Adam Blake - 31. Chapter 31

The interview began as I’d expect but didn’t end as I expected. Dr. McMillian appeared not to have expected me. His questions didn’t have anything to do with my teaching. I was confused. As I started to ask my questions, he began to get a little nervous and kept looking at his watch. “Dr. McMillian, if you have another appointment, I can leave. Perhaps there’s a better time to finish the interview.” He looked at me as if to say what are you talking about.

“Yes, I do have another appointment and maybe it would be best we continue this discussion at a later date.”

I stood up, shook his hand, and left his office. There was a small reception area and there was no one there. I left the building and headed toward my car, checking off the school as a potential teaching spot. Arriving at the car, Billy wasn’t there. I began to look around the campus for him, he was gone. I checked the school map and noticed a sports area in the North corner of the school grounds. I headed in that direction and when I got to the stands, I began to laugh. There was Billy with several students getting ready to run the track. Billy had on running clothes and was running in his sneakers whereas the other guys had cleated running shoes. I just sat in the bleachers and watched. It appeared that they were finishing their warm-ups. Billy was teaching them the warm-ups that he and I used when we were running. Soon the guys took off running, the pack kept close until they were on the second lap and then they started to break up into groups according to speed. Billy was in the front group. As they rounded the corner he looked up and saw me. He waved and stepped it up again, only one boy was able to keep with him and as Billy got close to where I was sitting he kicked it up again and left the group behind. He did one more lap to cool down and then started to do his cool-down exercises. While he was doing that the rest of the boys finished, I could hear him telling them they needed to do a cool-down lap and then cool down exercise or they will have cramps. The boys listened and started their cool-down lap. I noticed a man dressed in shorts and a sports jersey come out of a dugout and headed toward Billy. I got up and headed toward Billy as well. We both arrived at the same time. “Good run Billy?”

“Yes, we didn’t run this morning so when Johnny asked me if I wanted to run I said yes. He loaned me some of his gear and then made a phone call. These boys are the track team for the school.”

“Young man where did you learn to run like that? I’m Coach Jasper. I'm the school’s Athletic Director and have never seen you before. Are you a new student?”

“No sir, I’m here with my coach who was interviewing for a position here.”

It didn’t take a wizard to know what was going through Coach Jasper’s mind. “I’m Doctor Adam Blake and I was interviewing for a teaching position.” You could see the Coach relaxing as I was speaking. “However, I’m afraid that will not happen. I don’t think Dr. McMillian was impressed with me. He kept checking his watch, I assumed he had another appointment and so I left before the interview was finished.”

“Why were you interviewing with Dr. McMillian, he’s the school’s Medical Director?”

“I asked one of the boys and he showed me where his office was located.”

“Are you sure you have the right name? For school positions, you should have spoken to Arlene McMillan who is our Director of Personnel and Student Affairs.”

“I didn’t realize that and when I asked for Dr. McMiliian’s office I assumed there was only one McMillian at the school. No wonder he was nervous all through the interview. Where is the office of Dr. McMillan?”

“Come with me and I’ll show you. Johnny show this young man where he can shower.”

“Billy, I’ll see you at the car.”

“Don’t need to worry sir, I’ll show him around the school while you talk to Dr. McMillan.”

I followed the coach to the first building I thought was the school’s entrance. “So you taught that young man to run?”

“Let’s say I helped him to be better. His dad and I are brothers, when we were younger we would run each morning. We went to different colleges and I focused on teaching, he focused on business. I think Billy is Olympic material, convincing him is difficult. But I’ll have him ready for the trials.”

“Do you still run?”

“Oh yes, every morning, except for this morning. I was staying at my cabin this week and so we had a four-hour drive to arrive here in time for my interview which I now hope will be with the right, Dr. McMillan.”

“This is Arlene’s office. I hope to see you around, good luck.”

I walked into a small reception room where a woman was sitting behind a small desk. “Dr. McMillan?”

“No sir, I’m Jane Oakley Dr. McMillan’s secretary. How may I help you?”

“I’m Dr. Adam Blake and I had an appointment for an interview at 1 o’clock. However, it seemed two people have similar names and I ended up at the wrong office.”

Ms. Oakley began to laugh. “How was the Doctor? I’ll bet he was confused.”

“Yes, I thought it was strange, he kept looking at his watch. Why didn’t he tell me I was in the wrong office?"

“Our medical doctor is uncomfortable when he finds himself in a position he hasn’t been informed or prepared. He isn’t an off-the-cuff kind of person. He has been in this position before because of the similarities in the names. You may have intimidated him, he knew you were coming today and most of the facility knew. If you’ll have a seat I’ll let Dr. McMillan know you are here.”

There was only one seat in the office so I sat there and waited. After 10 minutes she came out of the office laughing. “Dr. McMillan will see you. You can go right in.”