Wilson - Highway to the Stars: The Beginning

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It was a typical morning for John Kemp, hewas late, again. Hustling to find the paperwork he brought home from work the nightbefore. He could hear his wife, Gloria, yelling at the kids to get ready forschool and to get downstairs for breakfast. The smell of bacon in the air, ohhow he loved that smell, but knowing he would be lucky just to get his morningcup of coffee before he rushed out the door.

Imlate, I love you all, but I got to go, John said, as he placed a kiss uponboth childrens heads, a kiss on his wifes cheek as he reached for his morningcoffee which she was holding ransom so that he would listen to her.

John,I really need you to fix this garbage disposal tonight, do you think you can doitor do I need to call a repairman?

Surehoney, Ill take care of it, he muttered, he would tell her anything shewanted to hear, as long as she would just hand him that cup of coffee.

Withcoffee in hand, he was out the door racing for his car, fumbling for his keys,papers shoved up under each arm, a page fell here a page fell there, it wasJohns typical morning. No matter how hard he tried, he just couldnt find a waypossible to be on time. He was always rushing to do anything, if his wifewasnt barking orders at him, his boss piling more work on him or his kidswanting anything and everything that didnt even seem reasonable at the time,he always felt late and he always felt behind.

Johnwas your everyday typical man, in debt up to his eyeballs, worked for twentyplus years to barely get ahead, but he was happy with his life. He had a wife,two great boys, Thomas and John junior, who were active in school and in sports.Good neighbors (so he thought) and lived in a quiet little town in Ohio. He hadbeen an engineer in the automotive industry for those twenty plus years, attimes his job was demanding with long hours for mediocre pay, but he loved whathe did and it provided for him and his family and he was okay with that.

Nowfinally on his way, John knew that if he didnt make it to the highway on time,he could run into that morning traffic jam and be even later for work than henormally was, and thats exactly what happened.

Sonof a bitch He yelled as saw the cars packed on the highway on-ramp.

Tomis going to kill me.

TomHawkins was Johns boss at the factory where he worked, short burly guy whodidnt have the best demeanor for dealing with people to start with. He was aformer Marine Drill Instructor who still thought every employee was a newrecruit.

AsJohn pulled up to the factory, he could see Tom standing outside the frontentrance, arms folded, cigar pursed in his lips, he was waiting on him. Johnhurried as fast as he could to find a parking space, threw the car in park,gathered almost all of his stuff, or at least what he could fit under each arm,and rushed to meet Tom.

Yourlate again Kemp!

SorryTom, traffic was horrible this morning.

Welldrop that crap off on your desk, we need to see you upstairs this morning, Tomgruffly said as he pitched his cigar butt out into the grass.

Yes,sir, John replied as he scrambled to open the door for his boss.

Johndid what was requested of him; he dumped everything off on his desk, and noticedhis coworkers didnt even look up at him as he made his way through the officearea. Not even a single good morning today, I must havepissed off everybody today by being late, he thought.

Onceupstairs, John knocked on Toms office door, he heard some mumbling which hecould not completely make out, but the voice sounded familiar. The door openedand John immediately got that sick feeling in the pit of his stomach, thatfeeling like something bad was about to happen. John immediately noticed thehead of Human Resources, Amy Howell, was also not only in Toms office, she wasseated behind his desk.

Goodmorning Amy, he nervously said.

Goodmorning John, please take a seat, she replied while pointing at the one lonechair across from the desk.

Johnfumbled his way to the chair, twisting and turning once he was seated as if hewas truly sitting on the proverbial hot seat.

Amywould you like me to start? Tom asked.

No,Ill take care of this, she said, as she pulled a red folder out fromunderneath Toms desk calendar, John, this isnt always the easiest thing todo, but in business, we as managers have to make hard decisions.

Johncould feel his pulse starting to beat faster, a warm sensation washing downover his body, while a single bead of sweat was starting to drip down his brow.He knew this conversation did not start out with the words anyone would want tohear, even those who might have been sitting in the very seat he felt glued toat this moment.

John,at this time we have to let you go, the automotive industry is in a recession,and cuts have to be made. Amy firmly stated as she leaned forward resting herforearms on the edge of the desk. Your research program doesnt have a budgetafter today, which means your department will be the first to be cut.

Imsorry John, Tom stated. But without a budget, I wont need youor your team.

Butwhat about all the work, what about all the countless hours, what about all theadvancements weve made? John asked; his voice shaky, his tone uneasy. Hewiped the sweat off his brow, leaning forward in his seat to match Amysauthoritarian posture.

Thatsnot yours to worry about John, weve put together a very nice severance packagefor you, Amy tried to explain, but John stood up, his temper was starting toget the best of him.

Idont want to hear any more of this, Ill just go clean my desk out!

SorryJohn, we cant let you do that, if you have items in your desk, we will collectthem and mail them to you. Tom said firmly as he placed his hand on the doorso that John couldnt leave. Security is outside; theyll escort you out ofthe building.

Thetwo men exchanged disagreeable and uncomfortable stares for a few harshmoments.

Johngruffly replied, Twenty-five years of service, I get thrown out like thecommon trash?

Dontlook at is that way John, its company policy, again we are sorry.. Amy triedto explain, but John wasnt having any of it, he grabbed his severance folder,whipped open the office door, only to be greeted by two security guards.