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The Alarm already?

Liam Spencer

    A snug little place out in the woods. Fire sending dancing lights through the darkness as the winds howled, bringing snow to collide against the thick walls. A chilly draft circulating through the place to where even the nice, warm covers are leaving him with a slight chill.
    A faint noise off in the distance began getting louder. And louder...

    A slight jolt began going through his body, seemingly from what was left of his mind.
    “Already?!”

    Snooze was hit, then hit again. It would be the very last chilly day before a long hot summer. He laid there soaking in all the coziness until it was beyond time.
    Bathroom routine done, coffee brewing, hot water in his thermal coffee cup (the giver of life), he cringed. Work.
    ...Why does work always have to be a four letter word?

    ...A federal retiree due to too much spinal damage, he had only needed a cheap job to supplement his annuity and give some more retirement benefits. Employers shied away from him, despite qualifications. Damaged goods. Risk.
    ...Finally, a taker. Actually, on paper, a pretty good offer. Good, immediate benefits, despite a low wage. Workable, at least on paper, with medical issues. An indoor, office job, to an extent. A friendly work environment with rules about such.
    Mailroom. Hmm.. mail? Again? Well his name, spelled backwards is mail. This one, however, promised not much lifting. No carrying. No sweating. Not much swearing. It sounded good.

    ...The name of the building he was assigned to was Galaxy. Being very far from the main campus, with the tallest buildings in Seattle, it was a galaxy far, far away. Four stories. Few people. By contract, there had to be a two person crew. For most of the year, there was not enough work for one person. It was known as a very quiet building.
    The old general had been put to run an outpost. Most of the rest of the employees were younger and hungrier. They dreamed of making their way in the world, starting with the cheap job, working for a contractor for a big time company. Making their bones. To be sent to the Galaxy far, far away meant career death. They needed to be where the action was.
    ...Not Liam. He wanted the outpost. A small, relaxed building that was roughly a mile from his apartment. He was promised that building by the management, in an effort to keep him. Twenty-two years of experience in related fields with an outstanding record. It was only back and spinal injuries that ended better careers.

    A new supervisor had to be named for the building. It had been without one for nearly a year. The place was a wreck, and known for such. The floaters coming and going hadn’t kept the place up. They’d be there a week, then move on. Liam was to be the stable one.
    “What did Ryan say the new supervisor’s name was?”
    “Wilhelm, I think.”
    “Wilhelm? I thought Ryan said he was an inside promotion. The only Wilhelm I know is not..... Never mind.”
    The floater’s eyes grew wide. Liam wondered what that meant.

    What that meant was misery. Wilhelm was in way over his head. He had been with the company two years. Liam had been there two weeks. Liam had to show Wilhelm how to do even the most basic tasks. Even after using the same equipment and same tracking programs all day, every day, Wilhelm still didn’t catch on.
    ...With only one main workstation, and ancient equipment, some level of urgency was needed. Wilhelm insisted on being at that workstation, slow as molasses, as work continued to mount. Customers waited and waited, then left cussing. There was nothing Liam could do. When Wilhelm finally relinquished control of the workstation, Liam had to fly like a mother fucker.
    Then, usually without warning, Wilhelm would grill Liam, demanding answers in ways and words that were only in Wilhelm’s head. “Verify” is the word on the shipping program. Wilhelm demanded it was “Prove.” Liam would step away from the computer and let Wilhelm find “Prove.” Twenty minutes later, with mountains of work piling up, Wilhelm relented that it was “Verify.”
    ...On and on. Like that and worse. Every day.

    The building itself was great. Beautiful art and landscaping, nice fixtures, free coffee, outstanding restrooms, a kitchenette on every floor, and vending machines without high prices. Everyone was great too, reception, security, customers. Drivers were hurried, of course, but friendly and competent.
    All was great except dealing with Wilhelm. What top down bullshit is he going to pull today?

    ...Then, the busy season came. In the building was the photo lab. Summer meant teams from everywhere would be ordering everything that was to be available online. Huge volumes would arrive. Each package would need to be processed and delivered to the team. The team would then photograph the items, making sure details were perfect, and that everything met the deadlines. Then, everything was to be sent back.
    Wilhelm was a demanding snail in a race against time. He was always in the way. He was two to five times slower than Liam. His lack of competence was striking. Yet he was in charge, and let everyone, especially Liam, know it.
    It was not in Liam to be a part of something substandard, so he ran as much as he could, no matter what Wilhelm said. One good arm, one good leg, and spinal damage, yet he hobbled four times faster than he should have. It was the only way. Being new, he would get the blame.

    Living a mere mile from work, Liam could walk to work while sipping coffee in about fifteen minutes. Stairs still gave him fits, but he would slowly climb down a giant mountain of them to save time for sipping more coffee. Doing so, his legs would shake severely, but he made it every time. If they shook too badly, he would stop and sip his coffee for a while.
    ...Going home, however, could take anywhere from twenty minutes to an hour and a half. His legs would not work well enough, on most days. He looked to buy an electric scooter to fix the problem. He had narrowed down his search to a Glion Dolly, which was great in the rain (important for Seattle commutes) and highly portable. He had found a slightly used one on Craigslist for much less than a new one. He dreamed of having the ability to just stand up and ride home after a long day of bullshit.

    Seven thirty-six. That would give him time for two smokes, the last one to be enjoyed with more of his coffee, before he went in to hell. His legs shook as he walked down those concrete stairs. The chilly air clung to him. It was to be the last chilly, rainy day for months to come. Climate change had changed Seattle. Anymore, it was a smoke filled desert for four months or so. This year, however, summer was running late. July second, and chilly, rainy weather ran supreme, for that one last day.
    He stood outside the building sipping coffee, enjoying one last smoke, and playing a goofy football game on his old iPhone. He was excited. After work, he was to go buy his scooter. He quietly laughed that every day, after work, he would take his (Glion) Dolly and go home.
    Seeing 7:56 on his cell phone made him cringe. It was time. He put out his smoke, and meandered toward the building entrance. Reception hit the button for the door to automatically open. They were always so nice.
    He greeted them as he passed, then greeted a new security guard as he let himself in through the gates. The long hall to the office...err....mailroom...took too little time. The locked doors opened with a swipe of his badge. The heat of hell met his face as he walked in to his daily fate.

    “Hey...Hello.”
    Liam’s greetings were met by a hostile stare. He put his backpack down, then took off his coat. High heat swamped him immediately. Why does it always have to be so fucking hot in there?
    The tense silence was broken only slightly by Liam getting onto the secondary workstation. That workstation was important as it was the only way to process outgoing UPS shipments that were not prepaid. It, ironically, was the only fully functioning computer in the office/mailroom.
    The timeclock taken care of, Liam opened the doors for business, then quickly logged on the main computer workstation, just in case a customer came in to get their shipment. He then quickly completed and sent the usual morning reports, while sipping coffee.
    A “floor run” is when each floor is visited to ensure that all equipment is working. It was Liam’s role, and he enjoyed it. The more he was away from Wilhelm, the better.

    ...“Well, I’m just going to go do the floor run. I’ll be right back.”
    ...“Log off that computer. I need to be on it today.”
    ...“Ok. I’m off.”
    ...Like he couldn’t do that himself, the fucker.
    ...
    Liam made his way through the floors, taking his time. Not much would happen this early. It was the calm before the storm.
    The entire fourth floor had just moved. It was deserted, for now. The second floor was next. The company was growing explosively. New skyscrapers were about to open. Galaxy was to be transformed into a “secret location,” where secret company projects would be explored. For the time, it was an easy silence and a great place to use the restrooms.
    Floor run done, Liam snuck out for a smoke. Unauthorized. Extra. Fuck it. Reception and security knew the routine. They knew Wilhelm too.
    Wilhelm stood at the secondary workstation, staring blankly at the screen. Being a supervisor, it was his job to do the end of month UPS report. It was his third time. It would take him all day.

    ...Packages came in. with Liam at the main workstation, processing was quick. Delivery was not. There were new top down rules that required every package to be signed for by the recipient. That meant hunting down the team members to get their signature, which no one could read anyway. Eighty-five would come, anywhere from five to twenty-seven at a time. Each time required chasing down Shelly, who was heading the team. Being busy, Shelly and her assistant could be anywhere in the building.
    Liam finally found Shelly.
    “Oh hi. I just dropped off twenty-two packages at the dock, and need signature. Glad I found you.”
    “Oh yeah, sorry. We’re all over the building today. It might be hard to find us, but we NEED those packages ASAP.”
    “Well, I understand, and can relate. It gets more complicated now with the new rules. Maybe there’s a way to communicate when packages are being delivered so we can meet for the signature.”
    ...“Ok. Well, here’s my phone number, so you can text.”
    “That’ll be great. We’ll send a text when packages are on their way. That way, if you’d like them in a different location...”
    ...“Ok. Thank you.”
    ...Shelly looked wary of giving her number out. She need not have been, but it was understandable.

    The day went on like that. Wilhelm was buried, silent, clueless, but out of the way. Liam ran here and there, getting everything done. The interoffice van showed up. The driver was exhausted and behind schedule. More shit. Different day. Maybe.
    Shelly here. Shelly there. Then a couple packages were sent to wrong buildings from the shipper. It was one of those days for everyone. Deadline madness rose like snipping wings off of butterflies. Little joys were seen by anyone, unless one really looked.
    Meanwhile, Wilhelm stood and stared at the computer screen. Sixty-three and lost. Yet, according to him, he was superior. Younger folks are irresponsible and lazy. Millennials. Older guys know how to work.
    Still, he stared. And stared.

    Getting the computers and equipment upgraded to modern levels was something Liam had pushed upper management to put in a work ticket for. Wilhelm had resisted. Management caved to Wilhelm, as he offered the cheapest alternative. Damn millennials.
    “If only.” Liam muttered quietly.

    The day of frustrations included Liam being late getting back from lunch, as the only computer that allowed for log in was used by Wilhelm. He showed no mercy.
    There was not one person who was not having one of those days. Murphy was an optimist.

    ...Finally, things settled in. it was three thirty. Liam stole a break. Although the day sucked, he was looking forward to buying his scooter later that evening. Dolly would make things much easier.
    ...Lighting a smoke, with the light, chilly rain hitting him, he looked at his email. Someone had just bought the Dolly. A $500 machine that was two months old sold for $300. A three year warrantee.

    ...“Fuck.”

    The chilly air combining with the light rain invigorated Liam, waking his mind from work to life, so to speak. Why him? Other people have decent jobs, stable careers, reliable income. Things are at least tolerable. Maybe even decent. Hell, maybe even kind of good. But not him. Nope.
    He looked at the building as he inhaled his poisons. Beautiful. But was it?
    ...People had connections there. They were gone now. He remembered some of the customers who were now leaving the Galaxy coming up to him with tenderness, thanking him for his hard work, for helping them. Fist bumps and handshakes. None had gone to Wilhelm.
    ...Must management ruin everything?

    Liam headed back in hobbling with his head held low, only to be cheered up by reception and security. There was still an hour and a quarter until it was time to leave. He was exhausted, and someone had taken his Dolly.
    ...Wilhelm was dancing. He couldn’t leave to use the bathroom until Liam got back. Wilhelm rushed past. It was the only time Wilhelm had ever hustled.
    There was an email waiting for Liam on his corporate account. It was from a manager. It was to all employees;
    “GOOD AFTERNOON!!
    THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT JACKIE SMITHTON IS NO LONGER WITH OUR TEAM, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. WE WISH HER WELL IN HER FUTURE ENDEVOURS.

    THANK YOU,
    Smucky the Clown
    ...Site Manager.... Blah, blah blah.”

    Wait, what? Really?! Who? Why would this be announced to everyone? All in caps? What did they do? Huh? What?

    Wilhelm came back from the pissing.

    ...“Hey, what in the world is this? This email just came out. Really?”

    Wilhelm smiled for a rare time. His grin was wider than imaginable.
    ...“Hurry and look her up in the directory!”
    It was already blank.
    “Ugh, they are fast! Man. Now that is a firing. Yeah man. Well done!”
    “Really? So, that’s how it is here? It seems so uncalled for.”
    “You don’t like?”

    His massive grin, his thrill....

    “No. It’s cheap. And uneducated. Some proper punctuation, maybe? Less cheer. All caps?!”

    His sneer said it all. Liam was a softy in Wilhelm’s eyes. Too much had been exposed.
    ...
    “Well, no matter. I gotta go and get ready for my ride home.”
    Wilhelm grabbed his makeup bag and headed to the bathroom for his last, three times a day, spa treatment.

    ...Within ten minutes, another termination email came along. The only difference was the name of the damned. Wilhelm danced.

    ...“Oh, they’re on a tear today!”

    Liam went about his usual end of day thing. Wilhelm went back to brooding and plotting miseries. The day finally ended. The receptionist was greeted on the way out.

    The chilly day, the last for a long while, made Liam smile on his way home. At least there would be this to enjoy. The hills still did their damage, and it still took forty minutes for a fifteen minute walk, and yes, Dolly went to someone else, but Liam still smiled all the way home. It was his last chance to enjoy a chilly day for a while.
    Once home, and reflecting on the day, hell, on the life and times, an older and wiser Liam began hearing the alarms. Three months in, and alarms to a deafening level. He now knew better.
    ...Yet, once, reaching home, rather than look for a different job, he settled in and wrote this story.
    ...After all, writing material is golden, and I’ll make them famous.

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