Chapter 1

It’s May and I’ve just graduated from college with a degree in marketing. My job hunt was successful and Monday will be my first day at work at my new job. I will be marketing food products rather than serving them. Working as a server through college helped me but also convinced me that I wanted a future in a different area.

Girls were another source of interest for me though I had sworn off the group over the last year. Alicia and I had dated “seriously” for almost a year. I thought we were becoming serious until she dumped me. It could have been worse. I might have bought a ring. I still lived at home with my parents. It was much less expensive and I was trying to keep from owing too much money from my college.

My parents always taught me to avoid debt and I tried, with a mixture of earnings and scholarships, to avoid borrowing more than I absolutely needed. I think that contributed to losing Alicia since my dates tended to be cheap and she was a sorority girl. I went to church with my parents which also didn’t meet with her approval.

Anyway, I graduated with honors and a job. I would be involved in some sales but mostly performing market research for the company’s product line. My commute would be short to the company’s regional office where I would have a desk. My parents celebrated with me my graduation. On Sunday, our little Methodist church recognized me. Few members had graduated from college.

Monday, I drove to my new employer’s offices to get there early. There were four of us who were newly hired including one other into the marketing department. I was sitting in the break room drinking coffee when she came in. My eyes widened when I saw her walk in the door. She was a fox! What’s more, she seemed to not take notice of her looks. She gave me a smile. “Are you a newbie, too?”

I smiled. It would be hard not to respond to her smile with one of my own. “Yes, ma’am. I’m Gerald Addison.”

“Good to meet you, Gerald. I’m Beth Monroe.” She placed her purse on my table and poured a cup of coffee. She sat down across from me.

“Good to meet you, Beth. I think there are two more still to show. I’ll be working in marketing. Where will you be?”

“I will, too. I wonder what they will have us doing?”

“I’m not sure. I’m sure you received the same snow job that I received. We’ll just have to see how it works out in practice.” She nodded. We sat quietly sipping our coffee waiting for more people to show up. I had noted that I was the second person to enter the office this morning. Beth was the fourth.

I smiled a bit ruefully thinking that early rising was a habit because I didn’t go out partying in the evenings. That was particularly true for Sunday night. Alicia never appreciated that. The more I thought about it, the more I decided that it was good we wouldn’t be together any longer;

Beth said, “That was a serious, somber thought.”

I said, “Yes, I was thinking of my former girl and how we didn’t mesh in so many ways.” I brightened. “I’m not sure why we got together or stayed together for most of the year we dated.”

Beth grinned. “I think you might have some worthwhile redeeming characteristics.” She looked over my tall, lean body with its light brown hair and green eyes. “She might have kept you just as arm candy if nothing else.” That made her grin.

She then said, “I think this place doesn’t start on time. Everyone would be due here in ten minutes and we’re still the only ones here other than the receptionist and one other.”

“Yeah, it makes you wonder. I’ve always been an early riser. I like the dawn. It’s peaceful and relaxes me to start another day. I can get a quiet cup of coffee.” All that was true, I thought. What I didn’t say was that I also used that early time to pray and study my Bible. I’m not ashamed of my faith but was uncomfortable talking about my practice of it to strangers or new acquaintances. Alicia had not liked knowing I had a faith or that I practiced it.

At that moment, the door opened and people walked inside. It was like they came in a rush. People went into the break room and grabbed coffee filling or refilling cups and then leaving for their desks. Two other younger persons entered and sat with Beth and me.

An older man sat down with the four of us. “I’m Jack Olson, the HR manager for this branch. I greet you all on behalf of the company. We have the inevitable paperwork to go over to get you all signed on. After that, Miz Monroe and Mister Addison will go to the marketing department, Mister Harkness will be in engineering, and Mister James will stay with me. If there are no immediate questions, let’s get the packets completed and then we’ll separate. Any time that there are questions, speak up.” We all nodded. “Wait here and I’ll be right back.” He left. We waited.

When he returned, he had packets for each of us with forms to fill out including the ubiquitous I-9 to prove we were citizens or had a right to work in the country. We went to work on the forms. I had been through this at restaurants so knew what to carry. I found no surprises. Included was a company manual of some fifty pages. The form with it would have me sign that I had read it. I didn’t sign it but finished the rest and started reading the manual. Everyone else signed everything and Mister Olson collected all the signed forms. He went through each set. He said, “Mister Addison, you haven’t returned the signed handbook form.”

I responded. “On that form, I certify that I have read and understand the handbook. I’m reading it now. Once I have any questions that may come up answered, then I can sign the form.”

“Read the handbook later. Sign the form now.”

I set the handbook to one side, modified the form, and then signed it. Mister Olson was not pleased. Before he could say something, I said, “Mister Olson, I take my name and certifications seriously. I will not lie.”

He wasn’t pleased. “I will get you a new form. AFTER you have read and understood the handbook, I will expect it brought to me signed.”

Chapter 2 »