Having decided I had been kicked around enough, the universe started to turn in my favour.
It began with me enjoying life again. Being back in Vancouver was reviving. I breathed in the freshness of the ocean air and saluted the snow-capped North Shore Mountains each morning. Whenever the rain let up, I ran outside along False Creek. I loved this city.
Ben got me onto his friend’s hockey team in a spring hockey league at Eight Rinks. They were desperate enough for women players that his buddy even agreed to drive me to games. Getting out on the ice again made me so happy. I could lose myself in the game for a couple of hours.
Then, I got a call from Betty Harrison telling me that I had gotten the television internship job, and it would start at the beginning of May. This was stellar, headline, phone-my-parents-in-Japan news. I worried that I hadn’t been energetic enough in the interview, but maybe my high marks and Ruby’s recommendation had tipped the scales in my favour.
To celebrate, I went apartment hunting with April. We managed to find the only place that I could afford on my limited intern’s salary. It was in the basement of a house in the Commercial Drive area. I could have done better in a shared house, but I really wanted to be on my own. I had spent enough time trying to fit into Jimmy’s life, and now I could relax and do whatever I wanted. Being messy and eating salads and popcorn for dinner were high on my list.
I realized I was being immature—like a teenager rebelling against her parents—by doing the opposite of what Jimmy had decreed. But it was my chance to figure out what I wanted, something I’d never had a chance to do.
I didn’t have that much stuff, but I did need to furnish the new place. I went to my parent’s storage locker and got out my bike, my old bed, and other useful odds and ends. April worked her magic, helping me to clean and paint the place before I moved in.
“Thank you so much. I can’t believe you’re doing all this for me when you’re getting married in two weeks.”
“Your apartment is the size of a normal bedroom, so it’s not that much work. Anyway, it’s better than starting our marriage with a gloomy zombie living in the guest room.”
“I haven’t been that bad.”
April raised both eyebrows. “Ben said it’s like living with a ghost. He hardly sees you and, when he does, you’re so quiet. You don’t even want to talk hockey. That does not sound like the Kelly Tanaka I know. Besides, didn’t the Canucks just vacuum up some team?”
“They swept the Blues. That was the first round. But now they’re playing the Blackhawks.”
“Oh.” April gave me a searching look. “So, he’s in town?”
I nodded. It was totally creepy to think that we might run into each other. However, Vancouver was a big place, and I knew exactly which areas to avoid: the clubs, the big restaurants, and the nice hotels. To be safe, I was avoiding all of downtown. Maddy had e-mailed me to get together while she was in Vancouver, but I told her I wasn’t up to it yet. If she said anything at all about Jimmy, I might break into little pieces. Irrationally, I still worried about him and how he was doing.
“Has he called you?”
“No, he won’t. And he can’t, since I have a new number.” And a new address. It was like the witness protection program; I even looked different now since I had shed the false eyelashes and lipstick.
April sniffed. “I’ll have to carry a baseball bat around in case I run into him.”
Since the city was overcome with playoff fever, it was hard to miss seeing Jimmy’s face on big screen televisions everywhere. In addition, I started work on Monday, and a sports station wasn’t exactly the best place to avoid the hockey playoffs.
“Welcome to Coast 2 Coast Sports, Kelly.” Betty smiled brightly at me. “Did you want a coffee?”
“I’m good, I just finished a tea,” I told her.
“Let’s get started then.” She pulled out a file folder with schedules and lists in it. “I’ve prepared a training program for you. I was a little surprised to find out that there wasn’t a formal internship program before. Throwing new people into the fire is hardly a guarantee for success.”
I nodded. That made total sense, but working on the radio side had taught me that not everything was done logically around here.
“I prefer to work in an atmosphere of open communications. If you have major problems or issues, I’d like you to bring them to me. Minor issues, you should learn to resolve yourself. We work as a team and good relationships are key to functioning well during broadcasts.”
She leaned forward. “To be honest, we did have candidates with better broadcast experience, but Ruby Leitner assured me that you’re passionate and hard-working, and I really liked your hockey background. Not only because you’re used to teamwork, but also because it breaks the traditional paradigm. On air, it’s usually the guys who bring the hockey experience while the women bring the pretty. I’d really like to subvert those expectations.”
She winked at me. “But don’t tell anyone else my plans for global domination. Just work hard and show us what you’ve got. Interns can go on to any number of jobs here, but I think you might be a good candidate for an on-air position.”
Man, she was so smart that I had to concentrate fully whenever she spoke to me. Betty was so charismatic that I already felt like I’d walk through fire for her. It couldn’t have been easy getting to be an executive in the sexist sports universe. I was going to learn a ton from her.
“I’m going to cycle you through the technical areas first. In every area you work in, they will assign you work. Of course, most of it will be menial, but you’ll be learning by observation. Since it’s a brand new program, a lot of areas won’t know what to do with you. Just roll up your sleeves and offer to pitch in wherever you see a need.”
I nodded. That was my modus operandi when I was the receptionist, and it worked out well.
“I’m going to give you projects as well. Mainly research, but they will be areas I’m legitimately interested in and not make-work stuff. And, remember, relationships are key,” she repeated. I think she meant that a budding reporter’s career could get derailed pretty fast if she pissed off the crew. Well, I might not have any broadcast experience, but I was good at getting along with people.
“Thank you so much for this opportunity.”
She smiled and nodded. “Everyone needs one break. Then it’s up to you what you make out of it.”