"I don't see why I should take...flak. I know my place, I do my job, I'm..." she paused for a moment, smile brightening some, "close to being a best?" It didn't sound right, but hey, she could toot her own horn every now and then.
Her hand waving out "this is all new. I feel out of touch with it, like it's a dream, it's like I'm standing in both lifes, clueless."