This Life by Katherine Tarasenko

 This morning, she woke up in Kenya

from the croaking of a little parrot sitting by her bed.

Why did this happen, and what brought her here, to the world of open nature, a sense of freedom and smoothness of life? Katie has worked as an office clerk since the beginning of her studies at the university. Her whole life revolved around Mr. Brigotte's papers and his “important assignments” such as running for a double caramel latte. The girl felt gray and inconspicuous: even comparing herself to the girls from a nearby recruitment agency who came to work every day as if on the Red Carpet, she had complexes and stifled injustice. Why does everyone bite everything and others bite their teeth to the point of gnashing? As a child, parents rarely praised little Katie, focusing more on her sister. Probably because of this, one of them is conquering the catwalks today, and the other is calculating the monthly salary of employees of “Brigotti Studio”.

A few months ago, she went to the head with a serious statement.

- I can no longer work for your company. Please sign my application for dismissal, and in a week I will find and prepare a worthy replacement for you.

She was able to excite Mr. Brigotti, who was accustomed to her daily delivery of coffee and did not want to change his courier.

- I need change. I feel empty and unable to follow my dreams. I want to spend my life traveling, changing my surroundings, being interested and being part of the circle of those rich and influential people, among whom you are at conferences every morning. Being a secretary and creating such a life is difficult at the same time. Apparently, I should take a break.

- Are you sure that you will have enough money to sit on your ass for at least a year and indulge in your dreams? Katie was shocked by such tactlessness from her usually nervous, but not so rude leader.

- My girl, sit down for a minute, you can make us both coffee, and the best thing is to listen clearly and remember my words.

No one in this world will ever want you to succeed. You hear me, nobody. I grew up in a family of twelve. My parents fed 10 companies, can you imagine that? I understand that it is quite rare to see a person of my social status admit to such things. Think you caught the jackpot today. So, no one brought me anything on a saucer. I studied the survival of those who hindered me, as well as improved the skills I had already acquired. That is why I am here today, I have a team of subordinates and a multi-million annual turnover. Not because I was tired and took a break every time I couldn't scrape for a new bag.

Here's what we'll do: take a week off, and then I'll send you on a business trip. Consider it a gift from the company for your upcoming birthday. You will rest, see the world, talk to the lions in Kenya, if they want to get out before your arrival. There is a completely different life, a free life. And you will be able to find many answers to your questions.

Eyes are opened. +35 in mid-November. There are small lizards walking on the veranda, which will most likely not harm Katie. In a month and a half, she will be 29. And all her turbulent life is just beginning, because she wants to.