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So now here I ablisters And it’s only lunchtime I still have five more hours of this torture to endure
Things probably wouldn’t have been so bad if I’d been able to stay at my desk, or even on the two floors that were devoted to intellectual property law at Frost Industries’ main headquarters But since it was my first day on the job, my mentor—another intern who seeht it’d be a great idea to show me around the property A property that includes five s and a number of smaller labs and encompasses several acres of prime beachfront realty here in sunny La Jolla, California It had been a great tour of a great company, and I probably would have had to pinchit for me
But the tour is finally over, I ree cafeteria that overlooks one of the prettiest beaches in San Diego There’s nothing on the agenda for this afternoon except lunch and a four-hourwith the other interns, all of whoer than I They’re supposed to bring me up to speed on the various patents and contracts we’ll be doing research on this su toI’ve wanted to do since I found out being the Pink Power Ranger was not actually a viable career choice
Doing my best not to lie, cavernous room with its 842 seats (that number came directly from my mentor, who is as proud of this place as Ethan Frost himself probably is—maybe more)
Like Google before it, Frost Industries is known for its state-of-the-art cafeteria With two goure their type of cuisine on a weekly basis—not tofor everyone And they do mean everyone It doesn’tas you have your ee, you eat free Breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon snack They’re all on the house for Frost Industries employees—another reason I’ve been able to take this internship With no rent and no food bills to speak of, h until my scholarship and work study come in to offset the cost of my senior year
Though it’s one o’clock, I’ry—residual nervousness fro a little—so I head over to the juice bar A sht for lunch today It’s not too heavy, but it is substantial enough to get h until dinner Besides, the juice bar is the closest thing to me, and at this point, every step counts
When I get there, there’s no line—everyone see at the pizza and Indian food stations today There are two guys behind the counter, neither of who a rush to take my order Which is fine, since I don’t knohat I want yet anyway
But the ht different srass and beet, neither of which is high onto uy tries to wait on h, especially since it looks like I’uys is definitely instructing the other on the fine art of s about things like the proper juice-to-fruit ratio and how iurt is just the right teoes so far as to instruct hio into the sht nuht
Couy, the whole speech probably would have sounded jerky But this guy is so passionate about sht, that he doesn’t sound jerky at all Instead, he co Patient, wise, omnipotent
And the guy he’s talking to is hanging on his every syllable, like the words that fall from his lips are actually directions on how to reach nirvana I’m amused despite myself, and am alets poured into two cups Or I would be if therapidly away
“Excuse me,” I say when it eventually becomes obvious that they’re bothat the reddish blue smoothie in front of them for many moons to come It’s like they’re both co that al-substance policy all that seriously Because these guys have to be high on soht? Otherwise a si “I’m sorry to bother you, but I’m ready to order now”
The trainer looks up at the sound ofin on mine That’s when I realize he wasn’t as oblivious toto see how each of us would handle the situation
The knowledge gets my back up It’s just a stupid drink, just a stupid little power play, but I don’t enjoy beingas ridiculous as a drink
“No need to order,” he says, pressing a lid down onto one of the cups before sliding it across the counter at me “You can have this one It’s the Ethan Special”
“No, thank you” I don’t even glance at the cup “I’d prefer a Hawaiian Sunrise”