Something Overheard

As the train gathered speed, I suddenly remembered I had left my notebook indoors by the Telephone. ‘Damn’ I thought and wondered if I would remember everything John had told me during the call. John had rung unexpectedly, during breakfast, announcing that he wouldn’t be attending the weekly performance meeting as he was needed at an interview HR had impromptu arranged. All the time I had been employed at TEGL John had never missed a single meeting. John had told me briefly on the phone that the sales figure was somewhat down and he was investigating the reasons why, and the firm were going to make some changes. That was good news - Nothing to concern me over much then. In the background I could hear John’s wife Julie telling her Mother June that they were off shopping any time soon. John said Goodbye and that he would see me later on in the day. Just as I was putting the phone back in its holder I heard Julie ask a question and at the very same time my two kids shouted from the front door that they were off to meet their mates on the way to school. ‘Bye’ I shouted back and knew I needed to get my skates on or there was a chance that I would be late for work. Damn this timing everything down to the last second, but us lone parents have to be well organised. I buttoned my coat, felt in the pocket for my door keys, removed a letter from the door and threw it in the hall, pulled the front door shut, habit pushed it, and set off on the short walk to the Railway station.

John was the other sales executive and we had worked together since I joined the company 5 years ago. My previous firm had gone broke and I was in a very anxious state about finances when my luck suddenly changed after a quickly setup interview at TEGL. The company needed someone fast and I was their first and only applicant. I couldn’t work out why John had not been promoted to Senior Sales Executive as he had been at the company a bit over twenty years. He was much better at the job than I would ever be. John had been very supportive two years ago when Bernice had her car accident. ‘Come on’ I thought ‘no dark-day today.’

The C2C train pulled in to Fenchurch Street at eight fifty-three precisely. Quick walk to Tower Hill. District Line to Embankment. Three Minutes’ Walk. Thomas Exchange Global Ltd, Unit 15, Villiers Street, Embankment Pl, London WC2N 6NN. I had done this short journey hundreds of times, did it without thinking. Automatic pilot. I liked not to have to think too much. As I went into the Reception Area, I looked at my watch ‘Damn 8 minutes late.’ The desk clerk smiled and said “Good Morning Mr Evans.” Hesitantly I responded “Ah… Good Morning, lovely day, no rain.” Five years, I have walked into this reception. The desk clerk never speaks. It occurred to me I only knew him as Mr Smith and only that because of the memos I sent him about special visitors and passes etc. I walk on by, get the lift to the Fifth floor. Cross to the left corridor to Office 530. Put the coffee maker on. That smell you know, wonderful, cures all ills, here I am without my life support system, going late to a meeting. No time for Coffee now. I will ask John if he will say he was on the phone quite a long time and delayed me. Well best foot forward, best be off to the ‘stats meeting’ in room 501.

Then as I walked the long curved corridor to the meetings room I half remembered, that during the phone call this morning I had overheard Julie saying “Is it Barry?”. Hadn’t even registered at the time BUT hang on…thinking about it, John had rung me, the three of them were all round that table in the kitchen, she would have known who he was talking to. That desk clerk? In my mind I imagined there was something going on and that things were not quite right. Going to a meeting called by HR to make some changes eh? John had not said specifically what that meeting was about.

When I got to the meeting room the door was ajar. I peered through the gap between the door and the frame. To my complete surprise, John was in the room with the HR director and two of her managers. Peering further in the room I saw the whole sales team were there as well. The CEO appeared from round a corner into view “Is Evans always this bloody late for a meeting?” she said to the whole room. Well at least I knew this was the right meeting and not… I put my hand on the handle of Room 501. ‘Oh I hope this isn’t going to be a bit of a Room 101…’

Deep panic set in. I racked my brain to think what the hell was going on. Yes, sales were down but not by that much. Yes, I had been late four times in five years all due to LT or bloody C2C. I knew I had to go into that room BUT all of me just then wanted to go back to my office. Oh I was good at my job but had they sussed out that John helped me out a lot? Did they suspect that after Bernice, John had done all the work and let me coast? No, John was a mate and I could trust him to fight my corner whatever. ‘Come on Barry it’s something and nothing’

All eyes turned on me when I entered the room. The CEO looked straight at me and in a dead pan voice said “You got here, at last then, Barry Evans… Senior Sales Executive.” John gave me a look that said ‘Well done Mate’. I smiled a sort of twisted smile (even the bloody desk clerk knew!) shook the CEO by the hand. She looked at me, removed my hand from hers, and said “It was supposed to be a surprise… not put you into shock, a bloody hug would have been nice, John look after Mr Evans will you.” A little voice in my head said to me “You owe John – he enabled you to stand again on your own two feet and succeed, book a table for eight at that restaurant in Town and stand the bill you take-for-granted ungrateful little git!” John and I walked to our usual table where we sat at stats meetings.

“Didn’t see that coming… why didn’t you tell me?”

“Oh I know you too well Barry, you would have gone into panic mode about today as soon as I had let on. I am going to retire in 3 months’ time so we are going to get everything ship shape before then.”

“I know we will. How about you, Julie, June and the kids go out to celebrate eh… my treat.”

“What a good idea, I didn’t even tell Julie, you know, about your promotion, well until breakfast this morning, and it’s been a least a week since the kids saw each other, the four of them can plot and scheme together how to spend the first couple of year’s extra money”

And we both laughed happily, we were two families very entwined, Bernice would have loved this day. Somewhere someone smiled and I felt a warm feeling. Despite everything, life was very good. ‘Get Julie some flowers,’ Said a Voice that seemed just behind me.