The Little People

“Can you tell Margaret that Jan called?” I asked.
“Sure thing!” chirped the enthusiastic twenty-something on the other end of the phone.
“How does she know you again?” Snap. Pop.
“I worked for her, um, about 9 years ago….”
“Wow. I’ll let Margaret know you called.”
Click.

That was two weeks ago.
Margaret hasn’t returned the call.

I decided it would be a great idea to give her a ring after the New Year. I’d learned my former boss had been promoted to Vice President of a great company. The job was in television news. The same industry we had worked in together almost a decade ago.
It was fast, exciting, glamorous, and fun. There were many evenings I sat in her office and talked about new ideas or different angles to spin a story.
Margaret was always positive. She told me I would go far.

That was 9 years ago.

Truthfully, I’m not sure why I called. I probably felt restless and wanted to catch up. Maybe I was looking for a job. Maybe I don’t know what I’m looking for and hope the person on the other end of the phone has answers.

But I do know this: I’ve had interns, subordinates, and coworkers who for one reason or another have called to touch base.

I’ve always returned the call.