Memoir | Job Interview | The U.S. Supreme Court | Part II of VI

Filled with anticipation, I woke up early, eager to seize the opportunity of a job interview at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. The prospect of securing a full-time position, moving out of my mother’s home, and finally having my own apartment fueled my determination.

…..

Hastily, I set up the ironing board and meticulously pressed my imitation CHANEL skirt suit, preparing for the 9:30 a.m. job interview. With my outfit ready, I hurriedly took a refreshing shower, washing away the lingering scent of cannabis and beer from the previous night.

Emerging from the bathroom, I couldn’t help but glance at The Lord’s Prayer plaque on the hallway wall, finding peace in its divine words, even if I couldn’t fully comprehend why.

As the clock struck 8:00 AM, I knew it was time to embark on my journey to Capitol Hill. Grabbing the purse I had used the night before, I rushed out the door, determined to catch the 32 Friendship Heights bus that would take me to my destination.

Gazing out of the bus window, I caught sight of the iconic Congressional Cemetery, a clear indication that I was nearing Capitol Hill. Then, I realized I should have swapped my Baguette-style purse for the more appropriate fake CHANEL double-flap imitation leather shoulder bag. The baguette purse had accompanied me during my late-night escapades. As the bus arrived at Capitol Hill, I pulled the cord, signaling the driver to let me off at my stop.

Stepping off the bus, I briskly walked towards the Supreme Court, rummaging through my purse in search of my compact mirror to touch up my Revlon red lipstick. To my astonishment, instead of the mirror, I discovered half a bag of cannabis!

My heart raced with fear and disbelief.

“Oh, my stars!”

I exclaimed internally.

The realization hit me that my purse would be screened by the Supreme Court’s magnetometer metal detector and hand-searched by a security guard and that a brown bag of cannabis would have been found.

In a moment of panic, I passed the Court of Neptune Fountain in front of the Thomas Jefferson Library of Congress Building. Without hesitation, I discreetly disposed of the bag of cannabis in the fountain, hoping to avoid any potential trouble.

…..

Upon entering the Supreme Court Building, a security guard motioned me to halt, signaling the start of a thorough security check. Unlike my initial assumption, the building did not have a magnetometer. Instead, the guard used a handheld metal detector security wand to scan my body.

He then proceeded to inspect the contents of my purse, meticulously examining the middle pocket and zipped compartment where the bag of cannabis had been concealed. Miraculously, I passed the security checkpoint without any issues!

…..

Caught off guard, the security guard couldn’t help but express his admiration,

“You smell delightful, Miss.”

Grateful for the compliment, I returned his kind words with a smile and graciously replied,

“Thank you so much. I’m wearing the timeless fragrance of CHANEL No5.”

Of course, the security guard was oblivious to the fact that in the wee hours of the night, I would discreetly sell bags of cannabis to fund my indulgence in this opulent fragrance, while also ensuring a bit of extra cash in my wallet and being able to catch the bus to seek out jobs throughout the Washington, D.C. area.

…..

Discovering the bag of cannabis before the security guard did feel like a narrow escape from disaster, as I am certain that it would have jeopardized my chances of being interviewed.

With that hurdle overcome, my focus shifted to the upcoming job interview!

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(Copyright © 2025 by Mia Z. Edwards. All rights reserved.)