COMER’S COMEUPPANCE

The following is pre-recorded…

Inside the executive offices of PRIME, Lindsay Troy’s involvement with the hiring of office personnel is fairly minimal. Her duties are typically regulated to the production of the shows and the oversight of the rest of the managing partners. However, sometimes exceptions are made in the interview process, especially if it happened to be someone she’s had a personal connection with.

The Queen of the Ring can’t help but smile at the young woman who sits across from her, who’s accessorized with a coral blazer, white front-tie blouse, and a pair of navy ankle pants. Despite her professional garb, the girl appears completely out of her element. She barely gives off the impression of being legal drinking age, and it’s apparent that she’s trying everything to not let her nerves take control of her first big interview.

The truth is that she’s out of her element. Her blond hair has bounce and style, and her makeup’s most likely professionally done before she walked into headquarters. When Lindsay first heard the clacking sound of the nude-colored heels approaching her office, she couldn’t hide the look of surprise on her face when she’d met her at the door. She’d never seen her in anything but a pair of sandals or slip-on canvas shoes.

Both were mutually thrilled to see one another. However, certain individuals on the roster who might recognize her are more than likely trembling in fear as to exactly why she’s here. The eGG Bandits for one, who decided to humiliate her half-brother Zeb on the last ReVival. But, most importantly? Teddy Palmer, who’s been on the receiving end of some very mean verbal yeets from her in the past…when they were on good terms.

Kendra Collier: I just wanna say, uh, thank you for the opportunity to apply for the internship role, Ms. Troy. I’ve brought an extra copy of my resume here in case you ain’t…umImean…haven’t had the chance to review it yet.

Lindsay bites her lower lip as she accepts the document and begins to pretend to look it over. However, it takes about ten seconds before she starts shaking her head and chuckling.

Lindsay Troy: Look, kiddo, I can’t do this anymore. Your brother begged me to give you a legitimate interview and try to throw you off your game, but I honestly didn’t expect you to think this was going to be all that formal. You can relax. You’ve got the internship if you want it.

The Comer, Georgia native suddenly feels the ice running up and down her spine begin to melt away, allowing her the luxury of reclining back into the office chair. She smiles at Lindsay at first, but then her expression changes as she processes the realization of her brother’s attempt at a prank.

Kendra Collier: That little turd.

Troy laughs as she slides her chair out from behind her desk and motions for Kennie to take a seat with her on the couch. She obliges, and the two of them relax on the cushy sofa.

Lindsay Troy: You’ve changed a lot in the past year and a half since I’ve seen you, because I’ve definitely heard you call him a lot worse after he’s tried to tease you. Either way, you know you could have just called me directly, right? He didn’t need to show up here to vouch for you two weeks ago, even though it was great to see him.

Kendra Collier: Bein’ honest with you, I didn’t reckon he’d be on board with the idea. Spent the better part of last summer tellin’ me to finish up high school and enroll early at Clemson, and when I told ‘em I talked tuh UNLV’s softball coach ‘bout comin’ there instead and maybe tryin’ to reconnect with you, he wudn’t too thrilled about it.

Lindsay Troy: Lemme guess, he tried, oh…maybe one time to talk you out of it until he realized you are going to do whatever you want?

Kendra nods. She knew them both too well.

Kendra Collier: Mama said the same thing when I told her he was mad about it.

Lindsay Troy: And how’d she take it? I know she probably wasn’t all that happy her oldest daughter wants to move halfway across the country, either.

Kendra Collier: Oh, she’s actually pretty excited. When you grow up a UGA fan and yer daughter says she wants to go to Clemson, she was already tryin’ ta throw a monkey wrench in them plans to begin with. But I guess she’s done gone through one of her kids packin’ up and movin’ west. Daddy cried a little though. Reckon the men in our family’s the ones who need all the tissues in the house.

Lindsay Troy: I believe it. I think I saw Zeb tear up at the end of Homeward Bound once. And it was like the eighth time he’d watched it.

Kendra Collier: Dog dyin’ movies or a good solid peench on his arm will get them waterworks flowin’ every time. Nothin’ more soothin’ in the world than hearin’ a man cry, though.

Lindsay can’t help but laugh again, as she reaches over and gives Zeb’s sister a hug as if she were her own daughter.

Lindsay Troy: You’re going to fit in here just fine, Kendra. But I do have to use the ‘responsible adult’ card and give you a few conditions of your employment.

Kendra Collier: Hey, yer the boss. I don’t have to wear one of them ugly crew polos though do I?

Lindsay Troy: Dress code’s loose around here, as you can probably tell by some of the talent’s choices in wardrobe. But honestly, just keep two things in mind. One, I would never forgive myself if this whole thing interferes with you just enjoying being a college student. I don’t want to ‘mom’ you, but your focus should be on your studies, your softball, and your social life. If I feel like this is preventing you from doing that, I’m gonna have to pull the plug, OK?

Kendra Collier: That’s fair. I mean, the only reason I wanna do this is just ta see if ‘rasslin’s somethin’ I wanna be involved in after I graduate. I ain’t gonna give up my chance for braggin’ rights of the first one in the house to get a degree, I promise ya.

Lindsay Troy: Yet another thing you can hang over your brother’s head!

Kendra Collier: Mhm-hmm.

Lindsay Troy: And second, I know you aren’t going to let anyone push you around. You’ve been exposed to the egos in this business, and I know that’s something that doesn’t intimidate you. Reminds me of someone else in this room that I know, honestly, and I love that about you.

Kennie nods in acknowledgement.

Lindsay Troy: But, you being an Operations Assistant means that you can’t go out of your way to look for trouble, no matter how tempting it might be. You have to try and be civil, because you’re here to help PRIME be the best it can be.

Kendra Collier: Nah, I totally understand where ya comin’ from. You ain’t gotta worry about me tryin’ ta get over or nothin’. Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut, just fer hypothetical’s sake, does that mean I can’t push back if I’m the one who got pushed first?

Lindsay winks at the new intern and grins.

Lindsay Troy: Just as long as that push isn’t near the edge of a cliff. I can tell them to treat you with respect until I’m blue in the face, but some people don’t seem to be very good listeners. Therefore, twisting their ear while screaming in it might be the only way to get through to them. If you get what I’m saying.

Kendra Collier: Oh, I shore do.

Kendra returns the smile as she evens out the sleeves on her suit jacket.

Kendra Collier: Loud and clear.