Hey! Here's chapter 4! Hope you guys like it! Please read AND review! Thanks!
Mary had been staying with Brenda for several weeks when she finally got an interview with ABC. She ran up the stairs to Rhoda's appartment as soon as she finished the call.
"Rhoda?!"
"Come on in Mare!" Mary burst through the door, startling the twins who both started crying at once. Mary shot her friend a guilty look, but Rhoda just shook her head and shouted over the din,
"It's allright, Kid, but you're gonna have to help me by calming one of the munchkins down before I'll be able to hear why you're so excited." Mary laughed at that and picked up Joey. Rhoda held Mera and calmed her down fairly quickly. Mary bounced Joey in her arms while pacing the floor and he eventually stopped crying.
"Thanks. Now what did you burst in here to tell me?", Rhoda asked, as she and Mary set the babies down on a blanket on the floor.
"Rhoda, you know how I've been filling out application after application for weeks.", Mary began. Rhoda nodded.
"Yeah. You've had a few interviews too, if I'm remembering right." It was Mary's turn to nod.
"Yes, but nothing's panned out. Well, I just got a call from… are you ready for this?… ABC." Rhoda stared at her best friend for a moment and Mary waited for it to sink in.
"What?! You mean, the NETWORK, ABC?",Rhoda exclaimed after a moment.
"The one and only!"
"Kid, That's Wonderful!", Rhoda said, jumping up to give her best friend a hug.
"Thanks! The interview is tomorrow at three. Rhoda, I'm scared!", Mary said as she suddenly stopped smiling. Rhoda smiled at her.
"What for, Kid, Huh? You'll be great! You've had plenty of experience! If you can deal with Ted Baxter for seven years, you can handle anything!" Mary had to smile at that and she squeezed her friend's hand gratefully. Before she could reply though, there was a knock on the door.
"Rho, Is Mary with you?"
"Yeah. Come on in,Bren!", Rhoda replied. Brenda entered with her new boyfriend,Benny tagging right behind.
"Hi, Brenda.", Mary said.
"Hey, Mary. This is my boyfriend, Benny Goodwin"
"Nice to meet you, Benny! Brenda's told me alot about you.",
"Nice to meet you too, Mary. Heard you're in the television business."
"Behind the scenes and at the moment I'm not in ANY business. I'm between jobs."
"Ah, well I learn alot by working in the toll both. Ya hear things. I can check around to see if anything available."
"Ah, well that's nice,Benny but as it turns out, I have an interview tomorrow. Just found out about an hour ago."
"Congratsulations,Mary! Where?", asked Brenda.
"ABC. It's just an interview though. It may not amount to anything."
"Mare! You're starting to sound like ME! Where's that optomism your so famous for?!", Rhoda exclaimed.
"You're right! I should go in there like I deserve this job and I already have it!"
"That's right! Don't sell yourself short, Mary!", Brenda said.
"Hey, Brenda and I are about to go to the Roller Dome. You girls wanna come?"
"I can't. Joe's not back yet because was going out with the guys after work tonight. But Mary, Why don't you go.",Rhoda was being sarcastic. she knew Mary wouldn't want to go Roller skating. Mary shot her friend a look before turning to the younger two people.
"That's alright. I think I'll just stay and keep Rhoda company tonight. she's going to help me with my interview prep.", Mary said as politely as she could.
"Ok. We'll see you two later then.", Brenda said. Then she and Benny left after saying goodby.
"So Mare, do ya really need help with that interview prep?, Rhoda asked with a knowing look. Mary mock glared at her friend and they both burst out laughing, then Rhoda went to see what there was to fix for dinner.
The next day, Mary walked into ABC professionally dressed and with her head held high. She calmly walked over to the reception desk and gave her name. The receptionist announced her and told her to go right on up.
"Mary Richards?", asked a man when she arrived.
"Yes. I'm Mary Richards.", Mary replied, trying not to sound nervous.
"I'm Rick Stanton. I'm the Cheif Executive Producer here. Let's sit down.", the man said as he led Mary to a seat in front of his desk. Mary sat. Mr Stanton asked her several questions and Mary answered them skillfully. She wasn't sure how well she did because Mr Stanton wore a stoic expression. After he finished he looked up from his notes and said,
"Thankyou. We'll be in touch." Mary shook his hand and thanked him for the interview. Then she headed back home.
Later that evening, Mary was in Brenda's appartment alone. Brenda had gone out with Gary and Benny and Sally Galegher somewhere and Rhoda wasn't home from work yet. Jack was keeping her late that evening so Joe had the twins at the moment. A few minutes later, Mary heard a knock at the door. She answered it and found Rhoda on the other side.
"Rhoda? What are you doing here? I thought you had to work late tonight."
"I just got back. I wanted to see how your interview went. What happened,Kid?"
"I don't really know anything, Rhoda. Rick Stanton who interviewed me was even more stoic and all business than Mr Grant."
"Speaking of Lou, you DID use him as a reference, right?"
"Yes. But I don't know if that would do any good. They probably don't know each other. And I don't have any formal education."
"Mare, you've got great training from one of the best in the business and you have seven years of experience now. That will most likely count for alot! I'll bet you did great! When are they supposed to let you know?"
"He didn't say. All he DID say was Thankyou and We'll keep in touch."
"Mary, Why don't you come up and eat with Joe and me. You can spend time with the babies. It will get your mind off of things.", Rhoda offered.
"No, Rhoda. That's ok. You need time with your family. I'd be intruding."
"Mare, you know you're family too, Kid. Come on! Joe won't mind. He and I are going out tomorrow night anyway, remember?" Mary nodded. She'd offered to baby-sit the twins that night.
"Really, Mare. You ARE family. You wouldn't be in the way. I promise. Whatdaya say?" Mary thought a little longer, then finally conceded on one condition.
"Ok, Rhoda. I accept. But you need to make sure it's ok with Joe first. If it's not, I will be just fine here. I might even call some old friends I know who live in the city now." Rhoda agreed and called Joe. Joe was more than ok with Mary coming that night since he'd have Rhoda to himself the next evening. Mary WAS going to be the one to make that possible after all. Mary helped put the babies to bed and then helped get dinner ready. Rhoda was right. Being with her friends, Mary felt alot less anxious and even felt hungry once the knots left her stomach.
About a week later, Mary finally received another phone call.
"Ms Richards? This is Rick Stanton. I was calling to tell you that the job of associate producer is yours if you are still interested."
"Yes,sir! I am very much still interested. Thankyou!"
"Great! Come in at eight Monday morning and will get you set up! I look forward to having you work for me."
"I'll be there! Thanks again!" Mary said goodby and hung up. Then she turned to the twins who were staying in Brenda's appartment with her for then day and said,
"Your Auntie Mary's got a job!" The twins just looked at her confused and she said,
"Well, trust me. It's good news. I can't wait till your mommy gets home so I can tell her!" The babies just went back to their playing. A couple of hours later, Rhoda came back to pick up her twins.
"Hey Mare! Did you hear anything?"
"Yes! Rhoda, he called!", Mary exclaimed. Rhoda waited and then said,
"And?! Kid, don't keep me in suspense here!"
"Well, Rhoda…. I got the job! I start Monday!" Rhoda's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. She went over to give her best friend the biggest hug she ever had.
"Ah, Mare! That's terrific, Kid! I'm so happy for ya! You deserve this! Hey, let's go celebrate tonight! We can get Brenda and Joe and Ma and Pop and go out somewhere!"
"That sounds like fun, but it's last minute. Do you think we can get everyone together that fast?"
"Sure we can! It's only four PM right now. Jack let me off early today. Business is slow this time of year. It'll pick back up soon though. Come on, Let's call them!"
"Well, Ok! I really do feel like celebrating!" The babies started protesting then because they felt ignored, so Mary picked up Mera and Rhoda got Joey and they each grabbed a diaper bag. Then they headed to the elevator. One the way Rhoda turned to her friend and said,
"Hey, Mare, you need to call Lou and Murray and Georgette! Oh and Ted. He'll be so jealous when he finds out where you'll be working!"
"Rhoda! But, you're right. I'll call them once we get back tonight. it won't be as late where they all are. especially Mr Grant in LA. I'll call Phyllis too." Rhoda rolled her eyes at hearing that name. She'd never understand how Mary was friends with that woman! The elevator opened so they headed up to Rhoda's to make plans. For the first time in months Mary felt that she really would make it after all.
Well, Now Mary's back working again. What's next for Rhoda and Joe? Tune in next week to find out! Again All reviews are MUCH appreciated! Please don't forget! Thanks!