LAST DAY
Friday- At last. When I had gotten home last night the message machine had been
flashing, but I hadn't listened to it until today. It was Traci's voice. `Six
o'clock Sharp.' That was a mean thing to do to me. Not real good for my staff
either. I kept everyone so busy that they almost hated me by the end of the
day. I wanted time to fly. Bob, my boss, came over to my area surveying my
little industrious group for several long moments. He observed me, and the way
I was working, saying loudly.
"This company hires more psychiatric patients, all women, than anyplace else
that I've worked." I looked up over my glasses at him, coldly, bitchily. "You
ladies, are out of your minds to work like this on a Friday." My staff didn't
say anything, but I'm sure they agreed. I had to respond, just this once to his
male-related, macho bullshit.
"Bob, have you ever once thought, that maybe working within this bunch of
sub-moronic, medieval cretins day-after-day, simply takes a mentally healthy
woman and drives her batshit after a couple of years?" The others around me
howled and passed the exchange down the line. Bob was visibly stumped, unable to
muster a suitable reply. He tried to chuckle, but it had that sickly sound that
some men make when they barely get a joke and it pisses them off. I knew his
look and it was; "I owe you one." All that meant was that I would have to watch
my back. That was okay. I'm a fucking barracuda at work. It's part of my
charm.
The day drew nearer to its close and I felt my pulse slowly going up in
anticipation. At 4:46 PM I wanted to rip my hair out by the roots. This was
agony. Being boss when I wanted to be... [Upside down and taking orders?]
God, I hated that little voice in my head. I know everyone has one, but I
always seemed to be arguing with mine. Telling it, that it was right, but to
please shut-up. [I want-what-I-want-and-thank-you-so-much-fuck-off-now.] That
kind of thing.
I had told everyone that asked about my plans that I was going out of town for
two days and could not be reached. Implying death to anyone that bothered me on
my much-needed retreat from the world-at-large. I felt my attitude starting to
change the later it got and I went over my preparations in my head one more
time. All my `toys' were in duffel bag in the car. I had followed the `rules'
for the week. I had memorized the rule packet; Jon had given me, in my copious
spare time. I had filled out all the paperwork, they had included. Most of it
fairly mundane. I had been `good.'
I didn't like the fact that I would have to go there straight from work. Dirty
clothes and work-stained body. Unfortunately, if I wanted to be there by six
sharp, (I did.) I would have no choice against rush-hour traffic in the city.
5:00 PM- I noticed the time with a shock and trying to walk sedately to my car
was deliberately agonizing. The sanctuary of my car no real help for my
situation. I drove fairly fast for me. Especially in the parking lot-like
conditions, but I made it with five whole minutes to spare. I wanted
desperately to be there on time, shivering at the thought of punishment for
tardiness. Taking my bag from the backseat, I went to the door. Standing in
front of it for the last three minutes, then at 6:00 PM sharp. I found myself
ringing the bell. Someone I did not know answered it.
