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| Chapter 1 – Time Running |
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“It’s going to be a devil of winter”, Marc contemplated to himself, as he looked past the computer monitor and out his office window.
Everyone has a handful of misguided hopes about the weather. Unlike last year, and the year before that, we’d all like to think that this year, the winter just maybe isn’t going to show up. Maybe for once, the stars and moon won’t align as the weatherman promised. Maybe there would be no need for long coats, and no reason for new hats. Maybe summer will mess with everyone and just stick around until next spring. Maybe summer will stay and retain the long hours of daylight, and the beautiful temperatures bundled with it all, making winter not feel like a devil, but instead an angel.
Marc continued to mutter to himself, “Yeah… right… winter’s coming on strong and fast. Today its cold and tomorrow there will be snow.”
And just like last year and every year before that, there was nothing Marc could do.
“Hey! Marc… stop with the day dreaming already”, Marc’s office doorway was now occupied.
“Oh hey, Trent!”, Marc replied, trying to look around and see who else was near-by.
Trent laid into a rant, “Dude… what’s the deal with Fridays?! Everyone in here is doing their best to look busy, but we all know they’re just killing time ‘till days end! We need to beat the system and get the hell outta here now!”
Marc, could always count on Trent to mess with his moments of introspection. In fact Trent had been messing with Marc for the last 6 years. They met at university and graduated together. And much like every other university grad with best friends like Trent, Marc wondered how the hell they actually finished their engineering studies and earned their degree.
“Come on man, we both know we can’t take off.”, Marc pointlessly replied.
“Would you listen to yourself… that’s all wrong?! How much more work could you possibly have to do?”, Trent resumed his rant not even missing a beat.
“Look… what if someone needs us, and we’re not here? Do you now how much shit we’ll get in on Monday. I don’t want that hanging over my head all weekend.”, Marc’s comment hung in the air for a moment.
Trent pressed on, “Ok… let’s do a serious reality check here. It’s 3:30 right now. There 90 minutes - max - left in the day. What major fucking crisis is gonna actually happen, that you and only you can solve?!”.
Trent continued, “We work for Morrison Elliot Engineering… a fucking multinational firm, with 3,000 employees, I think if you and I head out for a well earned post-work beer, a few moments before the weekend begins, the company won’t collapse and file for bankruptcy!”
“You actually want to go for a beer?! After all the beers we had last night?!”, Marc finally sat up in his chair.
Trent was beginning to grin at the look on Marc’s face, “Come on… don’t front… you had a blast at The Rowntree last night.
Marc started to grin, “Yeah… I did. But why do you always drag me out and fill me up with draft beer on Thursday nights – only to have to get up early for work the next day?!”
“Oh come on Princess Marc, live a little. Besides, don’t you know that Thursday is the new Friday?”
Marc began to laugh, and promptly gave Trent the finger.
Trent kept on, “Look, are we going for a drink or what?! We both know this is the right thing to do.”
Marc tried to be firm, “No.”
Trent leaned in closely and lowered his voice, “Did I mention I called those two girls we sat with and chatted up at The Rowntree last night? They’re meeting us for a post work drink in 15 minutes. I’m feeling manly today, and I’m not afraid to go meet them alone! Now… are you with me or what?”.
Trent then left the office with a smug look on his face.
“Wait!”, Marc blurted out.
“Let me get my coat!”
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