Sherry Johnson showed up at my door smiling sweetly. She wasn't wearing her standard consultant garb. Instead she was wearing an FBU T-shirt, sandals, and a pair of designer jeans that could cause traffic accidents.
"Hi, Professor Wentworth. How are you today?" she asked in an engaging voice. She sounded like news of my well being was the very reason for her existence. So I knew she wanted something. Probably a fairly substantial something.
I slid into reverie thinking that there should be one of those large yellow traffic hazard signs hanging from the back pocket of those jeans when I realized that they were probably having exactly the effect that she had intended. So I snapped out of it.
"I'm doing well, Sherry. What can I do for you?"
"Can I come in? I have something that I need to talk to you about."
Patience was at her computer, banging away at the keyboard, muttering at the screen and apparently oblivious to the jeans. Must be me, I thought, and offered her a seat.
"My company has given me a paid leave of absence to finish my degree. If I take two classes this summer, I can finish in December."
"Good. I'm happy for you. But what does this have to do with me?"
"My company, BNCF , is planning to develop some new business initiatives in web applications. They are specifically interested in web sites used for business transactions such as online sales. The deal I made was that I would develop the necessary expertise during my leave so that I could help with the new business development when I came back."
"O.K.". I was beginning to get nervous because I knew that the web stuff would eventually get around to me.
"So I need to come up to speed in web technologies."
"O.K."
"Well. You're the web person."
Her polish was beginning to wear a little thin and the slightest hint of impatience was creeping into her voice. I looked over at Patience and thought to myself - Sherry, if you think you will get anywhere with me by getting impatient, you have a long way to go. Then, I thought of myself in a superman costume with a WWW where the S belongs. Thadeus Wentworth, web person. All my striving and it has come to this. Jeans vs. web person - the battle of wills.
"So take the web class this summer." I offered, not really know where all this was going.
"I plan to, but I also need some hands-on experience."
"Then see if one of the departments needs a TA to maintain their web pages"
"But I want to work for you. I won't learn enough just updating some department's pages."
Finally, we got to point.
"I already have a TA", I said, gesturing at Patience who was still banging at the keyboard and muttering at the screen. Still, also, apparently oblivious to the jeans, but aware of the intruder. She shot a sideways glance at me that lasted less than a second but conveyed a volume of information.
Patience was the best. If I could get a dozen more like her, I would own the web. She was smart, efficient, well organized, talented and hard working to an extent that made me feel like a slacker. The down side was that she was a little impatient and did not suffer fools lightly. The occasional blast from her flame-thrower was offset a hundred times over by her dependability. I could rely on her one hundred per cent. If I asked her to do something, and she agreed, it would be done. I never had to give it a second thought.
The brief glance had nothing to do with competition for the TA job. There was no competition for Patience. The glance said "If you go through with this, don't expect me to train her. I've got enough work to do." Point taken. You don't have to hit me with a flame-thrower.
"But how am I supposed to get the exposure that I promised BNCF?" Sherry asked, deftly dropping the problem into my lap.
"I don't know, Sherry. You should have checked with me before you committed to this."
At that moment I remembered that I had a summer grant from Intercontinental to look into security in electronic commerce. I needed a TA to work on the grant, but hadn't really had an opportunity to figure out the details. I had considered luring Angel away from Haggerty because she had a lot of system administration experience. Frank wouldn't like it, but I would have found a way to make it up to him. As I was thinking about this, it must have shown on my face because Sherry picked up on it immediately.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Well," I said, starting slowly, unsure as to whether or not I should say anything.
"I have a grant this summer with Intercontinental Detective Agency. I need a TA on the grant, but I haven't really had a chance to think much about it."
"I'll take it!" she said, even though I hadn't actually offered it.
Sherry relaxed in her chair as though it was all settled. I felt like saying - But, only if you don't wear those jeans again.
Patience shot me another glance. This one was less than a half of a second. There I sat, caught between tight jeans and a flame-thrower. I was going to be a long, hot summer.