REM // Van McCann

74. Trying to Poach You

November 2014

Bondy was perched on the ledge, placing a cigarette in his mouth and lighting it. It was pissing down rain and absolutely miserable out but we found a covered area to have our ciggy. The both of us meet up when we can to exchange information about each other's companies. Despite having moved onto a different company, Bondy was still curious about how things were following his departure and how his replacement was doing.

"He's a quick learner and very smart but he keeps to himself," I told him. "Doesn't even tell us what he does for fun or if he's married. We all joke that he's living a double life and doesn't want us finding out what he's up to."

Bondy chuckled at our predicament. I've not met anyone so private about their life. He doesn't tell us his plans for the weekend and he declines all invitations for lunch and happy hour. My team is hellbent on getting any information out of him. We have a bet where the first to know something personal about him gets a free lunch.

"But enough about me, how's your workplace?" I asked. Bondy's been less forthcoming about the work he does, saying he's still training and doesn't know what's going on. But he's been there for months now so surely, he'd have some idea. It doesn't stop me from asking though.

"How often do you remember your dreams when you wake up?" he asked. I furrowed my eyebrows wondering what on earth that had to do with his work.

"Not often. I'll remember bits when I wake up but then it escapes me and I don't remember anything at all."

"If given the opportunity, would you like to visualize your dreams?"

"What d'ya mean by that?" I asked, getting a good look at him. He seemed to be fine but he was asking the weirdest questions.

"If you could experience your dreams in real-time, would you?"

"I'm not following along," I told him. What he's describing is impossible and I've no idea where he's trying to go with this. I asked about his work, not for philosophical questions! Bondy could sense that I've had enough of his nonsense so he changed the subject.

"It's been good. I love it there and I've been learning loads."

There he goes with his vague answers again. He always says how he loves it there and how he's learning still. Not once has he mentioned the people he works with nor goes into the specifics of what he's doing. This conversation was quickly becoming one-sided where I've been telling him more and some part of me wondered if I should be telling him less. But then I quickly discarded the idea. I'm not that mean. He probably has his reasons and doesn't want to tell me. Like what if he doesn't like it there but says he does out of habit? No one likes to admit they've made a bad choice leaving a company.

"Do you have any plans this weekend?" Bondy continued when it was clear I wasn't going to ask him to elaborate.

"Nothing exciting. I'm gonna look for places to move to," I told him.

I've not been in my place a year yet but I've lived here long enough to know that the place my company set me up at is convenient but it's not the best place to live. During the work week, it gets busy and noisy. You'll hear drunks shouting in the streets late at night and you'll see people in the back alley doing drugs. I try to avoid staying out too late but I'd just rather live somewhere quieter and safer but I'm in no rush to move. I'm slowly looking and studying the different neighborhoods in Seattle to see what's best based on my needs and keeping in mind my commute to work.

The nice thing was that I told Bondy I was looking to move and he helped me out by describing the different neighborhoods and what each neighborhood is known for. So I've narrowed down my location to three different neighborhoods and am now starting to look into apartments and the price to see what I can afford.