Chapter 2

Interview Preparations

After being set up for the interview the next day, Helga and Miriam walked up to Miriam's room where they spent most of their time doing business work and homework together while she was at the Beeper Emporium. Sitting down on the bed, Miriam handed Helga a piece of paper with a list of questions on it.

"List of questions asked at an interview," Helga read. "Where did you get this mom?"

"The application asked me to write that down so I can practice for the interview," responded Miriam. Looking at the paper together, it had down 10 questions written on it:

1. How have you heard about us?

2. Did you have any prior working experience prior to applying for Wal-Mart?

3. Are you friendly with customers?

4. What is your availability?

5. Can you work in a team of peers?

6. Are you willing to abide by company rules?

7. Are you willing to submit to a drug test?

8. Are you willing to wear a blue Wal-Mart vest?

9. Are you willing to learn in areas beyond your postion if need be?

10. Are you willing to have fun in our company?

"They seem pretty self-explanatory," said Helga, looking at the paper closely. "I think with a little practice, you can ace this."

Miriam realized that some of the questions were pretty sensitive to her. She was an alcoholic during her time as a housewife and submitting to a drug test would not be easy for her in such a short period of time.

"You're right, Helga," Miriam said, realizing what she needed to do. "I do need to change and this would be the first big step for me. At the same time, I want to prove to your father that I am capable of being a working mom. 'All in the Family' taught me that women are always underpaid and that they can do more than just be around the house all day."

Helga soon realized the situation that her mother was in; knowing how much freedom she had during her brief time at the Beeper Emporium, she wanted to prove to Bob that she can be a strong worker as much as him.

"You may not realize this Helga," Miriam continued, now revealing her feelings to Helga. "But, I used to be perfect: I had a promising swimming career ahead of me, I was a champion at rodeo, I could do anything I could dream. But, I threw it all away when your father and I got married. I enjoyed being married, but I never got to do what I wanted to do, which was make a contribution to not just this family, but to society and build myself a little confidence."

Helga gasped at this, knowing that there was much more to her mother than the one that she was known to see on a daily basis. Helga couldn't even believe what her own father had done to her own mother to make her what she was today.

"So, dad basically held you back to just taking care of Olga and me?" Helga asked, still shocked by what she had just heard.

"Yes," replied Miriam. "That's why I need you to help me achieve my goal and prove your father wrong."

Helga smiled at this and they hugged again. Then, Miriam then got up and walked over to her closet. She found her cranberry business suit that she wore at the Beeper Emporium hanging at the far end of the closet. Taking it out, she hung it on her bedroom door and examined it.

"Do you think this is what I should wear to the interview, Helga?" she asked as Helga walked over and joined her mother in inspecting the suit.

"It's looks like its fine to me," she said. "It just needs a little ironing, that's all. Besides, it's the only suit you ever have, mom. Until you worked at the Beeper Emporium, you only wore it for important family events."

Going back to her closet, Miriam also found the long sleeved white blouse that she wore under the jacket as well as her matching high heels. It had been a few days since she last wore them and she wanted to make sure that they still fit, so she tried them on and walked around the room with them on.

"At least my high heels are fine," she said, although she wore her everyday purple pumps on a daily basis. Continuing to pick through her wardrobe, Miriam walked over to her dresser drawer and pulled out three pairs of pantyhose, showing them to Helga. The pairs were tan, black and white.

"Mom, you never wore pantyhose before," advised Helga as she inspected the pantyhose. "Don't you think you should think about wearing pantyhose before actually wearing them?"

Realizing that she was going overboard again, Miriam sighed at the thought of her daughter's suggestion and sat back down on the bed.

"You're right, Helga," she said, realizing her errors and out of character personality. "I just want to look nice that's all. If I was doing this with your father, he scorn me for doing something like this."

"But you looked nice when you filled in for him at the Emporium," reminded Helga. "You didn't wear pantyhose to work then and you shouldn't wear them now. But, if you want to wear them, go with the tan."

Miriam placed the tan pantyhose on the bed. Although she was still too young to be wearing them, Helga knew the troubles of wearing stockings from life in school.

"I want to warn you, Mom," advised Helga. "Mr. Simmons says you can get a run in them."

Taking note of her daughter's suggestion, Miriam then walked back over to the closet and began digging around again. Miriam pulled out a white lace slip from the closet and laid it on the bed along with a white bra and white panties.

"I might as well wear full underwear," Miriam said. "This is only a once in a lifetime thing and I don't want my suit to get ruined or covered in sweat."

After a few minutes of laying her ensemble on the bed, Helga and Miriam looked at the suit and undergarments that Miriam would wear to the interview. By the time they finished, it was already late into the night.

"Well, mom, I think you are all set for the interview tomorrow," said Helga, looking down at her mother's outfit. "I am pretty sure dad would say the same thing right now."

Miriam was happy but sighed at the same time.

"Yes, he would honey," she replied sadly. "I might as well put everything away if he was in here telling me I shouldn't take this chance."

Helga was surprised at this. One moment, her mother was happy and the next she was back to her depressive self.

"Why would you say that?" she asked, amazed at her mother's apathy.

"I don't know," replied Miriam, sitting back down on the bed. "Maybe I am just nervous, that's all." Helga placed her hand on Miriam's and looked at her.

"Listen to me," she said. "When you filled in for dad, I saw you a positive light, a light that I have never seen before in. Now, I want you to be happy at something you love and I will be there at your side tomorrow."

Miriam and Helga hugged again and Helga got up to go to bed.

"Rest up, mom," she advised as she shut the door behind her. "You have a big day tomorrow."

As Helga left, Miriam sighed as she took her cranberry suit and hung it on the bedroom door, knowing how tomorrow was going to decide how to chart her course for her family's life as well proving to her big shot husband that she can be an active member of society and bring as much to the table as him.

Tomorrow, was only a matter of time away and fortunately, Bob had an early morning meeting, so tomorrow would be just her and Helga on the most important day of her life.