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Image masters Looking for That Golden GlowBy Rick Horowitz
"Patsy, send in the next group." "They're on their way, sir." "And in the meantime, see if the president -- never mind, they're already here. C'mon in, kids -- sit anywhere you like." "Anywhere?" "Well, the chair behind the desk is mine, but anywhere else is fine. Although you -- no, you, the tall one -- I think you're better off over to this side here. You fill the frame a lot better that way." "Right here?" "Yeah, that's perfect. And the rest of you are fine right where you are." "I never realized sitting down could be so complicated! I guess when you're in the White House, everything matters." "Nicely put. And you are...?" "Gretchen." "Welcome to the White House, Gretchen, and the rest of you, too. Let's see. You're Josh?" "Yup." "Then you're Kyle..." "Got it." "...and you must be Katrina. " "Yes, sir, and I'm so looking forward to spending the summer in Washington, it's really been a dream of mine since I was like a kid. Well, I guess I'm still like a kid, but I mean when I was like a little kid, not like in college or anything, and it's always been what I wanted to do. Washington, I mean, not college. But I really enjoy college, too, I just meant that -- " "Katrina?" "Sir?" "It's OK. Really. Relax." "Thank you, sir." "Good. Now, there's nothing for any of you to be nervous about. These are just preliminary interviews -- we'll try to get a feel for each of you, your background, your talents, that sort of thing. You each come highly recommended by one of the president's strongest supporters, and we appreciate your interest in interning here in the communications office this summer. I wish there were enough slots still open to bring all of you on board, but I hope you'll find the process worthwhile however it turns out. Kyle, let's start with you." "Well, sir, I double-majored in politics and philosophy, and my junior thesis was a linear study of comparative governmental structures in ancient Greece and modern Texas. I brought a copy in case you -- it's 230 pages with footnotes, and you can slice the data 11 different -- " "I'm sure it's very interesting -- thanks. Gretchen, what about you?" "I'm an honors student in economics, with a particular interest in multivalent determinants of sustainable development in suburban and exurban settings. With modeling, of course." "Of course. Josh?" "I'm a history major. Vice president of the student council. Ran our Campus Republicans for the past two years. Started my own online issues forum when I was a freshman -- we're getting half a million hits a day. I really like talking about issues." "Well, issues are pretty important to some people. So Katrina, what's important to you?" "Well, I guess I like politics too, maybe not as much as these guys, but I'm really into theater, I'm even a theater major, but I don't like being on stage myself so much, I'm more a behind-the-scenes kind of person, you know? I love designing sets, and painting backdrops and even doing costumes, and I really like it when you come up with just the right lighting to put the actors in this perfect glow, so everybody thinks the star is like ten feet tall and gorgeous? Maybe that's not the exact talents for working at the White House, but -- " "When can you start?" Posted 5/20/03. Rick
does word pictures twice every week -- tell your neighbors!
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Rick Horowitz
