towards the coffee. With Rob in his way, he reached around and grabbed a Styrofoam cup and depressed the lever on the percolator. Waiting until Test’s cup was half full; Rob thrust an elbow into his side causing him to drop his coffee onto the counter top.
“Sorry about that, Johnston,” said Rob in jest.
Test didn’t respond, instead he grabbed a paper towel and began to wipe up the spill.
“Knock it off, Rob!” yelled James from across the room.
“Or what?” answered Rob as he turned and postured aggressively.
“Or I’ll send your ass home for the day. That’s what!”
“Oh whatever, James,” replied Rob with a grin.
“It’s fine, James,” spoke Test as he continued to wipe up the mess. “No big deal.”
Rob turned to Test and smacked him on the shoulder.
“Yeah, James, come on…it’s no big deal,” replied Rob with a deep laugh.
Test winced in pain as Rob gripped his shoulder and then squeezed in a show of strength. Before Test could counter, the bell on the door chimed and in walked Enrique, followed closely by Alyssa. Her eyes were immediately locked on him, and his on her.
Quickly, Rob released his grip on Test. Standing like a four year old that knew he’d been caught doing something that he shouldn’t; he took a step towards Enrique.
“Morning, boss! You need some coffee?”
“Got some; thanks,” replied Enrique in an insolent tone.
Enrique looked at Test and, with a nod, acknowledged that he was there, but not necessarily pleased with him.
“Chance, I’d like to see you in my office.”
Once more, Test remained quiet, nodding his head and taking a few steps forward. He glanced to Alyssa. Her eyes were fearful; wide with anticipation and welling with emotion.
Enrique opened the door to his office and held the door as Test passed through.
“Take a seat,” said Enrique forcefully, pointing to the chair in front of his desk.
Closing the door, Enrique walked to his desk and took a seat in his worn out chair. He rested both of his elbows on the desk, and clasped his hands with his index fingers jutting upward in a steeple-like shape. He stared at a picture of his son that rested on the corner of his desk, and in a tensely controlled motion, reclined in his chair.
“You know, Chance, I’m not your father.”
Test remained silent. A little thrown off by the comment, he leaned forward in his seat.
“I don’t have the right to pry and preach,” continued Enrique. “Now, in turn, you are not my son. I don’t have any obligation to protect you, or to provide for you. You are a grown man and your life is yours to live. If you choose to screw that up, then I have no choice but to let you.” Enrique’s voice remained level and strong.
Test felt a rush of guilt overtake him. “I’m sor…”
“I don’t want to hear it,” interrupted Enrique with a raised hand. “I don’t want to know what happened. I don’t want to hear excuses. All that I want is for you to understand that you just used your one and only free pass.”
Test silently nodded his head in agreement.
“Don’t just sit there! I want to hear you say it!” yelled Enrique as he exploded to his feet.
Test snapped backward in shock. He had never seen Enrique like this.
“I understand,” spoke Test submissively.
“You’d damn well bet…,” Enrique paused to compose himself. “You had better understand.”
Test stood from his chair, and before he was upright, his back twisted into a combination of spasms and cramps. He quickly flung himself forward, placing his palms on the desk and cringing in pain.
With a look of annoyance, Enrique stared at Test. “You gonna be able to make it today?”
“Yes sir. I’ll be fine.”
“Okay then, its time to go.”
Enrique left the room without another word, leaving Test to stare out the doorway. Alyssa and James were both eyeing Enrique as he walked passed them out the front door. Test lowered his head and gathered himself before walking out of the
“Sorry about that, Johnston,” said Rob in jest.
Test didn’t respond, instead he grabbed a paper towel and began to wipe up the spill.
“Knock it off, Rob!” yelled James from across the room.
“Or what?” answered Rob as he turned and postured aggressively.
“Or I’ll send your ass home for the day. That’s what!”
“Oh whatever, James,” replied Rob with a grin.
“It’s fine, James,” spoke Test as he continued to wipe up the mess. “No big deal.”
Rob turned to Test and smacked him on the shoulder.
“Yeah, James, come on…it’s no big deal,” replied Rob with a deep laugh.
Test winced in pain as Rob gripped his shoulder and then squeezed in a show of strength. Before Test could counter, the bell on the door chimed and in walked Enrique, followed closely by Alyssa. Her eyes were immediately locked on him, and his on her.
Quickly, Rob released his grip on Test. Standing like a four year old that knew he’d been caught doing something that he shouldn’t; he took a step towards Enrique.
“Morning, boss! You need some coffee?”
“Got some; thanks,” replied Enrique in an insolent tone.
Enrique looked at Test and, with a nod, acknowledged that he was there, but not necessarily pleased with him.
“Chance, I’d like to see you in my office.”
Once more, Test remained quiet, nodding his head and taking a few steps forward. He glanced to Alyssa. Her eyes were fearful; wide with anticipation and welling with emotion.
Enrique opened the door to his office and held the door as Test passed through.
“Take a seat,” said Enrique forcefully, pointing to the chair in front of his desk.
Closing the door, Enrique walked to his desk and took a seat in his worn out chair. He rested both of his elbows on the desk, and clasped his hands with his index fingers jutting upward in a steeple-like shape. He stared at a picture of his son that rested on the corner of his desk, and in a tensely controlled motion, reclined in his chair.
“You know, Chance, I’m not your father.”
Test remained silent. A little thrown off by the comment, he leaned forward in his seat.
“I don’t have the right to pry and preach,” continued Enrique. “Now, in turn, you are not my son. I don’t have any obligation to protect you, or to provide for you. You are a grown man and your life is yours to live. If you choose to screw that up, then I have no choice but to let you.” Enrique’s voice remained level and strong.
Test felt a rush of guilt overtake him. “I’m sor…”
“I don’t want to hear it,” interrupted Enrique with a raised hand. “I don’t want to know what happened. I don’t want to hear excuses. All that I want is for you to understand that you just used your one and only free pass.”
Test silently nodded his head in agreement.
“Don’t just sit there! I want to hear you say it!” yelled Enrique as he exploded to his feet.
Test snapped backward in shock. He had never seen Enrique like this.
“I understand,” spoke Test submissively.
“You’d damn well bet…,” Enrique paused to compose himself. “You had better understand.”
Test stood from his chair, and before he was upright, his back twisted into a combination of spasms and cramps. He quickly flung himself forward, placing his palms on the desk and cringing in pain.
With a look of annoyance, Enrique stared at Test. “You gonna be able to make it today?”
“Yes sir. I’ll be fine.”
“Okay then, its time to go.”
Enrique left the room without another word, leaving Test to stare out the doorway. Alyssa and James were both eyeing Enrique as he walked passed them out the front door. Test lowered his head and gathered himself before walking out of the
Similar Books
