another profound chapter in our so-so lives
Posted by lordpinoy on June 15, 2007
2 minutes with the director of our institute
Yesterday (June 15, 2007), while on my way up the 2nd floor of our decrepit "research" building, I happen to meet our director on the flight of stairs. Like his predecessor before him, he wastes no time in getting to the point (we should note here that often, it comes after making an elaborate hand gesture which serves to immediately remind anyone of his/her pitiful place in the grand scheme of things): Hey (he says) I’m going to need a favor from you. I’m asking you to be the I.T. guy for NIP (for now)… And would it be possible to connect Mrs. XXXX to the net (or something like that).
Somewhere in the hellish part of this earth, sounds of evil laughter escape.
I need not remind myself that: whenever higher ups ask for favors, they aren’t necessarily inclined to reciprocate. It is simply unacceptable whether politically, or symbolically.
Yet, here now before me, the department’s most powerful man, (expressing a bit more humility… much more than you thought was possible for anyone in his position), rather than invoking a clause in my contract which would get the job done anyway, chooses to act in a less dignified manner.
Now… a devil in my position would have struck a subtle Faustian bargain… but after giving it much thought (… for about 2 seconds), I responded to his brave display of humanity in kind (!!!!), by promising to act on his requests and making a Monday appointment to accomplish all that.
Talk about odd/inconsequential moments in our so-called lives… Anyway, while recalling the day’s events that night, it reminded me of some lines I’ve read in RL Stevenson’s celebrated short story (Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mister Hyde):
…you shall be left as you were before, and neither richer nor wiser, unless the sense of service rendered to a man in mortal distress may be counted as a kind of riches of the soul…
