The dance

“Impressive.”

Truly nodded at the partner’s assessment of her multilingualism. She had experimented with different responses to an authority figure’s accurate observation of her brilliance. “Thank you,” was the reply her mother had drilled into Truly throughout her childhood, as if thanking the adult speaking would disarm them, allowing them to believe that she was humble about her accomplishments.

“Yes,” was Truly’s attempt in university, away from her family’s wish for her to be self-deprecating. Her professors, the secure ones, were amused. The others, albeit few, quietly tried to cut down her tall poppy confidence.

Today, a simple nod would suffice, as Truly recognized that this interview was the company’s audition for her approval, not the other way around.