Ohaiyo Gozaimasu. Watashi no namae wa Omura desu.
“Hello, I am Omura. I will be your protector.”
Law firms are cut throat in nature. The only thing that matters is making money. Just don’t make money at anyone else’s expense. And don’t expect any help. And if you can work 24 hours a day seven days a week or 18 hours a day 8 days a week, we might keep you around. Otherwise, let’s face it, you’re fodder.
Imagine my wife’s glee when she found out that not only would she be given the opportunity to fulfill her lifelong dream of living and working in Japan, she would have a career-long wish fulfilled – a secretary with supernatural powers. I do not mean someone to do the usual ol’ secretary stuff like typing and filing. No, I mean one that will be an informer on all things that go on in the office. One who will be a connection and source of inside information on all things Japanese. One who will be her protector and defender, letting nothing interfere with her ability to achieve maximum billing levels. One who will, on occasion, fix her the perfect cup of hot tea. Allow us to introduce to you: Omura the Protector.
A set of boxes we had shipped from the States arrived during the first week at her new job. My wife asked me to come to the office around six so that we could take the nine boxes home. I was a tad early, arriving at 5:45 and greeted by a receptionist. I told her who I was and that I wanted to see my wife. I was asked if I had an appointment. I found this odd, but considered it a language/word choice issue, and was mildly amused. The receptionist called my wife’s secretary, who did not know of any 6:00 p.m. appointment with her husband. I was asked to have a seat. It was not until getting out of a meeting, that my wife was informed that someone claiming to be her husband and daughter were waiting. This was my first introduction to Omura the Protector’s powers: able to leave clueless husband and tired grumpy child in waiting area.
What other powers doth she possess? What types of food allow her to maintain her powers? Does she smile? Can she accessorize? For the answers to these and many other questions tune in next time to Omura the Protector.
written02252004