Morning all, I hope you enjoyed your weekend. For me it was a nice and quiet nothing. There was a little bit of gardening, mostly making sure the plants were well watered despite the sudden spike in temperature. We’re already getting 90 degree days here. even though it is getting towards the end of May, usually the 90s creep in with June. I suspect this is a summer where most of my garden veg is going to fry and frizzle despite my best efforts. But that is an ongoing battle. For now, it is time to start off the week. Are you ready for our first writing prompt of the week? God, then let’s get going.
A part of me likes part of this. I like the rag tag misfits who are actually good at their jobs and the adjustment of the former CEO. I think I would like this better if i knew the basics like where it was going, why they are gathered. There seems to be a mishmash of things like my brain got several skeins of story tangled together. I think it might have to be broken down and untangled before it can be anything.
Monday, May 23rd: That is my team.
“That is my team,” Alex said. Janice looked at him incredulously and then looked back at the group of people huddled together on the bleachers. It wasn’t an inspiring sight and I knew it. While the other teams were dressed in $5000 suits and designer work wear, most of my team had to be reminded that they would be in person for this gathering and that pants would be required.
Two of his people were in flip flops and he was fairly certain that Nancy was wearing her night gown over her yoga pants. Alex squared his shoulders and studied Janice with a calm, professional smile.
She smirked. “And to think I once looked up to you,” She turned away. Alex realized her comment had no sting to it. He remembered working and striving to get the big office with the great view. He remembered the experiences with friends and family that he had to miss. He remembered the envy as he was willing to let his personal life crumble to ashes just to stay on top.
He also remembered the stress induced heart attack that nearly ended his life. And coming to in the hospital wing, realizing that all the messages on his phone were work related and the one bouquet of flowers was from his secretary, ordered at the behest of his boss. He later found out he boss learned of the hospital visit when he missed a meeting and Allison, his secretary informed him. Mr. Myers simply told Allison to have something appropriate sent to his room, charged to the company and to update him when a return to the office was scheduled.
It was humbling to realize that he held such little value to those he worked with. They wanted to know when and if he was coming back because it affected their schedule, nothing more. He had a heart to heart with the ceiling in his hospital room that night. He was too weak to get up and turning was an effort, so he stared at the cracked plaster. He told himself that he was important, that he was valued and that he was doing great things. That night he had to admit that none of it was true.
With Janice gone he looked back to his team. His smile became genuine as he walked back toward them. He still wore his expensive suit, merely because he hadn’t thought about wearing anything else, but he didn’t mind the look of the others. All of them worked from home, video calls were needed when a face to face was required, but that was rare. Conference calls were the norm. And here he mattered. Here his team did good work. They weren’t flashy, but they were solid.
He was also certain that if something happened to him. They would show up. They would show up with casseroles and well-meant wishes. They might all even remember to put on pants of their own volition. Alex took his seat with them.
Ten til Midnight 