A Quiet Room

Elena had an online job interview on Monday afternoon. On Sunday, the neighbours upstairs put a note in the hall: they were planning building work at the same time. Elena could not change the interview again.

She went upstairs and explained the problem. ‘Could you stop for just one hour?’ she asked. The neighbour said the workers had another appointment later, but offered to start in the kitchen, far from Elena’s room.

On Monday, Elena closed the windows and used headphones. The interview was quiet until the final minute, when one loud bang made everyone laugh. She got the job. That evening, she took biscuits upstairs to say thank you.