Wacky Wednesday

···Amon···

It was drizzling outside when I left Hadley Hall.The taxi was waiting for me at the corner of No. 12th Avenue and Harris Avenue.But I hadn't taken three steps when I heard someone shout, "Jack!"

A boy with short brown hair and legs all over his neck ran over.

"Hi," I said.I'm pretty sure this is Jack's friend Connor.He built a hookah out of ketchup bottles last spring, and I had to babysit Jack the night before I was due to demonstrate the new corporate incentive system.

"Are you going to the library?"

Jack's schedule says he'll be in the campus library for two hours after literature class, but I'm sure I won't be there. "Called in sick." I lied.

"You've already asked for two days off, haven't you?"

"Two days?"

"You told me that if you ask for leave for more than two days in a row, the boss will fire you."

I do remember Jack mentioning this rule once when he was declaring impassionedly about the tyranny of his superior, and how bald he tried to hide it.

"I remember you took a leave of absence once when we went to Canada," Connor said.

"Canada?"

Note ①: The story takes place in Ohio, a few hours' drive from Canada.

He grinned, "You still don't remember much about that trip?"

I really don't remember.Jack never told me about his going to Canada.Maybe, as Connor said, he really doesn't remember much.I have a lot of experience in this regard, children have a bad memory, most of them are due to spanking, and they can remember everything after a spanking.

"It was a great time," Connor said. "It was a one-and-done trip. It should continue."

"What day did we hang out?" I asked.

"I don't remember. About five or six."

"This month?"

"My friend, how muddled are you?"

That's a great question.I also desperately want to know the answer.

"Hey, if you're not going to work, how about a cup of coffee? I want to talk to you about Beth—"

"I really have something to do." I said.

Connor was a little annoyed. "Okay, do what you like." He walked with me for a few seconds, then turned his head and walked away.

I shook my head.I have more important things to do than care about a moody college student throwing a fit because I don't have coffee with him.

Just like another moody college student.The latter is probably turning my office into hell.

But I couldn't help thinking about the library.What if Jack really got fired?He hates the job.He had a bad relationship with his mentor and felt that the hours were too long.But every time I suggested he change jobs, he would point out that I was the one who suggested he give up the sandwich shop and work on campus.

I sigh.I still have some free time before the taxi arrives.I can at least go to the library and explain to the instructor that this is an emergency.

I braved the drizzle and walked to the street sign on campus, and identified the location of the Rosa Holcomb Library.I walked up the library steps, took shelter under the eaves, and called Jack.

He didn't answer.It's nine thirty.If Jack was in A&L trying to fill my job, he would be interviewing the last candidate for the Director of Recruiting position right now.

Dying.

For me, Wittmeyer has been the same as being on duty.From a personal point of view, I don't think he is average, but he is much better than other job applicants.And we need to fill the vacancies as quickly as possible.

I went into the library and didn't know where to go.The building is old and dimly lit.There was a small group of students sitting hunched over a long table in the corner, and two borrowers were picking books from the bookshelves, but there was no one else.A blonde girl at the front desk waved to me, and I breathed a sigh of relief.I'm assuming she's Jack's colleague Carrie, but not sure. "Hi," I said, "do you know where Mr. Grogan is?"

"He went to buy bagels. He'll be back at nine-thirty."

"Can you tell him for me that I'm not feeling well and want to ask for leave to go home?"

"Well... haven't you already asked for two days off?"

"I'm sick. Can't Mr. Grogan be accommodating?"

"What about arranging the board of directors?"

"what?"

"My friend, Jack, we're going to prepare a conference room for the board meeting. Grogan is so anxious that he can't help it. He just pointed at you, a muscular man, to do things for him."

I glanced at my thin arm. "I'm not a muscle man."

"At least he has more muscles than me."

"He can find someone else."

"That's it. You call him and tell him. If I say it, he will definitely kill me. "

"What's his phone number?"

"Aren't you stored in your phone?"

I flipped through Jack's phone book to the G section, and saw one of the contacts called "Grolangen."Jack is so cute.

"Have you decided on a birthday surprise for that tough guy?" Carrie asked.

"Who?"

"Amon? Tall, dark-skinned, handsome, the one who is almost forty? Don't you like him?"

"Oh!"

Mighty?Carrie had never seen me—in my body, exactly.Did Jack show her my picture?Did he talk about me at work?I don't know why this incident surprised me so much, I rarely talk about my personal life with my colleagues.

My 40th birthday was a week away, and I was completely unaware that Jack was arranging a celebration.Apparently he had a gift for keeping secrets.Like Canada.I don't really aspire to be 40, and I don't expect anything special to happen on my birthday.Last year, the two of us had nothing to do, had ice cream together, and had an exciting birthday party.

I cleared my throat. "I, uh...not yet."

"I suggest you prepare. Don't care about the cost, it's just once in a lifetime."

Once in a lifetime?

My thumb is just over the dial, ready to dial Gro Rotten.But now I'm wondering: What exactly is the likely expensive surprise that Jack has arranged for me?

"You know, I will," I pressed the dial button, and held the phone to my ear, "But I'm a little hesitant, I want to hear your opinion, wait for me—"

"Oh, here's Grogan," Carrie said. "Good luck." She pretended to be working seriously on the computer.

A tall, lanky man walked through the door.He has short white hair, which looks very soft, but does not cover his ears. A few strands of hair cover his huge bald head. He has a long face with graceful wrinkles. He is carrying a small brown bag from the bagel shop on campus. .He glanced at me and his face fell.

I turned off my phone.

I'm assuming that Jack's inability to get along with Mr. Grogan is because he really hates domineering people.Jack played well with almost everyone, but there was one type of people he hated to the bone.Grogan was exactly that kind of guy.No matter how you feel about your employees, a competent boss should not show displeasure with them.

"Mr. Grogan, can I speak a little more?" It felt strange to hear Jack's voice say that - so formal, it was almost sarcastic.

"You go and move that big table from the back to McKinley Hall," he said without hesitation.

"Sorry," I continued, "but I can't work today. I'm not feeling well."

He folded his hands and leaned against the counter, which is a posture that people tend to take when subconsciously feeling insecure. "Are you feeling unwell?"

"Yes, not well. I'm going home." I said politely.

"This is your third time off," Grogan said.

"I don't want that either."

Grogan surveyed me with dull eyes with drooping upper lids. "I see you are in good spirits."

"Uh, I'm not fine." I realized there was a hint of anger in my voice.I'm usually patient and not in a hurry, but the anxiety of rushing to A&L made it hard for me to stay calm.

"I'm sure you have a dissertation, don't you, Parker? There must be something you've been putting off." He glanced at my hand. "Or are you going to go home and repaint your nails?"

Startled, I glanced at the thin layer of purple nail polish on my nails, and then at Grogan.

"Listen," I said, taking a step forward, "think what you want, but I can't go to work today. Stop messing with me or I'm quitting right now."

Grogan froze.I guess he is not used to being teased, especially not used to being teased by Jack.Jack was good at losing his temper, but not when it came time to assert his rights calmly.

Grogan glared at me. "Go home and rest, Parker."

He walks away.

Carrie looked up from the computer, dumbfounded. "Jack, you little villain is very capable. You were so handsome just now."

I had been holding my breath just now, and now I let it out. "Thank you."

"He said that about your nails. What a cunning thing."

I don't know what "scheming" is, but it sounds like a good description for Grogan.

Carrie glanced at the counter. "Hey, he left the bagel behind."

I lifted the bag, took the bagel out of it, and licked it up and down.

If Jack himself were here, he would probably do it nine times out of ten.