Step One to Becoming a Super Hero

The members of RLSH (real life super heroes: http://www.reallifesuperheroes.org/) might have different ideas then me on what the first step to becoming a super hero is. I think none of us could argue that getting superhero powers would be solid first step. I also wouldn't argue against the idea that having the desire to be a superhero is fundamental and perhaps the first step to being a super hero. Off scene, when they don't think anyone is paying attention I wouldn't be surprised if some members of RLSH think making up a persona, a name, a logo, or a costume is one of the first steps to becoming a RLSH. There are those members who take their civil duty to heart and would say that the first step is identifying the need, I like this brand of hero. For me though, the first step of becoming a superhero is having a superhero day job. Peter Parker freelanced for a newspaper. Clark Kent was a reporter for the Daily Planet, receiving late-breaking news before the general public. A job that gives you the inside track to the world and gives you the connections needed to fulfill your civil duty by night seem to be a choice job for a superhero. So, I have taken my first step into the realm of superheros. (For those of you already acquainted with a somewhat fictional character, Money Man, I don't know what to tell you.)

Went into the Phuket Gazette Tuesday for my second interview, which consisted of meeting the publisher, Joe, and re-testing my ability to write a news article. Joe is an elderly man in his 70s that still has a bright sprightliness in his eyes. He has a English gentry feel about him, despite growing up in Wisconsin. He came to the Far East for a two year stent with his bank back in the 60's. I was blown away by his reasoning for loving banking - the writing. The writing has to be concise and economical, and for him there was nothing better in the world. Sitting on the blue couches in his office we talked about my goals, where I was in my life, and why I wanted to get into journalism (superheros were not mentioned). I hadn't prepared answers for any of these questions, despite them being pretty obvious and important questions. So without textbook perfect answers I was as honest and genuine as I could be. After the interview I hammered out another story; this time I focused on what I had learned from the all-mighty internet about how to write a newspaper article, which mostly consisted of writing a good lead. A good lead had to included who, what, where, why, and how, because most people never got past the first paragraph - assuming they got past the headline. Half an hour was all the time I had. I read the article highlighted what seemed important and went to town. I didn't have a chance to read back over it and edit it. I hardly had a chance to write a conclusion. A couple minutes over the time limit I just stood up and popped into Chris's office.

We took a walk outside so he could smoke. The rain was coming down loud on the roof outside. Chris checked the direction of the wind and stood down-wind from me as he lit a cigarette. We talked about the commitment, the logistics, my worries, things I was excited about and what the contract would look like. He thought Joe liked me and was willing to give me a verbal offer. He was proud of his news team, though he couldn't let them know it. They did good work and he wanted me to join them. I was ecstatic, but nervous, because he hadn't even looked at what I had written. The rain kept coming down so I spent sometime at the office just reading archived issues of the paper. With no sign of the rain letting up I decided to wrap up in the space suit and head home to Jackie. I wasn't settled. Chris was going to send me a written agreement that afternoon. When the agreement arrived I would finally be able to relax, but the time passed and nothing came. I had lunch, and there was nothing. I had dinner, and there was nothing. The clock moved past the hours that the Gazette was open and everyone, even those staying late, would have headed home.

No e-mail when I woke up in the morning. But I did get a phone call. Chris was on the line. The Gazette had a four hour power outage yesterday, so he hadn't been able to e-mail me. He had talked with Joe about me, so it looks like the job offer hadn't been a 100% the day before. Now without question he wanted to offer me the position as sub-editor for the news team at the Phuket Gazette.