-Legos-
I really…..really hate Legos. The little nubs and sharp corners that fit perfectly right into the center of the bottom of your foot, causing a stabbing agony that lingers for the rest of the day with every step.
My son and I woke up forty- five minutes late this morning. The very first thing I see upon opening my bedroom door is a hardwood minefield of discarded Legos in the hallway. I step over most of them gingerly but my impatience with getting a move on gets the best of me. The second to last Lego impales the arch of my foot, assaulting my nerve endings with a lightning bolt of pain.
Through gritted teeth I wake up my son and help him rush to get ready for school. I prepare the coffee maker and get all the way to the last step when I mournfully realize I’m out of drinking water. My kiddo gets on his bus, I get in my car and we go our separate ways for the day.
I grab a luke warm, unsatisfying cup of coffee at a drive through café’ and continue to drive to work. Things should all be better once I get there. That promotion is as good as mine, I’ve already started spending my sign on bonus already. I’ll be so happy and proud to tell my son that his Daddy got the job.
He deserves a better life and nice things. He barely ever asks me for anything and is so appreciative, even at his young age, of every gift he receives. I think I’m going to take him to the theme park two towns over that he loves. We’ve only been able to go once, and it rained the whole day. He loved it though. My boy smiled ear to ear through the whole park, wetter than a drowned rat but as happy as a June bug.
I pull into the parking lot and walk inside the building. My confidence soars with every slightly pained step forward that I take towards the conference room. It looks like most of the office is already inside. Quite a few heads turn my way to greet me with warm smiles as I take my seat at the conference table.
“Alright everyone. Now that Reinhardt’s here we can get on with business.” He gives me a wink of comradery after saying my last name. I take the subtlest of deep breaths as I mentally prepare myself for a victorious acceptance platitude. I need to be prepared to humbly respond to the impending promotion announcement.
My boss continues. “As you are all aware a promotion became available last month. After carefully going over performance reviews and customer satisfaction rates, we’ve finally chosen the perfect candidate. Please give a warm welcome to your new assistant director……
I rise to my feet and brush off the sides of my suit jacket as the name falls from his lips into the atmosphere. “…. Stewart Brown.” A middle-aged man in the back of the room also has risen to his feet and with an accomplished, proud smile on his face.
My hands unconsciously come together and start clapping to join the others in the room. I force a thin smile across my lips as my eyes meet Stewart’s, I give a congratulatory nod. My feet guide me in betrayal as I find myself walking towards him. I shake his hand with as much positivity as I can muster, secretly loathing that this man got the job that should have rightfully been mine.
As soon as it’s time for my lunch break, I step outside to call my wife. I really need her loving voice right now. The sinking fear that she will leave me for my shortcomings nags at my mind. She’s not that kind of woman though. It’s just the voice in my head, the voice that I never want to listen to but is the one that never goes away. Only popping up when I’m feeling my highest, or lowest. Talking to her always makes me feel better. I love her so much.
Her phone rings only once, and then directs me to voicemail. I dial the number again, seeking the much-needed relief that her presence always gives me. However, the result is the same. I decide to call her on her work line, figuring she was just getting back from her break by now. This time a woman’s voice answers on the third ring. “Thank you for calling Harper and Stone Realty Office! This is Sherrie, how can I help you today?” Confusedly, I answer her. “Uhh… yeah hi Sherrie. May I please speak to Anna Reinhardt? This is her husband, Gerald.”
