The Interview

Andres is from Medellin, and last year he lived in Liverpool. In March he had an interview for a job at a bank in Manchester. It was his first interview in English, and he was very nervous. He bought a new blue suit and a red tie, and he practiced his answers every evening.

On the day of the interview he got up at six, put on the suit and took the train. He bought a coffee at the station. On the train he read his notes one more time. Then the train stopped suddenly, and the coffee went all over his tie. Brown coffee, red tie. A disaster.

Andres looked at the clock. The interview was at ten; it was nine fifteen. He didn't have time to go home. When the train arrived in Manchester, he ran out of the station and found a small shop. He chose the first tie he saw: dark green with small white dots. He paid, took off the red tie and put on the green one in the street.

He arrived at the bank at five to ten. His heart was going fast, but his tie was clean. A woman took him to a big office. The interviewer, Mr. Hughes, stood up and shook his hand. Andres looked at him and stopped. Mr. Hughes wore the same tie: dark green with small white dots.

"Did you buy that tie this morning?" Mr. Hughes asked. "Yes, I did," Andres answered. "Was it the shop next to the station?" "Yes, it was." Mr. Hughes laughed. "Me too. Five minutes ago. Sit down, please."

Was the interview good? Yes, it was. Did he get the job? He did. And now, every day, Andres and Mr. Hughes drink coffee together at the office. Not on the train.