A couple of hours later, Ethan was free and headed back to the office. His heart sank with a sense of worthlessness—he knew he couldn’t argue with his boss. And Robert would be in the right to punish him, though Ethan hoped the client wouldn’t complain.
Parking the car, Ethan rushed into the office building. As he passed, Jake, a coworker, gave him a nasty grin. There was always bad blood between them.
Rumor had it Jake sucked up to Robert in his own ways. The thought made Ethan uneasy, and his hatred for Jake showed on his face—eyebrows arched, mouth twisted.
Robert stepped out of his office:
“Well, Ethan, just the guy I need. What’s with your face? You hate me, so you’re all scrunched up? Come with me. I’m about to make that mug of yours even uglier.”
After those words, Ethan braced for the worst. He tensed up and followed Robert into the office. A massive desk stood by the window, next to a worn-out chair. Oddly, the office decor had changed drastically.
There used to be flowers on the windowsill, but now they were gone. The desk, once new, looked like it came from a dump. Ethan turned to Robert and met his smirking gaze.
“That’s right, this is your new reality. I brought in this chair just for you. You need to feel what hopelessness and poverty are like. Know why I’m doing this?”
“No. Guess your sense of humor’s just out of this world,” Ethan said, his voice shaking.
“You’re partly right,” Robert replied, patting his shoulder. “I can joke, but not with you. I know all about your tardiness. Thought you could sneak off to another city and I wouldn’t find out?”
“Sorry, Robert, but I hit traffic a few times, and the car’s a wreck.”
Ethan scrambled for excuses, but he knew it was pointless. If Robert was putting on this show, it was to stroke his ego. Pride was something Robert had in spades. He could spend hours adjusting his tie in front of a mirror.
He loved himself more than anyone else. Pointing to the chair, Robert told Ethan to sit:
“No thanks, I’ll stand,” Ethan replied nervously, clenching his fists.
“Fine, your call. Maybe it’s for the best. I had a GPS tracker installed in the car. Knew it’d come in handy.”
“What are you talking about, Robert?”
“I saw your whole route, Ethan. You stopped multiple times, zigzagged through alleys, and even ended up at a bank. Don’t tell me you’ve got an account there and needed to check your balance.”
“Of course, because phones don’t exist anymore.”
Ethan felt a wave of heat when he heard “bank.” He’d joked with Sarah about not robbing it. What if she actually did, and now he was an accomplice? Trying to shake the thought, he stammered:
“Did you see anything else?”
“Nope, but that’s enough to punish you. Just not sure how to make it stick with you for life.”
“How about just a warning?” Ethan pleaded.
“Too soft. That won’t teach you anything,” Robert snapped.
Just then, Jake barged into the office without knocking. He looked at Robert and bluntly asked:
“So, have you told him yet?”
“What’s going on?” Ethan jumped toward Jake, staring him down.
“You’re fired, buddy,” Jake said with a gleeful sneer.
Ethan turned back to Robert:
“You can’t do this to me. I’ve done so much for you, taken on the toughest, cheapest rides.”
“You crossed me once,” Robert said coldly. “You shouldn’t have shown off in front of the big boss. He stopped giving me bonuses because of you.”
“You think I’ll let that slide?”
“No, Ethan, you’re mistaken. You’re done. Take your final pay and get out of my sight.”
Head down, Ethan slowly backed out of the office but paused halfway and glared at Jake:
“‘Buddy,’ huh? We’ll see about that.”
His eyes caught the old, battered chair by the desk. He thought to himself, “Sarah was right about changes coming to my life.” He no longer wanted to stay in that office. On autopilot, Ethan went to accounting, collected his last paycheck, and stepped outside.
The wind ruffled his hair as he stared into the void, the uncertainty ahead chilling him. The bank popped into his mind, and he shivered again:
“What if she did rob it? And Robert let me go on purpose, waiting for the cops to show up?”
Shaking his head, Ethan waved it off and trudged to the bus stop. Now he’d have to rely on public transit, and if he didn’t find a job soon, he’d be walking. But where to apply? He hadn’t learned any other trade, had no certifications or experience.
He was a man without a profession, without family, without roots. A wave of despair hit him, and he barely held back tears. Passersby glanced at him, thinking something was wrong.
Ethan stood at the bus stop, muttering to himself. Several buses in his direction passed by. Then an elderly woman, clutching a heavy bag, stopped beside him:
“Hey, kid, why so glum? Look at this weather—rain’s stopped, sun’s out.”
“You’re right, it’s nice out. But it doesn’t cheer me up. I got fired today, all because I got on my boss’s bad side.”
Squinting, the woman leaned closer and whispered:
“Don’t worry, you didn’t mean to. Your day will come. But when it does, don’t push it away. That’s your fate.”
“Are you all in on this?” Ethan asked, annoyed. “All I hear are cryptic hints. Can someone explain what’s happening?”
As he waved his arms, demanding answers, the woman slipped around the corner. It felt like she’d appeared just to drop another riddle. Baffled, Ethan boarded a bus and headed home.
At the store, Ethan grabbed a loaf of white bread and a carton of milk. He knew his cat, Whiskers, was waiting. The moment the lock clicked, she darted into the hallway, rubbing against his legs.
Petting her, Ethan, now a former driver, said:
“You’re the only one happy to see me, Whiskers.”
Hearing her name, the cat purred contentedly. Ethan kicked off his shoes, went to the kitchen, and poured milk into her bowl. Whiskers left his legs alone and lapped it up, glancing at him and licking her chops.
Her loyal eyes were so full of devotion that Ethan couldn’t take it. He covered his face with his hands, standing by the window, barely holding back emotions. Then the doorbell rang.
Ethan flinched:
“Odd, I’m not expecting anyone.”
Peeking into the hallway, he called out:
“Who’s there?”
From the other side came:
“It’s me, Grandma Betty. Ethan, open up, we’re having tea.”
Confused, he opened the door:
“Well, I’ll be. Were you crying or something?” Betty teased. “Come on, let me wipe your face. There, that’s better. No need for tears.”
“Sorry, Betty,” Ethan said apologetically. “It’s been a rough day. I’m not in the mood for fun, let alone tea. Maybe another time?”
“Oh, come on, Ethan. It’s my birthday, in case you forgot. Seventy-seven years young. I couldn’t skip treating my favorite neighbor.”
Shaking his head, Ethan said guiltily:
“You’re right. I’ve been so wrapped up in work, I forgot everything, especially my personal life. And don’t give me that surprised look. I know you’re not dating anyone. You should. You’re not a kid anymore, and you need a family. It’s no good living alone, Ethan. You’ll blink, and old age will sneak up.”
“Betty, what about your family? Shouldn’t you be at a big birthday dinner?”
“Oh, Ethan, you still don’t get it,” she sighed. “My kids and grandkids show up for an hour, maybe less. They’ve got their own lives, and sitting with an old lady isn’t their thing. If my husband were still around, I wouldn’t be lonely. But now, I sit by the window, watching others with their kids or grandkids.”
“I get it now,” Ethan said sadly. “But I’m not cut out for family life. I’m always working, just trying to survive. Though I’ll have to pinch pennies now since I got fired.”
“That’s awful, Ethan. But don’t lose hope. Why are we talking in the doorway? Let’s go to the kitchen, and I’ll take care of you.”