Necessary Lies Read Online Free PDF

away with my work sometimes. He said I was the only student he’d ever taught who wanted to redo a paper he’d graded an A because I thought I could make it even better.
    “It’s important to me that I always do my best,” I said now to Mrs. Werkman.
    “That can take a toll on a person, don’t you think?”
    “That’s exactly what Dr. Adams said, but here I am.” I smiled broadly.
    She returned the smile. “Well, you don’t look too much the worse for wear,” she said. “You look sweet and perky and attractive and much younger than twenty-two. I wonder how ready you are to get your hands dirty.”
    “Very ready,” I said. I hoped I was telling the truth.
    “I want to be sure you have no illusions that this is a glamorous job,” she said.
    “I’m not looking for glamour,” I said. “My father always said, ‘True happiness comes from helping others.’ I believe that, too.”
    She smiled again. “Tell me your strengths, then.” She sat back in her chair, ready to listen.
    “I’m a quick learner,” I said. “I love people. I couldn’t imagine ever having a job where I didn’t interact with people. I’m smart.” I motioned toward my résumé and its GPA again. “I communicate well. I have good writing skills. I know I have to keep good records to do this work.”
    “You mentioned on the phone that you’re getting married in a few weeks.”
    “Two weeks. Yes.”
    “What type of work does your husband-to-be do?”
    “He’s a pediatrician.”
    “Really! With a pediatrician husband, I’m sure you won’t have to work.”
    Here we go again, I thought. “But I want to,” I said.
    “I’m widowed,” she said, “so I really have no choice, though I do love it. How does your fiancé feel about you working?”
    “I’m sorry you lost your husband,” I said. How? I wondered. My gaze moved to the photographs on her bookshelf, landing on the one of a whole family that looked like it was taken when she was much younger. The man had such a warm smile. My eyes welled.
    “Oh, my dear.” Mrs. Werkman leaned forward, a small smile on her lips. She reached her hand halfway across her desk as if to console me. “You may be too soft for this work.”
    “It’s just that…” I smiled with embarrassment. So much for my tough exterior. “My father died a couple of years ago,” I said. I wouldn’t mention Teresa. Not when I was trying desperately to keep my wits about me.
    “Ah,” she said. “I’m sorry to hear that.” She followed my gaze to the photograph. “That’s not my family,” she said with a laugh. “This actually isn’t even my office. It’s just the one I’m using for interviews. And I lost my husband a long time ago. It was terrible at first, of course, but I’ve adjusted. And this interview is about you, not me. That’s something you’ll have to learn very quickly, Miss Mackie.”
    I was confused. “What is?”
    “That your work with your clients is about them, not you. You might relate to something they’re going through, but you’ll have to learn to put those feelings aside. Never talk about your own life. Focus on your clients and their needs or you won’t be able to help them.”
    “I understand,” I said.
    “Back to my question, then. Does your fiancé support the idea of you working?”
    “I know how good he feels that he can help people as a doctor and I know he’d like me to have that feeling, too.” It was the best I could offer—an evasive answer.
    “How about children?”
    “No plans for them right now.”
    “You’ll be in the field ninety percent of your time,” she said.
    I nodded. I liked the sound of that: “in the field.” It made the job sound adventurous and important.
    “Half your caseload will be colored.” She studied me with those huge pale gray eyes to see how I’d react to that.
    “That’s fine,” I said. I thought of the poor colored neighborhoods in Raleigh. If I was being honest with myself, there were areas I was afraid