He slid from the room in silent relief. The din from his coworkers carried out into the hall. They’d been planning this for a couple of weeks, determined to sneak in a couple of bottles and a case or two of beer and enjoy the last day before break.
Of course, Chuck’s boss, Ed had shown up. For a boss’ boss, Ed wasn’t that bad, but he liked to make a full day of it. They’d been hoping to shut down a little early and let the celebration start off early for those few people who had to get home to kids and dogs.
Chuck had managed to get Ed out in record time and once he’d see his car leave the lot came in, the sound of his first beer cracking declared their day done.
They had descended on the bottles of Jack and Belvedere as though they had survived a trek through the desert. Cans of Coors were crushed and cast aside. In the matter of an hour they had burned through two bottles and a case of beer with little sign of slowing down. They’d already sent Bobby out for another two cases of Coors. This is how they said goodbye to a native son.
They’d been determined to go out; to hit every bar on Park, but he knew he didn’t have the stamina anymore. He felt his years now. This group was younger; he knew he couldn’t keep pace. Chuck had sensed it to and not pushed for something bigger. He wasn’t sure how long that would last.
Hoping to quell the tide, he’d bought lunch for the office the previous Friday. This gesture only made them more determined to send him out in style.
After the first hour, they stopped toasting him every five minutes and moved into their office cliques. He stood in a corner with Chuck sipping at a Coors. Every few minutes one or two people would peel off from a group and come over to wish him well with drunken assurances they would all get together soon.
He knew this would be it for most of them, the last time he’d say a word to them. He’d seen it all before. He envied their youthful optimism in thinking it wasn’t over. He smiled to each one, nodding his thanks and handing out awkward hugs and limp handshakes in place of truths left unsaid for years.
Midway through the third hour the energy began to wane so Chuck, now better lubricated, proposed shots and a new round of toasts. It was time to go.
He hadn’t brought a bag or anything that would incriminate him as leaving, so he’d be able to ease out unnoticed.
He took up a plastic shot of vodka and hopped up on a chair, offering a toast to Chuck’s leadership and the great camaraderie of the staff as a whole. As heads tilted back to welcome the liquid home, he hopped from the chair and made his way to the door, making excuses about needing the restroom. Hands clapped him on the back as he went.
The air of the hallway was quiet, and he felt relief at being able to relax the act. He pushed the door for the stairs and welcomed the rush of cooler air and felt himself come down.
With twenty people in the room, they wouldn’t notice he was gone for a while. By the end of next week, they would have forgotten he ever worked there, but still, the kind words of today and the cheers had made him feel warmth for them he hadn’t known before.
They deserved more, but he knew he didn’t have it to give. Better to leave this way.
