An unexpected call

[oloriel]

Just as I was putting dinner on the table, the phone rang, and the husband answered. Since he was being all formal, I assumed that it was one of my students' parents - I don't get called up as often as some other teachers, but it happens occasionally - but it turned out to be my old boss from my regional news magazine from hell days. Those who've been reading this journal back in 2016 remember that those days were a wild ride that ended in absurdity and anger, and that I was very much relieved to put them behind me.

Well, Darth Boss was asking, very innocently, whether I was still writing. "I saw some of your articles on that Tolkien site," he said, "you're very active there!"
"Not as much as I'd like to be," I said cheerfully, "because I've gone into teaching."
Beat.
"Oh, I didn't know you had a teaching degree," he then said.
"I don't," I said (still cheerfully), "but since I studied English philology and there's a shortage of English teachers, that was not a problem."
"I see." Another pregnant pause. "I expect it's less work than journalism."
"Not at all - it's a lot of preparation and correction and administrative stuff, especially for a beginner. But at least the schedule is fairly reliable!"
"What I was meaning to ask is, would you consider writing for us again?"
I'd known that that was coming, which was why I'd told him about my teaching job.
"Sorry, I simply don't have the time anymore."
"Yes. Hm. Well. A pity." The gruff, Darth-Boss-is-displeased voice. I'm glad I don't have to worry about it anymore.
"Thanks for thinking of me, though! Have a nice evening!"

It was extremely gratifying to be able to say that, I've got to admit. My hands were actually shaking once I put down the phone, that's how much just talking to him still stresses me out. Today was not the worst day of my teaching career, but not one of the good ones either. Definitely worth it for being able to decline his offer of freelance work (or whatever it was he had in mind) without worrying about never getting a foot in that door. I liked the work as such, but I still don't regret closing that door. (Besides, if I feel like doing journalism, there's still That Tolkien Site. Or the school news page. Or whatever, really.)

Comments

[heartofoshun]

That is gratifying! Wonderful to be able to blow off someone that one hated to work with! I went back to a job I left that I had hated for the offer of a lot more money and hated it just as much the second time around. That was a mistake.

[ysilme]

Heh. Heheh. ^^
Sorry to hear, though, that this still stresses you out. *hugs* I hope this conversation will go quite a bit towards improving on that!

[hhimring]

I'm glad you don't need him and any job he might have to offer and were able to tell him so.

[grundyscribbling]

Ugh! At least you were able to send Darth Boss packing in short order.

[bunn]

Yay! Sounds like you were very polite under the circumstances.

[independence1776]

I'm glad you were able to give Darth Boss a firm refusal. I'm sorry he still stresses you out that badly.

[oloriel]

I'm very proud I managed to be polite and cheerful all the way through. Instinct wants me to vent and curse at him, but I've learned it annoys him a lot more when you're nice and polite. Couldn't have kept it up for much longer, though!

[oloriel]

It's ridiculous, really. But he's one of those people who can suck all the energy out of you (and think it's his due). To be honest though, the most stressful part may have been just staying friendly and firmly happy throughout. I don't think he consciously enjoys seeing people break down, but he definitely likes a sense of power, so the best way of annoying him is to project confidence and cheerfulness, which doesn't come naturally to me. I'm glad I only started shaking AFTER the call!

[oloriel]

It's astounding that he keeps pretending to have forgotten what happened whenever it suits him (i.e., whenever his piss-poor planning means that he's desperately short of writers), and even more astounding that, with many of the people formerly working for him, it seems to work. (There were a lot of people who had jobs with the magazine once, quit or were dismissed in anger, but still did the occasional freelance gig for him even while I was working there. Among them award-winning photographers and writers! The mind boggles!) So I'm very glad indeed that I had a good reason to tell him no.

[oloriel]

Me too. Thank you.

[oloriel]

If it was the last conversation we ever had, it definitely would. Is it, though? With that guy, you never know!

[oloriel]

I considered going back about a year and a half ago, when he last called! Fortunately, his deputy editor-in-chief found another freelancer at the time, so I wasn't called again. I probably would've said yes in spite of all misgivings. Now I'm in a different position and it's honestly a relief. (At the same time, I'm curious as to what prompted the call. Is it just his usual piss-poor planning, or has he lost another editor-in-chief? That would honestly be DELIGHTFUL. >:D)