Wow I just have to clap my hands after I finish this fic its that great. Thank you Mr. Lawson for such great works of fiction.
--- Richard D LAWSON <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > What the hell. This idea has been bouncing around > my head and I finally put > it on paper. > > I am, as always, open to any and all commentary and > criticism, benevolent or > otherwise. > > From the Department of Redundancy Department: A new > story in my "Thy Outward > Part" series of Ranma fanfics. Previous > installments can be found on my > website: http://www.sterman.org. > > Flame away. > > -Richard > > --------------- > > We all have a face > That we hide away forever, > And we take them out and show ourselves > When everyone has gone. > > Some are satin, some are steel, > Some are silk, and some are leather. > They're the faces of the stranger, > But we love to try them on > > "The Stranger" > Billy Joel > > > Faces > > by Richard Lawson > > --- > > Okawara Chiyoko bowed slightly. "I am honored to be > here." > > The older woman eyed her. "You understand your > duties?" > > Yoko nodded, having studied the job posting > carefully. "I am to greet > patients when they arrive, find out if they have an > appointment, direct them > to the appropriate office, and schedule future > appointments." > > The older woman nodded. "You'll also process mail > and make non-emergency > pages. Refer anyone who's coming in for emergency > treatment to the > emergency ward. Are you prepared?" > > Yoko nodded enthusiastically. She had carefully > selected her wardrobe to be > professional, sympathetic, and appealing. She'd > also spent a great deal of > time this morning apllying makeup, emphasizing the > curves of her face, the > propensity of her lips to be constantly smiling. > This was the perfect > place, the perfect opportunity, and she wasn't going > to waste it. "I am > ready to begin." > > "Good." The woman indicated that Yoko should sit at > the desk. "You know > how to use a computer?" > > Yoko very nearly rolled her eyes. The other woman > was betraying her age; > everyone knew how to use a computer these days. > "Yes, I am very familiar > with how a computer works." > > "Good. Here's your login information." The woman > thrust a sheaf of papers > at Yoko. "Look it over. If you have any questions, > ask Mary." > > Yoko looked at where a middle-aged woman was talking > to a patient, taking > down insurance information. Mary was clearly busy > but took the time to > smile at Yoko by way of greeting. > > The older woman ended the conversation by walking > away. Yoko looked around > in a mild panic, hoping no one would walk up to her > right away. She quickly > logged into the computer and started poking around, > finding the scheduling > software and various office applications. > Satisfied, she logged into the > switchboard and began familiarizing herself with the > layout. > > Thankfully it was all simple to figure out. Yoko > had not done much after > high school for a couple of years until her mother > had evicted her from the > house. Yoko had not much enjoyed that experience, > nor the waitress job she > had been forced to take for a while. She'd > eventually enrolled in a > secretarial program and emerged with a > certification. After a couple of > temp jobs filling in for vacationing people, she'd > applied for and been > accepted as a hospital receptionist. > > The woman who had interviewed her had talked about > the wonderful career > opportunities that could be had at Nerima General. > Yoko had responded with > the appropriate amount of eager zealousness, > although privately she didn't > intend to remain working here for long. > > After contenting herself that she could use the > phone system, she called up > the directory of doctors on staff. It was a > satisfyingly long list. Yoko > nodded to herself, then opened up her purse and > brought out her compact. > Its mirror showed that nothing had changed. Yoko > was young, slim, and > attractive. All she had to do was catch the eye of > the right person. > > Yoko quickly put the mirror away; one musn't appear > to be too vain. Almost > as soon as she did, a fiftyish man walked up to ask > about meeting a Dr. > Kunitomi. Yoko greeted him warmly and checked the > scheduling software. She > found that the man had an appointment, and called > Dr. Kunitomi's extension. > The voice on the other end was disappointly old, and > directed Yoko to send > the man back to his office. Yoko found a map and > discovered that the man > already knew where Dr, Kunitomi's office was, and > went along his way. Yoko > called out a pleasant goodbye as the man left. > > "You did that very well." > > Yoko turned to see that Mary had come up behind her. > Yoko smiled even as > she quickly assessed Mary. Not very slim, a bit > frumpy. A ring on her > finger indicated she was married. This was a great > relief to Yoko; she > wanted to make as many friends as possible amongst > the staff here. > > Yoko bowed her head and spoke in a friendly but > deferential tone. "Thank > you. My name is Yoko. I'm pleased to meet you." > She quickly dug in her > purse, pulled out a business card, and handed it to > Mary. > > Mary seemed greatly amused as she accepted the card. > "I'm afraid I don't > have any cards with me. I'll get one to you soon. > Have you worked long in > the medical field?" > > Yoko shook her head. "No. This is my first > permanent job working in a > hospital. But I look forward to learning from you > how best to help others." > > Mary smiled. "Well, from what I saw, you seem to be > a natural. I don't > know that I have a lot to teach you. I'll mostly be > doing non-emergnecy > admissions, but if you ever need to step away from > the desk for a few > minutes, I can cover for you." > > "Thank you." Yoko bowed her head again. "I hope in > time I can do the same > for you." > > "We'll see. Do you have any questions?" > > Yoko brightened. "Do we deal with the doctors > much?" > > In Mary's expression, Yoko saw that she had made a > mistake, revealed too > much of her intentions with the clumsy question. > Mary === message truncated === ---------- A man earns the title 'Great' by having power and NOT abusing it. -Old Persian philosophy ____________________________________________________________________________________ Got a little couch potato? Check out fun summer activities for kids. http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=oni_on_mail&p=summer+activities+for+kids&cs=bz --- .-------Anime/Manga Fanfiction Mailing List--------. | Administrators - [EMAIL PROTECTED] | | Unsubscribing - [EMAIL PROTECTED] | | Put 'unsubscribe' in the subject | `------------ FAQ URL coming soon.... -------------'
