Monday, October 13, 2014

Twenty-three

"Roberto Rojas from the newspaper. We have an appointment with Mr. Pemberton."

I almost broke character and laughed when Manny rolled his r's for effect: R-r-roberto R-r-r-rojas! 

Manny loves to complain when I ask him for help with a project like this. But when the action starts, he always plays his bit with panache.

Pemberton energed from his office, a tall, gaunt, and bespectacled man who projected a polite shyness. He reminded me more of a midwestern preacher than a successful businessman. I could not imagine this guy being married to Rhonda.


Pemberton reached out a long arm and shook Manny's hand.


"Mr. Pemberton, Roberto Rojas."


"Pleased to meet you," Pemberton responded.


"This is our staff photographer, Oskar."


Oskar Düsseldorf. That's the name that Manny and Janice had made up for me. Jokers!


I almost refused to wear their bogus press badge. Manny laughed hysterically when he handed it to me in the car. I reminded him that fake ID's weren't supposed to be memorable or attract attention. His argument was somewhat reasonable - if anyone called the paper asking for Oskar Düsseldorf, they would be dismissed as a prankster. But I'm pretty sure that he and Janice just wanted to have a laugh at my expense.


"Is it okay if I shoot some photos of the facility?"


"Sure!" Pemberton assured me with a sweeping gesture of his arm.


"And one shot for the article..." He and Manny posed, smiled, and then disappeared into the office.


I took generic shots of the gym with and without patrons. I snapped some photos of the desk staff and caught some of the trainers in action. I grabbed some quick shots of an aerobics class while the instructor looked on warily.


From my shoulder bag I pulled a folder of release forms and asked the staff to sign them. We didn't need releases for news events, but for a human interest story photographed on private property, it was better to be covered. Of course, this bogus assignment would never see publication, but we had to go through the motions. If we needed to research Pemberton's staff, having their names would be helpful.


As expected, Manny emerged from the office fourteen minutes after entering. I took one more round of photos as he and Pemberton smiled and shook hands. Manny and I walked out to our respective vehicles. We had what we needed.





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