C203: The Interview

Chapter 203: The Interview

Sarah's perspective - Day 12th of the first Autumn, 1173 - Stansa castle

Alright...today was August 12th, the day to hold the interview to select the well-qualified teachers for Happyland elementary school. Currently, I was sitting in my workroom, on the worktable. While I was alone, only me in the room to create a good atmosphere for the job finders...hope it would be good.

Saying I was alone, but the women soldiers were all around the castle. They were just hiding behind the doors of the Servants' zone and the Lord's zone, waiting for the right time to come out to protect me. Honestly to say, my sis was over-protecting me when it came to this situation.

Maybe the bodyguards in this interview were more than I imagined, my SA told me there were many of them around. Just didn't tell me where they were, which made me get frustrated when my sis did this thing. By the way, I'd be the only interviewer to make sure everything was under my standard. Because the selection was strict, I must concentrate well.

"Ok, next please". - Anyway, everyone could be here to try the interview, this time was already afternoon tho, sigh! So tired to sit here for hours, ahhh!

As I ordered, the castle's front doors slowly opened with a figure coming in slowly but calmly. That was a woman who wore a leather uniform, with her hair tidied and a fine face. Maybe she intentionally dressed that formally for the reason to have a high percentage to pass the interview, I think so...

Since the recruitment paper didn't ask the people to wear formal clothing, because there would be people who could not have enough capability to dress well like others. This recruitment didn't base on experience, the way of dressing or the way they can talk well.

I wanted to see how capable the candidates were, by looking at their simple things. They might be not good at this field, but if they were hard learners, and came here with the purpose of the futures of the kids more than the money. If that were true, I'd surely be happy to consider letting them become teachers, regardless of their lack of experience.

Training would do the rest...but now, must test their honesty and integrity. Their responsibility too, these people might not be good to be teachers but when they do their jobs, must be done it as the best as they could.

"It's a very great honor for me to meet you on this fine cloud day, my Lord...". "I wish your day's going well for choosing the ones who are fittest in this job". - Ohh! She bowed and greeted me, such an experienced woman...but I didn't recruit that way, though...she was a good one for me to look at

"Okay, okay, have a seat, welcome". - I told her to sit while pointing to a chair opposite me, which was placed in the middle of the workroom, the center part, away from me 5 meters (16,4 feet)

The lady shortly sat down, both of us faced to face and somehow I realized her face was familiar. This woman also had a bit surprised on her face as if both of us had known each other before. Keeping thinking about her made me...maybe I remember her now, Cily...

"Ok, just take it easy and answer my question for this interview, okay?". "Calm down, take a deep breath and answer honestly, everything, hehe...".

"Ummm...yes, my Lord...understood".

"Ok, so...let's start it now". "Tell me your name, Ms. candidate".

"My name's Cily, my Lord".

"Ok, Ms. Cily...let me ask you something". "What brought you to this interview?".

"Umm...I'm looking for a job...with a fine salary, since I live with my little sister and we have to take care of ourselves on our own". - Alright...

"What's your purpose for becoming a teacher, Ms. Cily?".

"Ummm...at first, I want to have a fine salary job, and also...I want to get my little sister educated". "Teaching the children is not easy to do, my Lord...but I'll be sure to do my best, with my role in the school". - This woman didn't come here with the purpose to teach the students, huh? But let's give her a try to speak some more

"What's your way of teaching children, Ms. Cily?".

"Ummm...till now, I haven't gotten married and have kids yet so I...". "I mostly learned it from my late mom and by myself through my life's experience".

"Please tell me, Ms. Cily".

"Yes, my Lord". "I saw my mom teach my little sister, she taught her to do basic things in the house". "But children, to be honest by myself, I think she shouldn't work like that, 'cause she needs a childhood which should be for every kid". "Instead of letting her work, I mostly keep her in the room, telling her to enjoy the time with her friends, for a good purpose". "Sometimes my little sister is curious so she...tries to grab some new things, such as learning how to cook...which I see...dangerous". - Maybe...Cily was over-worried about her little sister, I think the way she was doing would make her little sister feel to be a burden

"Tell me more...".

"Understood, my Lord". "All I want is to give her the good things, Sala - my little sister should not do heavy things, her life needs to be lovely...".

"I understood a bit now, Ms. Cily". "Now let me move to another question...can you see your problems in teaching your little sister?".

"Uhhh...uhhh, umm...". "Sorry, my Lord...give me a few moments...". - Cily was now confused while lowering her face, as if trying to figure out what was her problem in teaching her little sister

"Could it be...busy working makes me don't have much time to hang out with Sala, my Lord?".

"I think you misunderstood, Ms. Cily". "It's one of your problems, but not the main one I am aiming at". - She was right at some points, since children need love the most

"I...honestly, could it be the consequences when I fondness her too much?".

"Nod...but not the main part yet".

"I don't get it yet, My Lord...I'm sorry, my small mind cannot think of what you've thought of". "Please...all I want is to give Sala a better life".

"Children are not like our adults... they're just a blank paper...anything we write on them, will somehow affect their future's path". "Children tend to be curious with things around them, want to try things". "Finding out new things makes them feel excited and love to do more, don't turn it off from your little sister, Cily...you're wrong with it".

"I'll keep it in mind, my Lord...". - Later, she nodded

"Alright...hear me this one, Ms. Cily". "If you pass this interview and then become a teacher, many things you will have to face during your career, your path". "If that happens, I hope you, wherever how hard it is, will still be beside the students to instruct them to the bright futures". "A teacher's a very sacred job...becoming them is very hard, current...the salary which's posted on the recruitment is quite low". "Shortly in the future, that problem would be solved". "But your reason to go here is mostly personal, though...there's still times for you to return here again but...". "I can see you're a potential individual, Ms. Cily, have a good day a week later". "You may go now...".

"Wait, wait, wait, my Lord". "That's mean I just have...uhhh...". - Maybe she was worried as if she failed the interview, poor her

"No, I didn't mean that, sorry". "You've got potential for becoming a teacher, you look to be a hard learner but to be a teacher does not just require you your self-taught and hard work". "Well...please spend your time with your little sister regularly, the school is not just a place to teach the knowledge for those talents...".

"I'm listening, my Lord...please tell me more, to let me know".

"I want to create the kind of education, the school which all students want to be there to study". "Not because they have to but they want to...to do that, we must know to excite the kids, make them expose their talents and teach them to do self-taught themselves". "Let loose on your little sister a bit, Ms. Cily, she wants to fly now...teach her anything you know while being with her...".

"Understood, my Lord".

"Don't worry if you fail the interview, it's not like that, you know". "The selection's very strict so I'll choose people carefully, you still have 9 chances left". "Meet me again in the next week, like the previous time".

"Understood, my Lord". - After hearing my words, Cily slowly got off the chair and stepped to the front doors, later turning around to look at me while bowing to me deeply

"Have a good day, Cily, bye-bye".

I said goodbye to her and Cily left the castle, the front door was later shut off and I grabbed a cup of water nearby to drink a bit. Thinking about Cily, there were dozens of people who came here to interview before her. Now I would just interview them, scoring would be done when this interview ends, so I must prepare for the next candidate soon.

"Ok, next please". - I ordered the next candidate to come in while hiding the water cup inside a drawer below my worktable

Shortly, a woman figure came in with a brown cloth uniform, she wore short brown boots, seemed to be tidying her hair carefully. That was...her face seemed to be familiar to me, wasn't she? But I didn't remember who she was. But I skipped that though and concentrated on the next candidate.

"Good afternoon, my Lord...with all of the blisses and luxurious, today I hope your day is going well...". - Ummm, I honestly needn't those sweet words, just simply need responsible people to be teachers

"Ok, ok, thank you, take a seat".

"Yes...". - The brown ponytail-haired woman later stopped bowing and approached the chair, sitting on it

"You look so young...ummm, how old are you, Ms. candidate?". - Calling her a little girl was fitter than a woman, she seemed to be less than 18 and her face seemed to be very young

"I'm 15, my Lord". - So young?!

"Oh, ok...". - Well, this interview didn't have an age restriction so even a girl like her could even join in

"Tell me your name".

"I'm Eli, my Lord". - Ok

"Alright, Ms. Eli...in this interview, please be honest in all questions, just take it easy, no tension".

"Nod...".

"If you're ready now...let's start, may we?".

"Yes, my Lord". - She was quite calm

Though there would be problems if there were young teachers in the school...but I hope she would do her best if she passes the interview. Living in this world was quite miserable for kids, when they had to grow up sooner than they were not supposed to. But I hope she would not regret it when she chose to register to be a teacher, good luck.

"Alright...". "What brought you here for the interview, Ms. Eli?".

"I was looking for a job, my Lord". "Living by using my mom's money makes me feel breathless, only want to be on my own, not to be her burden, I just want to be free". "Living with a part-time job with a low salary makes me cannot live well, I want to earn more money".

"So your purpose is mostly here for money, Ms. Eli?".

"Yes, though I don't teach the students but I will do my best to be a janitor, keeping everything clean". - Wait, she misunderstood something, the recruitment didn't require a janitor, only needs teachers

"Wait a minute, Ms. Eli, you misunderstood something". "From the start, the recruitment paper doesn't require any janitor, only needs teachers for the school".

After hearing my explanation, Eli was quite bewildered, she tried to calm her nerves while staring at me. Needless to say, that was my fault for not explaining detailedly in those recruitment papers, which led to this unexpected incident.

"I'm sorry for coming here wrongly, my Lord". "I asked the guards outside and they also explained there's no need for a janitor...". "Oddly that...if this school needs no janitor, then who would clean it?". - Though she came here wrongly, but at least I could see she was a responsible one

"The students and teachers will alongside solving that problem".

"What?".

"Please let me explain to you a bit, Ms. Eli". "I think there would be a good choice to help the students to know about the responsibility of life in the first years in the school". "Instead of using the janitors, why don't we let the teachers and the students do the cleaning stuff?".

"But what's the point of doing that, my Lord?".

"To create good habits for them, Ms. Eli...our adults must teach the kids if we want them to do anything". "In this case, children need to know to solve the basic things in their childhood". "If we keep them away from those things, they'll grow up without knowing anything, that's bad and make the kids miserable". "Of course, the ones who go before must encourage and teach the after ones step by step, we have the responsibility for creating their futures". "Using the janitors is needless in the school, Ms. Eli...it's for the futures of the kids, longing till they grow up".

"I'm sorry for coming here and disturbing your time, my Lord". "Honestly, I should have done more research before coming here ignorantly, please forgive me". - Eli kept apologizing to me while bowing her head...sigh!

"No no no, I don't feel it annoying at all, Ms. Eli". "By the way, are you free after this interview?".

"I have to teach my friend's little sister after this interview, but it occurs two hours later, my Lord". - Teaching? This girl seemed to be an educated one, in case she used to study in the Capital city

"Good...if you don't mind, may we have the time here for a few more minutes before leaving the place?".

"If you say so, my Lord".

"Well, what do you think if I ask you a favor to keep this interview happening, with your purpose to dream about becoming a teacher, Ms. Eli?".

"Sorry, my Lord but...maybe...I believe I'm not capable of it".

"Don't give up that quickly, you have the potential to do the job, I believe you". "Let's try it again, shall we?".

"I'll try my best, my Lord".

"Okay...so, if you were to come to the interview to become a teacher, what's your purpose for doing it?".

"Ummm...my Lord...". "At first, it comes from money, this job's salary is fine for a young like me to live". "But also, I know the pressure and the importance of education, since I used to be educated...". "The only way to get rid of my struggles, my helpless circumstances...is to educate, as hard as possible". "Fortunately, this school's opened freely as I heard from the people, it means children can come here to study, to change their futures". "Teachers would be the ones to teach the students, so even if I don't have any interest in this job before". "It might change me when I meet the kids, I'll try to do my best...since there are children out there have to live more miserable than I, that's all I know to say, my Lord". "Ummm...yeah".

"Since this school only has the space for only 100 students...many children out there will have to wait till the ones in here get graduated". "Will you be there when the next children to study, Ms. Eli?".

"I cannot be sure in anything but I'll do my best in my capability, my Lord, their futures are very important".

"Alright, it's good for me to hear it". "Let's change to the next one". "What's your way of teaching children, Ms. Eli?".

"Ummm...teaching the children, my Lord?".

"Yes".

"Honestly, all the way of teaching is what I learned from my mom". "Usually, she taught me to do the basic things in my house, so I had already known to wash dishes and clean the floor in my childhood". "She...I'd say my ma used to have a circumstance, which till now is hard for me to decide, whether or not to forgive her".

"Please tell me her story, Ms. Eli".

"It's very hard for you to hear, please forgive me when don't tell you".

"Ok, continue".

"By the way, my Lord". "Saying about the way to teach the children, their father also has that part, right?".

"Yeah...but, uhhh...". "As you and others know, we mostly stay with our moms more than our dads in our childhood, that's what I thought". "The time with the mother's more than the father, so the way you teach the children can be said to be affected a lot from her, Ms. Eli". "Especially in this fantasy-medieval time, when men go out to work while women stay home to take ca-". - Wait a minute, my mouth was about to say out things I shouldn't do!

"Fantasy?". - Eli tilted her head to the right side, figuring out what I was saying previously

"Nothing, sorry for leading you to nonsense things, let's go back to our previous conversation, hehe".

"Continue your story, Ms. Eli?".

"Understood, my Lord". "I was born with my father left me, and my mom sometimes also left me". "Every time she came home, her clothes and odor would be full of smell". "Times when I asked her to stop doing that, she would slap me, which made me run out of my home". "Well, sometimes I express my emotions to be indifferent, kind of heartless to the people". "Maybe that was the cause of my childhood, which was from my mom's teaching way".

"So, my Lord...". "I think children should be taught to do basic things in their childhood, slowly step by step from the easiest". "When I went to school, I met some students didn't know to cook, which I thought to be struggle for them in the future". "Besides it, their parents should be the good mirrors for their kids to learn from them". "I used to...seduce a kind man, learned it from my mom when I broke, trying to find a job to help her out of her situation".

"The parents' problems will create uncompleted children, who suffer illnesses from their bodies to their minds". "They'll have to live harder than others, surrounded by their bad childhoods, only seeing no way out". "I have a little friend, her older sister is always scared of letting her out of her hands, even just a second". "Every time that little cutie wants to learn something, or just curiously touches tools, trying to find out their uses in life and how to use them". "Her older sister will surely prohibit her from doing that, over-caring about her safety".

"So if she can go to school and I can become her homeroom teacher, then I want her to experience the things all children want, exploring things".

"You said it right, Ms. Eli". - After speaking to her, I lifted my right hand up to watch my digital watch, this time was now 3:19 PM, hmmm

"Though I want to ask you some more but maybe we should finish our interview here, Ms. Eli". "You have a very potential to become a teacher, but I'll have to consider it since you're still very young to work on it". - By the way, she came here purposing to be a janitor, I hope she would not mind working as a teacher

"I failed the interview, my Lord?".

"No, you didn't". "But there is still one hour left till it ends, many candidates out there want to come in this time". "Don't worry, still 9 chances left for you, when I see you're capable to work the job, I'll recruit you".

"Thanks, my Lord...". "Though I don't have much interest in becoming a teacher but I'll consider it". "I'll do my best to make myself love teaching, thank you for building the school, making the children get access to education to bring them a new path".

"I think you should go now, Ms. Eli". "Have a good day, see you next week, at the previous hour".

"Thank you very much, my Lord". "Good day to you, goodbye". - Finishing saying goodbye, Eli got off the chair and approached the door

"Bye-bye". - I waved to Eli to say goodbye to her, she also did like me while walking outside, the women soldiers who guarded outside shortly closed the front doors

I felt a bit hungry now, but have to concentrate on the next candidate. Must not leave the job that neglect, must not let the people wait. Maybe I was ready to meet the next one now, but I grabbed the...the cup was now empty, must tell Paula to fill it later.

"Alright, next please". - As I ordered, the front doors opened and another figure came in

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"Haahhhh...hahhhh...haaahhhh...". - I breathed tiredly after long hours of operating the interview, I should have napped at noon, so frustrating!

"Gen. Sarah, I've done recorded the and collected intel about all candidates, mission completed". - Thank you, SA! Now I only need to look for the potential ones to pick them in the next interview

Well, the reason she called me General was because...don't know what to say about this, bruh!

Because from the beginning when we first formed our own military in this world, there was no official military rank to be formed. So basically, all the personnel only had the rank Private, the ranking stuff had just been edited recently.

Since John was the highest in the team so he ranked himself General, while my sis was Lieutenant General and I with the rank Major General. Well, the US military didn't exist in this world so we...ranked ourselves like eating a chicken...sigh!

"Please stop calling me like that, SA! Come here, call me just Sarah". - I put my SA on the worktable all the time to record the interview, now I picked her up and wore her

After wearing SA, I stretched my hands by raising them while leaning my fingers together, as hard as possible. Meanwhile, my legs were stretched by leaning forward the space the under the table. Sitting too much made me so exhausted, must have to work out in the backyard tonight. But at first, must fill my stomach with something, so sleepy and hungry!

Of a sudden, while stretching my body, Paula could be seen walking out from the Servants' zone. Her hands were holding a wooden plate, which was exposing a very good smell, I love to sniff it, so yummy!

"You look...exhausted...my...Lord". "Here...your food...and...and...". - She was still shy to talk as usual, just approaching the worktable silently and putting the plate down

"Thank you, Paula - chan!". - Actually, inside the plate was a very big bowl of soup...why she always cooks soup, eh? But it was very yummy

Just a bit strange when I looked at the plate, I mean there was a cup on the right side. It seemed to be carrying some strange liquid, it was dark brown as I could see it well. Just like coffee's color, the cup made me curious, just wanted to drink it.

Strangely, before I could reach the cup, Paula picked it up and slowly pointed it toward me. I used a finger to touch the cup's surface and realized it was quite hot inside, the liquid must have been newly poured out. Maybe that was the reason why she wore white gloves, poor Paula.

"Thanks, Paula".

After thanking her, I drank the cup with the aid of Paula. She pulled the cup out of my mouth as I finished tasting some drops...this one, tasted like coffee tho...could it be...hmmm!

"What's this drink's name, Paula - chan?".

"Ummm...cocoa fruit...". - That was exactly coffee tho!

"Wait, where did we import this thing? Wait wait wait...". - Maybe my memory was a bit troubled now, I didn't remember we import coffee

"From....away...Beastmen land". "King Shiva...gifted...my...Lord". - Hmmm, maybe that was why I didn't remember, I guessed! Beastmen Kingdom was a tropical nation so it was obvious to have cocoa plants

"Thanks for assisting me, no need to give me the drink anymore, Paula".

My private maid just simply nodded and put the coffee cup down on the plate while standing opposite me. Staring at me secretly while lowering her posture. Her right hand grabbed her left hand, lowering her head as if she was shy to say out something...

"Can I...sit...sit...". - Maybe I should ask my SA to analyze her way of talking, help me, girl!

"The battery's only enough to analyze the most potential candidates for the next interview, General". "I'm doing it now, the results will be shown after an hour, then I'll sleep". - Eh?!

"Before that, you can preview the list before I turn myself off to charge". "If you have any disagree...tell me when I wake up, Gen. Sarah".

"SA out, deal with her yourself". - Maybe I should ask Commander to change our SAs, at least hims was more obey than mine tho

Alright, now I had to deal with Paula myself, so tired to do this. At the way she went shy while nearing me, maybe she wanted to be with me or something. This maid was quite strange tho, but she was very cute!

"Umm...you like to sit with me, right?".

"Nod...". - Ok

"That's ok, come here, sit with me". - Later, I pointed to a position that was near my chair, while getting off mine to pick up another one

I put the other chair beside me mine and sat back. Paula was still very shy but shortly sat next to me, somehow she intentionally tilted her head to my shoulder. She behaved so strangely tho, was tired or something?

"You're tired, Paula - chan?".

"z.z.z". - Bruh...she was truly dozing on my shoulder, maybe I should not disturb her sleep

Because I wanted to taste some of the soup bowl but Paula was blocking my movement, so I put her head on the chair's top rail. Letting her sleep happily while myself grabbed the plate, pulling it closer to my reach, now it's eating time, hehe.

I grabbed a metal spoon on the right side plate, dipping it into the soup to take some liquid. Later putting the filled spoon to my mouth and pulled it out, enjoying the soup's taste, so tasty every time I swallow it!

My stomach later gulped for no reason, I kept following my hunger while dipping my spoon into the soup. Eating some more until I was full, my mouth kept chewing and swallowing the soups from this time to that time, could not stop eating.

Meanwhile, the women soldiers who used to hide behind the doors from other zones had come out to guard the workroom. Everything seemed to be under my observation except for Litra - my Lord's Advisor, maybe she was still outside the castle's entrance to do something. 

But I kept eating while noticing my SA was a bit annoying when she kept hanging in my right hand. So I got her off and put her on the table, making my hands feel more comfortable to enjoy the soup. Anyway, I had already got my watch off, this time was 4:48 PM, I would have to visit the kids in the education camp at 6:00 PM.

Later have to visit John, he was quite busy with Krieg Base in No Man Zone, was with my sis observing the process of crafting muskets and gunpowder or something. Maybe I should pay them a visit soon. Especially visiting Shera since she was always jealous when was not allowed to follow her husband to Krieg Base.

Now back to Litra, hadn't seen her come in here for a while now. Maybe was having some problems outside so she hadn't come in. I would talk to her later, now must keep eating. Right away, I kept eating the soup while enjoying its taste. All of sudden, the castle's front doors could be heard opening, so I looked up to see who that was.

"Forgive me for my lateness, my Lord". "Lt. Platto just had come by, he sent me a message which you might want to hear". - That was Litra, she came in and approached me slowly while holding a blue document, which I told her to write down the infos of the candidates

"Chews! Chews! Chews! Ok...". - Why did she stare at Paula tho?

"From tomorrow, 6:00 AM, you're ordered by Lord Rigen to be in the school to observe the military training till 12:00 AM, Pvt. Kane will take your place". - Ehhh! I love to sleep tho! I don't want to go!

"Lord Rigen himself and Lord Hatano will be busy observing the process of magical training and drafting firearms and gunpowder in the Base till evening". "That's the message Lt. Platto sent to us, my Lord".

"By the way, Lord Rigen also complained about upgrading the police's equipment and making more intense training". "Purposing to make the police into a tight organized military force will save our money than spending it on the Warsaw Corps Army, my Lord". "Unfortunately, you hardly spend the money on that thing but mostly spend it on education...". - After speaking to me, she slid the document into my hand

I stopped eating the soup while grabbing the document, lifting it up and pointing my eyes to the details. Litra had stood outside of the castle's entrance for hours from the morning till this time just to fill in the name of the candidates. Seeing her hard work out there while getting her body exposed to the hot sun made me praise her very much, very good!

"My Lord, may I ask you something?". - Oh, Litra asked me so I looked up to listen to her question

"Nod!".

"What's this exactly about? The military funding, running toward the weapon crafting for no reason in this peacetime, draining the economy". "Most oddly, a military Base named Krieg appeared from nowhere, being said to be ours". "Now teaching magic for the soldiers and crafting the "firearms and gunpowders". "What exactly are those "firearms" and "gunpowder", my Lord? Why they have to be crafted massively before the winter? Please...give me an answer for it".

"Ummm...Litra, it's hard to tell you, sorry when I cannot tell...".

"I understand you, my Lord...just too curious about what I know till now". "You don't need to apologize, that was my fault to ask you such a question which is the top secret". "In previous years, I never faced a strange situation like this o-".

All of sudden, Litra stopped talking but stared at Paula. Because she suddenly tilted her body to my shoulder while dozing, somehow her drool was dripping out and made my Army uniform...get wet, bruh!

Didn't say a word, my Advisor just approached my private servant, pulling her out of my body but could not, even when she struggled. 'Cause Paula's both hands grabbed my belly part when she was sleeping, holding very tight, not letting off even a bit.

"Umm...General, I can say the jealousy concentration can be found very high inside both of them...". - What do you mean, SA?

"Ahhhh! Paula, stop! Stop! Stop!". - Paula squeezed my belly so tight so I was also struggling to get her out, the way Litra got rid of her even made the pressure more serious

All of sudden, the castle's front doors later opened with a figure stepped inside, those were Shera and Reimi. Wait a minute...she, I mean Shera was staring at me with a very crazy looking. What was wrong with her?

"Wait, my Highness! Wait!". - All of sudden, Reimi yelled out to stop that crazy Shera, she rushed to me and grabbed both of my shoulders, started shaking my body for no reason, just looked so madly

"Wait, Princess! Wait!". - Anyway, some women soldiers were approaching them to save me now

"Tell me, Sarah! Tell me the Base! Where's John?! What's he doing with your big sister in there, huh?! Tell me! Tell me! Where's my husband, now!". - One shaking my shoulders, one grabbing my belly, while two others trying to pull them out, a bunch of girls outside also assisting me, at least my soup bowl had gone to the floor, died my meal!