[FFML] [Ranma][Thy Outward Part] Faces

[Farzad Mansouri]

Wow I just have to clap my hands after I finish this
fic its that great.  Thank you Mr. Lawson for such
great works of fiction.


--- Richard D LAWSON <nouma at msn.com> wrote:

> What the hell.  This idea has been bouncing around
> my head and I finally put 
> it on paper.
> 
> I am, as always, open to any and all commentary and
> criticism, benevolent or 
> otherwise.
> 
> From the Department of Redundancy Department: A new
> story in my "Thy Outward 
> Part" series of Ranma fanfics.  Previous
> installments can be found on my 
> website:  http://www.sterman.org.
> 
> Flame away.
> 
> -Richard
> 
> ---------------
> 
> We all have a face
> That we hide away forever,
> And we take them out and show ourselves
> When everyone has gone.
> 
> Some are satin, some are steel,
> Some are silk, and some are leather.
> They're the faces of the stranger,
> But we love to try them on
> 
>            "The Stranger"
>            Billy Joel
> 
> 
> Faces
> 
> by Richard Lawson
> 
> ---
> 
> Okawara Chiyoko bowed slightly.  "I am honored to be
> here."
> 
> The older woman eyed her.  "You understand your
> duties?"
> 
> Yoko nodded, having studied the job posting
> carefully.  "I am to greet 
> patients when they arrive, find out if they have an
> appointment, direct them 
> to the appropriate office, and schedule future
> appointments."
> 
> The older woman nodded.  "You'll also process mail
> and make non-emergency 
> pages.  Refer anyone who's coming in for emergency
> treatment to the 
> emergency ward.  Are you prepared?"
> 
> Yoko nodded enthusiastically.  She had carefully
> selected her wardrobe to be 
> professional, sympathetic, and appealing.  She'd
> also spent a great deal of 
> time this morning apllying makeup, emphasizing the
> curves of her face, the 
> propensity of her lips to be constantly smiling. 
> This was the perfect 
> place, the perfect opportunity, and she wasn't going
> to waste it.  "I am 
> ready to begin."
> 
> "Good."  The woman indicated that Yoko should sit at
> the desk.  "You know 
> how to use a computer?"
> 
> Yoko very nearly rolled her eyes.  The other woman
> was betraying her age; 
> everyone knew how to use a computer these days. 
> "Yes, I am very familiar 
> with how a computer works."
> 
> "Good.  Here's your login information."  The woman
> thrust a sheaf of papers 
> at Yoko.  "Look it over.  If you have any questions,
> ask Mary."
> 
> Yoko looked at where a middle-aged woman was talking
> to a patient, taking 
> down insurance information.  Mary was clearly busy
> but took the time to 
> smile at Yoko by way of greeting.
> 
> The older woman ended the conversation by walking
> away.  Yoko looked around 
> in a mild panic, hoping no one would walk up to her
> right away.  She quickly 
> logged into the computer and started poking around,
> finding the scheduling 
> software and various office applications. 
> Satisfied, she logged into the 
> switchboard and began familiarizing herself with the
> layout.
> 
> Thankfully it was all simple to figure out.  Yoko
> had not done much after 
> high school for a couple of years until her mother
> had evicted her from the 
> house.  Yoko had not much enjoyed that experience,
> nor the waitress job she 
> had been forced to take for a while.  She'd
> eventually enrolled in a 
> secretarial program and emerged with a
> certification.  After a couple of 
> temp jobs filling in for vacationing people, she'd
> applied for and been 
> accepted as a hospital receptionist.
> 
> The woman who had interviewed her had talked about
> the wonderful career 
> opportunities that could be had at Nerima General. 
> Yoko had responded with 
> the appropriate amount of eager zealousness,
> although privately she didn't 
> intend to remain working here for long.
> 
> After contenting herself that she could use the
> phone system, she called up 
> the directory of doctors on staff.  It was a
> satisfyingly long list.  Yoko 
> nodded to herself, then opened up her purse and
> brought out her compact.  
> Its mirror showed that nothing had changed.  Yoko
> was young, slim, and 
> attractive.  All she had to do was catch the eye of
> the right person.
> 
> Yoko quickly put the mirror away; one musn't appear
> to be too vain.  Almost 
> as soon as she did, a fiftyish man walked up to ask
> about meeting a Dr. 
> Kunitomi.  Yoko greeted him warmly and checked the
> scheduling software.  She 
> found that the man had an appointment, and called
> Dr. Kunitomi's extension.  
> The voice on the other end was disappointly old, and
> directed Yoko to send 
> the man back to his office.  Yoko found a map and
> discovered that the man 
> already knew where Dr, Kunitomi's office was, and
> went along his way.  Yoko 
> called out a pleasant goodbye as the man left.
> 
> "You did that very well."
> 
> Yoko turned to see that Mary had come up behind her.
>  Yoko smiled even as 
> she quickly assessed Mary.  Not very slim, a bit
> frumpy.  A ring on her 
> finger indicated she was married.  This was a great
> relief to Yoko; she 
> wanted to make as many friends as possible amongst
> the staff here.
> 
> Yoko bowed her head and spoke in a friendly but
> deferential tone.  "Thank 
> you.  My name is Yoko.  I'm pleased to meet you." 
> She quickly dug in her 
> purse, pulled out a business card, and handed it to
> Mary.
> 
> Mary seemed greatly amused as she accepted the card.
>  "I'm afraid I don't 
> have any cards with me.  I'll get one to you soon. 
> Have you worked long in 
> the medical field?"
> 
> Yoko shook her head.  "No.  This is my first
> permanent job working in a 
> hospital.  But I look forward to learning from you
> how best to help others."
> 
> Mary smiled.  "Well, from what I saw, you seem to be
> a natural.  I don't 
> know that I have a lot to teach you.  I'll mostly be
> doing non-emergnecy 
> admissions, but if you ever need to step away from
> the desk for a few 
> minutes, I can cover for you."
> 
> "Thank you."  Yoko bowed her head again.  "I hope in
> time I can do the same 
> for you."
> 
> "We'll see.  Do you have any questions?"
> 
> Yoko brightened.  "Do we deal with the doctors
> much?"
> 
> In Mary's expression, Yoko saw that she had made a
> mistake, revealed too 
> much of her intentions with the clumsy question. 
> Mary 
=== message truncated ===


----------

A man earns the title 'Great' by having power and NOT abusing it.
-Old Persian philosophy


       
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