Gaslight Sonata

A couple of weeks later, Lily stood in Mr. Meeks office nervously shuffling the papers she had in her hands. “Remember when I told you that you were lucky to have a man in your life to take care of you?”

“Yes, sir.” Lily said quietly with her red face turned to the ground.

“Yes sir, what?!”

“Yes, sir, I r-r-remember, sir.” sob …

“I also told you we have no need for a person who is emotionally unstable here at TriTech. Are you emotionally unstable, Lily?”

“N-n-no, sir …”

“You must be, or maybe you’re a liar plotting all along to deceive us, just to get a pay check you don’t deserve, or … possibly you’re just not very bright! Which is it Lily? Are you just a little dim witted?”

“Please, sir give me another chance. I … “ Lily said as she tried to pull herself together.

“Remember last week when even your fiancé told me you were a bit of a slow learner? I should have canned your ass right then, but no, I stuck up for you and have been on Davey’s back ever since for being too harsh with you.”

Lily didn’t remember Davey telling Mr. Meeks that she was a slow learner … but, maybe … Mr. Meeks has been especially rough on her fiancé when Lily was around … maybe Davey did say that about her and she just … forgot.

“During your initial interview I told you that there was technical knowledge required and you assured me that you were well qualified. Was that a lie?”

“Sir? I … during the interview … y-y-you told me that I didn’t need a background in the tech field.” Lily said confused.

“Now you’re calling me a liar! I’m I a liar Lily?” Mr Meeks asked menacingly.

Lily was so stressed she couldn’t think straight. “No, no … of course not, sir … but …”

“I believe I deserve an apology, don’t you … and while you’re at it let me hear you say who’s fault it is that I’m being abusive to your fiancé.”

Lily tried to argue with a pleading look at Mr Meeks, but now she was so confused, “…but … oh … sob … it w-w-was my fault, I caused trouble for my boyfriend … sob ... oh, I didn’t … I mean … I’m sorry for calling you a liar! I’m so sorry … I can be so stupid sometimes … sob.”

“You have been given every opportunity to succeed here, yet there seems to be nothing that you can do well.”

She thought she was a good worker and capable to do this job when she applied, Mr. Meeks even complimented her for being a quick learner at first. But now, ever since she repeatedly turned down his request to have dinner with her at his place on the nights Davey worked late, she wasn’t sure what was going on.

Mr Meeks had given her a chance, he even allowed her to spend an hour a day reading the technical manuals and research papers which he would then quiz her on to see if she was making progress. He of course didn’t let her know that only the most advanced techs who spent many years in the field understood the tech manuals and of course the research papers where grad level. At first Lily could see on Mr Meeks face how disappointed he was in her responses to the quizzes, but within a few days he was openly expressing his regret in hiring her, often muttering that a five year old could learn how to do her job quicker then her.

Later that day Mr. Meeks called her into his office to make her face the consequences of her stupidity. ‘No wonder you can’t learn anything. Stop moping around feeling sorry for yourself! There has to be something you can do.”