Paradise: Final

Light was finally showing but RB wasn’t out of the dark yet.  He still had a few weeks before he would walk out of The Bad Place for the last time.  Too bad time didn’t fly.  Instead, time seemed to drag each day until RB drove home.  Upon looking back on the day, RB marveled how quickly it went. 

One week before RB’s last day, there was a lunch party for RB and Pam, who was going to another area within the company.  RB drove two coworkers to the Thai restaurant a few blocks away.  RB liked spicy food but had forgotten how spicy Thai food can be.  He was glad he normally drank water.  He was thirsty when everyone arrived and drank a glass and a half before everyone was served.  He merely continued this trend as a means of quenching the fire in his mouth. 

Shortly after lunch, there was a pow wow in the break room.  It was in honor of the young lady who was moving on.  She gave an emotional farewell and a cake was brought in.  After the cake was served, RB extended his congratulations.  Then he headed back to his cubicle.  He wanted to finish early if possible.  He wanted to get out of there.  The party made him anxious to leave once and for all. 

When the big day finally came, emotion filled RB’s heart.  It didn’t seem real.  It reminded him of when he was a child waiting for Christmas.  When the day finally arrived, it wasn’t real and it went too fast.  He also always regretted its passing.  He didn’t expect a luncheon since it was understood they shared the one at the Thai restaurant.  Still, he wanted to share his heart with his coworkers as Pam did the previous week.  He looked forward to it.

While eating lunch, RB pondered what he would say as his last words to his coworkers.  There were only four people in the department that had been there longer.  Therefore, most people were relatively new and RB believed he could impart some knowledge.  More than anything, he wanted to stress that by uplifting each other, they could get through each day. 

Around 2:00, the phone rang.  RB saw it was Matt and believed he was calling about the meeting so he could say goodbye and give his thoughts. 

“Hello, boss.  What’s up?”

“Close it up and go home.  Thanks for your hard work.”

Bewildered, RB asked, “Really?”

“Yes, you deserve it.  Go home early for a change.”

Disappointed, RB expressed appreciation and hung up.  He gathered his things and went from cubicle to cubicle saying goodbye.  One person questioned why RB didn’t have a meeting to say goodbye.  RB simply said he was told to leave early.  He never said it but RB felt it was a parting shot from The Bad Place.  It would never let him have any satisfaction. 

RB had five days off before training for the new job began.  It was completely different than anything he had done before and it bended his mind.  Still, he felt that was a good thing.  At least three times before his class, which began at 5:00 PM, he stopped by The Bad Place to say hello to friends.  It was during the third visit someone commented they see RB more now than before.  RB never returned until a time a former coworker specifically asked him to visit. 

It was about six months into the new job when RB realized he finally was over The Bad Place.  He believed all the crud that had accumulated on his soul was gone.  It only added to the joy that was in his heart.  It hadn’t been easy being in The Bad Place but as bad as that was, the new place was that much better.  In RB’s mind, it truly was paradise.