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Chapter 19
November 5, 2009 | Filed Under River | Leave a Coment
River paced back and forth outside the Berkeley Small Business Administration headquarters before taking the plunge and plowing through the glass double doors. She didn’t take more than two steps inside before loosing her footing and falling dramatically, arms flailing, on her back.
The file folder she was holding flew into the air and paper rained down on top of her.
River scrambled to her feet and glanced right and left out of the corners of her eyes.
“Oh my god,” she thought to herself as she struggled to gather her belongings, taking note of how the busy, smartly dressed people buzzing around tried to sympathetically avert their gaze. “Hot mess on Aisle 2. What was I thinking.”
With papers sticking out every which way from the portfolio under her arm, River angrily turned and put her hand to the door. Another dramatic exit.
“Are you really going to give up that easily?”
River turned to see Dawn standing in the middle of the lobby in a perfectly tailored black skirt suit. In the center of entrepreneurial naiveté she looked like a queen. All she needed was a crown.
Or a crushing scepter. River’s brow furrowed as Dawn’s hurtful words the day before came to mind. Lisa’s baby daddy drama may have trumped her feelings for a brief period of time, but she hadn’t forgotten how her dreams had been stomped down.
“What are you doing here?,” River took two steps toward Dawn.
A busy FedEx delivery man walked briskly through the building’s doors bumping River’s shoulder as he passed. Her papers once again tumbled to the outdated tile. She nodded her head, agreeing with fate that her plans were worthless as she bent to pick up the litter.
She heard the clicking of designer heels walking toward her and was surprised when Dawn knelt to the floor to help.
They silently put the portfolio together and stood.
“I was mean.”
“You were rotten.”
“I’d had a tough weekend.”
“No excuse.”
“No excuse.” Dawn nodded and began to smile slowly.
River held up a finger as they linked arms and made their way to a seating area . “Don’t look happy! I’m still mad.”
They both knew River held on to anger with about as much commitment as a 2 year-old holds on to a glass of anything.
When both women were comfortably seated River squinted her eyes suspiciously. “So what are you doing here?”
“I called Oliver to apologize and he let me know that-”
“I’m way over my head?”
“That you you had a meeting with a small business adviser.”
River scanned the large cold lobby feeling more out of place by the second.
“You belong here as much as anyone else does,” Dawn said, reading her mind.
River said nothing. She checked her watch and stood suddenly.
“My meeting is in 2 minutes. Suite 401…401…!”
“This way,” Dawn popped up and lead her friend to the elevator. As they stood it was River’s turn to be psychic.
“You’ve been here?”
“All of the Small Business Administrations are the same. You think I was born an entrepreneur?”
By the time they arrived at Suite 401 a rushed looking gentleman in a stuffy argyle sweater was tapping his pen against the table top impatiently.
“So sorry to keep you waiting!” River extended her hand. He shook the tip of her fingers weakly and then wordlessly took her portfolio.
Dawn and River exchanged “Is he for real?” glances before sitting in the plastic chairs opposite the inquisitor.
He spoke while flipping through the pages. “Your business plan looks fine…executive summary is detailed, operating plan…very good. Come back in two months.”
River’s eyes went wide. “That’s it?”
“You’re right on track. All of paperwork is in order..albeit a bit wrinkled, but very well put together. I have 17 other entrepreneurs to see today, most of them will need my help more than you. Take it as a compliment.”
The women stood and walked in to the hallway.
River was buzzing. “He called me an entrepreneur,” she whispered.
Dawn didn’t answer. She was too busy scanning River’s business plans. “You know this isn’t half bad. Your marketing and financial plans are a bit thin but there is some real potential here.”
“Oh yeah?” River pressed the elevator button.
“Yeah.”
They stepped into the elevator.
“Are you accepting investors?”
River laughed, “Yes, the opening buy-in is $1 million dollars,” she said jokingly.
Dawn pushed the “L” button. “Done.”
River stopped laughing.
The elevator doors shut.
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