Morning all. Very happy to see Friday. It has been a very long week. So let’s just jump into the last prompt of the week. Timers at the ready and off we go…
I think I might have been dealing with too many self entitled people lately…
Friday, August 8th: His smile wobbled around the edges.
His smile wobbled around the edges. He kept it plastered to his face though, not letting his irritation show.
“I’m sure John doesn’t mind,” Harold said. “He’s never been the sort to run anything. Not like our Everett.” All eyes were turned to Everett. John felt relief as though the spotlight shifted. Everett seemed to be enjoying it more than he ever had. He preened and grinned as everyone told him what a wonderful company president he would be now that Harold was retiring.
Corks popped and John was handed a glass in celebration. He lifted it in toast as the others were watching although he didn’t drink. He set the glass down. He turned and Harold was there.
“You aren’t sulking are you?” Harold asked.
John looked at his father. Everett had always been the favorite and over the years John tried to win favor. He worked hard did what was expected of him and pulled more than his weight. Yet the glory still went to Everett.
“Not sulking, just realizing I am done,” John said.
He knew he was never going to be enough. Never what Harold wanted.
“Done,” Harold asked. He sipped his glass.
“Yeah,” John said. “Done. I’ll clear out my desk this afternoon and Everett and the company can continue on without me.”
“This is childish,” Harold said.
“No it’s self preservation,” John replied. “I need to work for a company that values me. Since you don’t, I don’t need to be there.”
“Everett will still value your input no doubt,” Harold replied sourly.
“No, Everett will still look to me to do the work while he plays at being boss and gets all the credit. But that is no longer my problem. If you will excuse me, I have a desk to clear out.”
John offered his father a tilt of the head as a farewell and slipped out of the room. Not in any mood to deal with any of them, he slipped out of the back door and kept going. He had arrived with his cousin and expected to be dropped back off at the parking garage, but the family town house wasn’t that far a walk from the garage. He also thought the walk would do him good.
He shook his head feeling the sting of the hurt and telling himself it was stupid.
It never changed. No matter how hard he worked, Everett got the glory. No matter what his accomplishments , Everetts were always better. The fact that Everett often took credit for his projects was part of the sting. He didn’t mind someone else standing in the spotlight if it was good for the company. He wasn’t about to bicker over credit in the boardroom when they needed to show a solid united front. Bur he thought at least someone understood his value.
‘As if I am going to just do Everett’s work for him for the rest of my life. Who would think that?’
He snorted realizing that was exactly what they thought. He used to argue but it never did any good. So he worked harder. That didn’t help. The best thing he could do now was leave.
He reached the parking garage and decided to pass it by and go into the office. He would clean out his desk and then take himself out of town for a bit. Somewhere nice and sunny to rest. ‘Someplace with no cell reception.’
Ten til Midnight 