{"id":2418,"date":"2026-01-28T01:57:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T01:57:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/?p=2418"},"modified":"2026-01-28T01:57:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T01:57:16","slug":"he-mocked-the-cleaner-during-his-interview-then-came-the-lesson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/?p=2418","title":{"rendered":"He mocked the cleaner during his interview. Then came the lesson"},"content":{"rendered":"

He mocked the cleaner during his interview. Then came the lesson<\/h1>\n

It was supposed to be a standard job interview \u2014 nothing fancy, just a shot at something stable. I dressed the part, showed up early, and waited like everyone else. But what unfolded in that office was nothing I could\u2019ve prepared for.<\/p>\n

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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Have you ever walked into a room and immediately knew you were about to witness something\u00a0wild<\/i>? That was me, last Tuesday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I arrived 15 minutes early for the interview. The lobby was quiet, and sterile, with that faint scent of fake citrus. I sat down, resume folder neatly in my lap, heels crossed at the ankle like my mother taught me. That\u2019s when I noticed\u00a0him<\/i>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He was lounging like the CEO himself \u2014 legs spread wide, arms draped over the chair like a bored Roman emperor. He strolled in wearing a sharp grey suit, the glint of his Rolex practically blinding under the harsh fluorescents.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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That smug little smirk on his face suggested he knew something I was completely unaware of.<\/p>\n

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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cInterview at 10 too?\u201d I asked, trying to break the awkward silence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He looked me up and down slowly. Like,\u00a0grossly<\/i>\u00a0slowly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cYeah,\u201d he said, voice dripping arrogance. \u201cNot that it\u2019s much of a competition.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I blinked. \u201cExcuse me?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He leaned in a bit and lowered his voice. \u201cYou know how these things go. HR needs to tick a few boxes. Nothing personal.\u201d<\/p>\n

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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201c\u2026Boxes?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Man<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Man in a suit holding a paper | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cYou\u2019ll get what I mean when you\u2019re older,\u201d he said with a wink. \u201cBeen doing this two decades. They\u2019ll call me back before you even hit the parking lot.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I smiled tightly. \u201cThat so?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cTrust me,\u201d he said, \u201cno offense, but I\u2019ve seen how this plays out. They toss in a charity case, then hire someone who knows what the hell they\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

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I bit my cheek, nodded, and went back to pretending to read the pamphlet in my hand.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Little did he know, the universe was about to hand him a serving of karma so poetic, I\u00a0still<\/i>\u00a0get goosebumps thinking about it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Woman<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Woman in an office | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The tension in the room was already thick. His ego took up most of the oxygen \u2014 but then a woman walked in.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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She looked to be in her early sixties, with short silver hair tucked under a faded ball cap, mop in one hand, bucket in the other. Her jeans were worn at the knees, sweatshirt was loose and dotted with bleach stains. She moved with quiet purpose, eyes lowered, completely unbothered.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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But not\u00a0him<\/i>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cUgh,\u201d he scoffed, loud enough to echo. \u201cSeriously? They let the janitor in here while candidates are waiting?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Man<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Man in a suit pointing his finger at someone off camera | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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I froze, turning in his direction, silently pleading for him to shut up. He didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He leaned toward me as if we were on the same team. \u201cProfessionalism, am I right?\u201d he whispered. \u201cGuess standards are slipping everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The woman began mopping near the front desk, making soft figure-eights with her mop. Peaceful. Efficient. Silent.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cHey, miss!\u201d the guy barked, waving a hand like he was summoning a waitress. \u201cYou missed a spot!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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She paused, looked at him, and offered a polite nod.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Woman<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Woman wiping the wall while standing on a ladder | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cOh, and what\u2019s that smell?\u201d he added, scrunching his nose theatrically. \u201cIs that your cleaning spray, or\u2026 your perfume?\u201d Then he laughed.\u00a0Actually laughed.<\/i>\u00a0Like he\u2019d just delivered the joke of the year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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My stomach twisted. I wanted to disappear into the fake plant next to me.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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She didn\u2019t react. Not even a frown. Just a brief glance, calm, unreadable and then she turned away, pushing the mop back into the bucket with a soft\u00a0slosh<\/i>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Then she walked out.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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No anger. No words. Just silence and grace.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Woman<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Woman cleaning an office | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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I didn\u2019t know what was coming next. But I\u00a0felt<\/i>\u00a0it was going to be good.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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After a few minutes, the door creaked open again. At first, I thought it was someone new \u2014 maybe the actual hiring manager. But no. Same woman. Same calm energy. Only this time, she was transformed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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She wore a tailored navy blazer, heels that clicked with purpose, and her hair was neatly styled. Subtle makeup accentuated her features while her presence filled the room like a thunderclap.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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She smiled warmly, almost mischievously. \u201cGood morning,\u201d she said. \u201cShall we begin?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Woman<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Woman dressed in a official attire looking focused | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The man beside me shocked, straightened so fast he nearly tipped over his chair. \u201cOh! Oh\u2026oh, I\u2019m so sorry!\u201d he stammered. \u201cI\u2026I didn\u2019t recognize you! You\u2019re the boss?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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His face was pale and sweaty. \u201cI just assumed\u2026I mean, I didn\u2019t mean anything by\u2026what I said earlier, that was just a joke! You know, harmless\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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She arched a perfectly groomed brow. \u201cYou assumed wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Then, with that same polite tone she\u2019d used earlier, she added, \u201cI was helping out because our regular janitor\u2019s running late.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Dead silence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Woman<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Woman in gray blazer sitting by the table with a laptop | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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He laughed nervously. \u201cWow. Wow. That\u2019s so\u2026 inspiring! You\u2019re such a hands-on leader. Truly! That\u2019s exactly the kind of leadership I admire. Actually, I\u2019ve got leadership experience myself! Managed a team of thirty\u2026uh, forty\u2026people. I could tell right away you had that presence. That\u00a0aura<\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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She said nothing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He kept spiraling. \u201cWould you, um\u2026 would you like a shoulder massage?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I blinked.\u00a0What?<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Surprised<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Surprised woman in a suit | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Before I could react, the man \u2014 yes, the same guy who\u2019d made a joke about her perfume \u2014\u00a0got up<\/i>, circled behind her, and began massaging her shoulders like he was her spa attendant.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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She stayed completely still.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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No expression. No flinch. Just stone-faced composure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from bursting out laughing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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After a few seconds, she rose smoothly to her feet, causing him to stumble back like a dog caught chewing on shoes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Woman<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Woman standing in a boardroom | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThank you,\u201d she said crisply. \u201cThat\u2019ll be enough. Interview\u2019s over. I\u2019ve made my choice.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Then she turned to me with a warm, genuine smile that was just a little victorious.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cYou\u2019re hired.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The man stood there for a second, stunned into silence. His mouth opened, closed, then opened again but no words came.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He turned and stormed out, his face flushed from his ears to his hairline. I waited until the door clicked shut behind him before finally exhaling.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Best. Interview. Ever.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Woman<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Woman smiling while looking at her laptop | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Just when I thought the day couldn\u2019t get any more surreal, the door opened\u00a0again<\/i>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In walked a woman in her mid-40s \u2014 sharp blazer, sleek bun, and an air of authority that made the room straighten up instinctively. She scanned the space with calm precision before offering her hand to me.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cHi, I\u2019m Rebecca,\u201d she said with a composed smile. \u201cI\u2019m the actual director.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I blinked. \u201cWait\u2026 what?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Rebecca turned slightly, gesturing toward the door the \u201cboss\u201d had exited through. \u201cThat was Linda our janitor. We asked her to help us with a little\u2026 experiment.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Women<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Women in a meeting | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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I stared at her, jaw half-dropped. \u201cWait\u2014Linda<\/i>?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Rebecca chuckled. \u201cYes. She\u2019s worked here for years. Knows the place better than I do, honestly. And she\u2019s a damn good actress when she wants to be.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I couldn\u2019t help it, I laughed. Loud. Unfiltered. \u201cThat was\u00a0brilliant<\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Rebecca grinned, eyes twinkling. \u201cWe\u2019ve had a hunch. A few reports trickled in. Male candidates, mostly. Talking down to our staff when they thought no one was watching. So, we decided to see for ourselves who treats people with respect\u2026 and who forgets their manners when it\u00a0doesn\u2019t count<\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Women<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Women in a meeting | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cThat guy,\u201d I said, still catching my breath, \u201che offered her a shoulder massage.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Rebecca\u2019s face twitched as if she were suppressing a grimace. \u201cWe will document that in his application file, don\u2019t worry.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Just then, the receptionist poked her head in and said, \u201cLinda wants to know if she gets a bonus for her performance.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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We all burst into laughter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I looked around, still slightly stunned. \u201cSo\u2026 the job offer\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Woman<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Woman in an office | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Rebecca cut me off with a wink. \u201cCompletely real. We\u2019d already reviewed your application\u2014top marks, by the way. But after watching you today? You sealed the deal. You treated Linda with respect when it mattered most. That says more than any r\u00e9sum\u00e9.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I smiled so hard my cheeks hurt. \u201cThank you. Honestly. I can\u2019t wait to start.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cYou begin Monday,\u201d she said, reaching out for one last handshake. \u201cWelcome to the team.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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As I walked out, sunlight hitting just right, I thought about how fast things could flip. One minute you\u2019re a silent observer in a waiting room\u2026 The next, you\u2019re hired and see karma spin into action.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Woman<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Woman walking on the sidewalk while on a phone call | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

He mocked the cleaner during his interview. Then came the lesson It was supposed to be a standard job interview \u2014 nothing fancy, just a shot at something stable. I … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2419,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2418","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-life-story"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2418","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2418"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2418\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2420,"href":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2418\/revisions\/2420"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2419"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2418"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2418"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2418"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}