He hated waiting.
Waiting at ATM machines while the machine that was supposed to make things faster processed and made him wait while it fulfilled its destiny.
Waiting through computer glitches that shut down companies.
Waiting and wading through robotic menus – no human answers a phone. Humans were becoming irrelevant, obsolete – only machines. Waiting while the mechanical voice went through the entire menu, usually prompting him to the wrong result. Waiting while he returned to the main menu and began again.
Waiting in line at the grocery while a woman two people ahead fumbled in her pocketbook, trying to get out her wallet, then her credit card, and then figure out how to work the new machines, different in every store, so no one was exempt from that frustration. Didn’t she know that she’d have to pay for the groceries? Couldn’t she have taken out her credit card in preparation? Then the reverse process – credit card and wallet... No, that would have taken advance thinking, obviously beyond her and most people today.
Today he had no choice. No choice but to wait. To stare at the computer screen and wait.
They told him they’d send him an email as soon as they had an answer, probably in the next ten minutes. That was nearly an hour ago.
Now he was afraid that if he left his computer the email would come and he’d miss it and then the whole process would have been for nothing since he knew that if he didn’t respond quickly enough the gig would go to someone else.
They’d been so encouraging. They said that he was perfect. Said they’d let him know within the hour. Then there was the email that said it was down to two
Now all he could to do was wait.
He hated waiting!
He stared at the computer screen and waited.
And he hated the process. So much always depended on so many variables which were totally out of his control. No matter how well he did, no matter what everyone thought there were always those variables which could determine his fate.
Maybe, he thought, it was simply time to throw in the towel and shift gears. Maybe all of this was too frustrating. But what else could he do? What else would he want to do?
He stared at the computer screen.
There it was! The email he’d been waiting for; living through all of this frustration for.
"The producers are pleased to inform you that you’ve gotten the part. Please call your agent immediately to confirm your availability and acceptance. Congratulations!"
He stared at the computer screen.
Somehow the frustration disappeared as he picked up the phone and dialed the number.