Wacky Wednesday

···Jack···

When I got to the meeting room, I was so nervous that I could hardly sit still.I look around.Arnold and the woman with the bangs from the recruiting department were there.Joe Feldman was there too—she noticed I wasn't wearing a tie, but said nothing.Here comes an administrative assistant.There was also an IT guy who was responsible for entering Witmeyer's profile on the new software used by A&L the moment Wittmeyer took over.

Wittmeyer, however, was out of the question.

"Are you okay?" Arnold asked me. "You don't look very well."

I smiled weakly. "Too much coffee. I'm going to cut down on caffeine."

At [-]:[-], everyone had already arrived.I had a note with Wittmeyer's phone number scrawled on it.There are no notes prepared, and no archives to refer to.

I'm going to improvise.

"Well," said Joe Feldman. "We've given Amon the floor first. Next, if any of you have any questions about Mr. Wittmeyer, or if he has any questions about any of you, feel free to ask. No problem, right?"

Everyone thinks it's good.But I don't think so.My tension increased over time.Did Wes get "White Lightning" out?Where did those employee files go?How would Wittmeyer react when I revealed that he was a liar?

It was only when my thoughts turned to Wittmeyer's hand on Amon's shoulder, and his great white teeth when he smiled, that I found the courage to make the call.

After three rings, Wittmeyer answered. "Hello?" His voice was low and steady, a little impatient.It seemed that the old man had more important things to do and was too lazy to talk to the future employer, even if the other party might give him a once-in-a-century golden job.

"Hi, Mr. Wittmeyer. I'm Amon Monterey of A&L Financial. How was your afternoon?"

"Very well, Mr. Monterey." At least he didn't call me Monty.But there was a knowing smile in his voice, so obvious, that it annoyed me half to death.

I call him immortal.

Damn it, how could Amon not know that this man is a scum with porcelain teeth, glued hair, no credibility, a fighter among idiots.

It's been a bad day today, and I don't know what to do with Amon, or how to help Amon, or even how not to help.My day.

I was not allowed to say "my day" for a month, my day.

At least one thing I can do.

I could crush Bernard Wittmeyer, and crush him a few more times, to make sure he never gets a chance to work with Amon again.I no longer have to be scolded by him when I enter the office.He could no longer put his hand on Amon's shoulder.

"What can I do for you?" he asked.

"Something," I said. "And it's a big deal."

"tell me the story."

I imitated Wittmeyer's smooth, calm tone in my borrowed voice, and said, "Stop acting."

"what?"

"I said," I stood up, leaned forward on the table, and got as close to the phone as I could, as if it were Wittmeyer himself, "Wittmeyer, you liar. You liar. You If you think you can infiltrate A&L with a fake referral and waste my precious time - time I could have spent at home with my partner who didn't get your respect yesterday - and our company's resources, Trying to squeeze into a job you're not worthy of is a big mistake."

Joe Feldman cleared his throat beside me. "Amon?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Wittmeyer said.

Too much.If he wants to play dumb, then I'm going to pretend to be Tom Cruise in the courtroom in "Great Sea".

Note ①: AFewGoodMan, a legal-themed movie starring Ah Tang in 1992.

"You made up an introducer on your application. OI's administrative assistant checked twice and said they didn't even have a record of you ever working there." I knelt on a chair, with my hands on either side of my phone, talking Straight into the microphone. "Do you think you can get away with it? Do you think you can walk in and put your hand on my shoulder - oh yes, this is sexual harassment, I suggest you get familiar with SW2 policy - and expect me to treat you Know nothing about lies? I am very disappointed in you, Mr. Wittmeyer. Very disappointed. I will not tolerate such fraudulent behavior by my employees."

"Mr. Monterey, can I—"

"Thank you, yes, my name is Mr. Monterrey, not Xiao Meng. The next time you look for a job--I guess it will be a long time later, after all, no one wants to hire a liar--you must follow the Such basic etiquette."

"Amon," Joe Feldman repeated, louder.

I raised a hand to signal her to be quiet.This is a war between me and Bernard fucking Wittmeyer.I was almost up on the chair, my knees half-bent, my other hand curled into a righteous fist.

"Did I get it right? We don't take liars. We don't take tricksters, we don't take bad manners, we don't take scheming. Because A&L isn't that kind of company."

I also took two shots of the table for emphasis.

"Amon!" Joe Feldman yelled.

I look up.

Several people opened their mouths.Arnold looked even more frightened.

I climbed out of the chair, sat up straight, and smoothed out what was left of my tie. "That's all I have to say, Mr. Wittmeyer."

A silence.

"Can I speak, Mr. Monterey?" Wittmeyer asked.

"Say what?" I snapped.I just revealed his black material, why does his voice sound so calm - even a little amused?

"You said that I made up an introducer in OI-do you have any basis?"

"My basis is that there is no such person as Wittmeyer in the records of the OI Administration Department."

"That's because my last name was 'Stanton' when I worked there."

"what?"

Wittmeyer laughed wildly.He laughed so much that in the end it was barking like a dog, like crying. "Didn't I tell you, Xiao Meng? After I got married, I took my husband's surname. But when I was working in OI, my surname was still Stanton."

I said nothing.

His laughter turned into a series of snorts and sighs, like it was the funniest thing he'd heard in a long time.With some difficulty, he calmed down and said, "Hey, listen—"

I hang up the phone.

The crowd remained motionless.

I stood up and left the room.

I walk past the main office area.

Down four flights of stairs.

Pass the coffee shop.

Walk out the gate and onto the sidewalk.

Then I ran.

***

The water was a murky, dirty brown.One thing I miss about West Virginia is the rivers: clean, cool rivers that flow fast.A little less civilized temperament, a little more wild feeling.

I put Amon's phone on a rock.

I don't want to check the time, and I don't want to receive calls and texts from other people.

All I want to do is sit here until I'm starved, frozen, and eaten by a bear.

But I really don't want to be eaten by a bear.

I sniffed.

It felt weird to cry in Amon's body.It takes more effort to move and breathe with his body than I used to.His body doesn't bend and fold as easily as mine.Crying with his eyes hurts more than crying with my own—maybe because his eyes aren't used to tears yet.

The sun is almost setting.A jogger by the river walks through the orange evening light.

I thought about San Francisco, and how I thought I could take care of Amon, even for a weekend—how ridiculous the idea was.He has been forced to take care of me all the time, until one day—probably today—he feels that he can't control me anymore and kicks me out of the house.

One night last year, he asked me to sing to him.He was very busy that night, and he was completely distraught.So I always wanted to make him less messy, so I saw him stop what he was doing—I don’t know what it was, probably answering emails from work—and asked me "Would you sing me a song?" Is there a song?" I was very surprised.

I like to imitate singers—usually Bruce Springsteen and one of Faith’s singers—but I usually don’t sing seriously.I was going to sing a few lines from "The Boss" at first, but Amon called it off. "Sing it in your own voice," he said, "sing something nice."

Note ②: Bruce Springsteen and the Creed band, the following "Boss" (Boss) is Bruce Springsteen's nickname.

I just sang a song that I liked very much when I was a teenager—that kind of weird, melodious and sad love song. The lyrics are also the type of rhetoric and sad, but the melody is very beautiful.

After singing, I was kissed and thought: Wow, how can I get this kiss?Then he lay on the couch, snuggled with me, and fell asleep.Jin Shimiao jumped on his head and curled up into a ball, but failed to wake him up.

I often can't understand Amon's thoughts, and I don't know how to give him what he wants.It always makes me happy that he volunteers to speak up.Just like that night.

I also started to understand how to tell him what I wanted.

Maybe speaking up is better than hiding his toothbrush in the litter or throwing the alarm clock.

"I love you," I told him two months after we met.I think it means a lot to me.This is the first time I have said this word.My heart was pounding wildly in my chest.

"I love you too," he replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Sometimes he forgets to put his thoughts into words.

He forgot that people need to hear words to express these seemingly obvious things.

***

"are you cold?"

I lifted my head from between my knees and saw myself coming towards me.This should have been a rather grisly scene.But on my face, I recognized the expression that belonged to Amon: tenderness and concern.

He sat down on the bank a few feet away from me, his legs stretched forward, his feet slapping the ground back and forth.

I wiped my nose with my fist and turned away.

"Hey, Jack?"

I do not speak.

"Jack? Look at me."

dont see.

"In less than three hours, the party is about to start."

I look at him. "Party?"

"Luciana's party? Tonight?"

"I know it's this one. But we're not going."

"why are you not going?"

I must confess to him.I have to tell him everything.At this time, I am bigger than him, stronger and faster than him. How long will it be if I don't recruit at this time? "Because you don't know how bad my shit is."

He didn't speak for a full minute. "A&L called me and said they were worried about you."

"Did they tell you what I did?" I asked. "Tell me what I said to Wittmeyer?"

"No. Do you want to tell me?"

"I really don't want to."

"Say it and you'll feel better."

I shook my head.

He sat down and stared at the water.

"I told him he had failed the job. I called the company he worked for and they said they didn't remember anyone named Wittmeyer, so I thought he made up an introduction. But that was Because he took his husband's last name. I was on the phone, in front of everyone, and said he was lying."

"what."

"Huh? That's all you want to say?" He made me smoke. "Then listen to the following? I caused your car to be towed, lost three personnel files, offended a woman who was sexually harassed by your former boss, and even stuck your tie on your swivel chair." I ring The arms in the lap were trembling.I held back another wave of tears that was about to come and said, "So I beg you, if you want to kill me, do it quickly."

He didn't respond for a long time.I couldn't help but look at him.He laughed.

"You got your tie stuck in my swivel chair?"

I imagined countless possible responses from him, and the laughter was not what I expected.I should have breathed a sigh of relief, but this time I was so angry. "I was picking up paper clips. You put the paper clips too far away!"

"Is it time for me to say it now?" he said.

"say what?"

"I caused you to lose your job in the library. I tried to mediate between two of your friends, but they both suspected that I was abusing you at home. Another thing I said before, I failed the exam. I I really don't know what an 'Earth Dragon' is."

"You got me fired?"

"I'm going to send a few emails and see if I can get your job back."

"Shit, Amon. If I lose that job..." I can't afford to go to San Francisco.I can't afford my part of the living expenses.I completely lost the "I am a qualified adult" appearance.

"I'll do my best to make it up."

"So much the better!"

I have absolutely no right to get mad at him.What I have done is worse than his.His job is really important.

But, damn it, I'm tired of thinking about things like that.My job is also very important.Although I don't like it.Although I won't do this job for the rest of my life.

Amon's life is life, and so is mine.

"I'm angry." I said, glaring at him.

"You're right to be angry with me. I'm sorry."

It's boring to lose your temper at him.

"What about Wittmeyer?" I finally asked.

He shrugged. "I'll call him tomorrow to apologize. I don't care if he doesn't want to work here. I'm interested in the woman you interviewed today."

I shake my head. "Stop comforting me."

"I didn't. I was crazy about filling the job, and turned a blind eye to Wittmeyer's problems. The main problem is this: He's a cunning dick."

I turned and stared at him.Where did Yamon know the word "scheming dick"?

"I don't even know what questions to ask Laura Elms," I said. "I quoted her more than she could possibly get. But she's a really nice person. She's smart. I feel like she's going to do a good job."

"I'll call her for a retest."

"Maybe she's the worst job applicant ever, who knows."

"I trust you."

My laugh sounded worse than crying. "You don't trust me, and you shouldn't trust me."

"I haven't shown it lately, but I do trust you, respect you, love you."

It's hilarious to hear my own voice say those words, it makes me feel like it's me speaking to me.

"Me too," I said.

He brushed grass clippings off his jeans. "Here's what I'm thinking: We're not having a great day. The only thing that's going to appease us is the super fried crab horn. So I really, really hope you'll come with me tonight to Luciana Day Yamont's party. If not for me, then for Crabhorn's sake."

I do not know what to do.I'm tired of putting my head in my lap and staring at the river.I want to lie on Amon's lap, but Amon's lap is now my own.I don't have the energy and I don't deserve to party hard.

But this man next to me, he's seen -- or at least is aware of -- some of my very sloppy behavior.He allowed me to question him, love him, and bug him.He stops me from doing anything that crosses the line.

Even in my thin body, in a very unintimidating voice, when he said: We can make up for the mistakes together, we can go to Luciana's party to eat crab horns, and clean up the mess tomorrow —I still believe in him.

"Ok."

"Ready?" He held out a hand.

I crawled across the grass and up to him.

Hell, even if I'm a big, big chested, 170-pound guy, he's going to have to find a way to hug me in his lap.