she had an instinct as every woman did as to whether someone found you attractive:
First came “The look” –did they look at you and smile.
BINGO
Second: “The movement”- did they playfully do something in front of you, letting you know that they know that you know they are they!
BINGO
Thirdly;”The touch”- this was the harder of the three, it meant touching something they were doing i.e. camera equipment or even the side of their arm in a playful or inquisitive way.
BINGO
All three happened, he was interested. Then came the hard work background information, as she started to think up a question she got summoned over to the group of auditionees again.
Susan appeared and spoke quietly to a researcher, “We will be in contact within the day”
As Annabelle was about to leave, Susan stopped her and spoke quietly but reassuringly in her ear “Can you hold on please.”
As the others left Annabelle felt a tinge of excitement, she realised no-one else had been called back. This could be her moment, the moment when she was allowed to be opinionated, she was in her element.
“We were very impressed and would like you to start tomorrow please, you will be able to continue your writing as this gives you more power and integrity behind you. You will be needed only twice a week to start with. We have chosen you because of your honesty, don’t let me down.”
Susan left and Annabelle couldn’t contain her excitement, she let out a squeal. Could life get any better! The camera guy came over and did number four, “So we will be seeing a lot more of each other then!” The final thing the personal line, the intimacy. BINGO