The Decks and the Road
book 1- Freeborn
Chapter 19
Tayeton- My meeting with Walter went well. After days of daydreaming, hoping, wondering;
I got the answer to the question that had remained after I’d hung up the phone.
He did know my mother, but not in the way I’d wondered about. When he pulled up next to my truck, I could
tell he was a hurried person. I didn’t
know if it was the nature of his position at the firm, or if it was just his
way. He didn’t appear surprised at all
about meeting me, or my turning up, which was surprising to me because I couldn’t
help but note how much we did resemble each other. Our skin tone was alike, our eyes, and even
our hair. He stood much taller than me
though, and I looked as if I hadn’t quite filled out my body standing next to
him. We pretty much stood sandwiched between
our vehicles, as we went back and forth a bit about my father and my
mother. Of all the things I’d
considered, I hadn’t really considered the news that my father had passed away
years before. It wasn’t hard for me to
digest; not like with my mother. It was
more like someone had played a quick trick on me. I didn’t lament. I just owned it. I also tried to own the fact that I was
connected to a pretty big deal of a company.
The moment I had gotten the invitation to come onboard also felt as
though someone was playing a trick on me, but it was no trick. Walter seemed overjoyed at the idea. He went on and on about filling a new opening
in the company. It was almost as if it
was still Tuesday, and the momentum of meeting Mr. Wells and learning about the
company had never gotten interrupted. I
just kept thinking, “I know nothing about publishing.” I’d tried to welcome the opportunity without
showing all the fear that was boiling up inside of me. I heard myself say “sure” although I did not
feel sure.
Today, I’d showed up at a yellow three story building that
was tucked away behind a popular strip in downtown Hollywood. I could see why I’d never noticed it
before. The name was not boldly mounted
on the building, but rather was on a separate pole across the parking lot
written much smaller than I’d anticipated.
From the outside, everything looked smaller than the reputation it had
built up and I’d read about. It was
Sunday and the lot was empty, except for Walter’s car and one other. I knew it had to belong to Simpleton. It was why I’d come. He would be my new boss, and although Walter
never made my coming on sound like an audition, I knew better than to take it
lightly. I showed up dressed for an
interview, and tried to think of ways I could be an asset to the company. Thankfully, none of those things came
up. There was no interview. There was no lengthy logistics. We gathered in Walter’s office. Simpleton, as Walter called him, acted as if
he was fully acquainted with me. He
knocked on the open door, and stood there for a moment until Walter welcomed
him. He wasn’t the big tough exec I’d
envisioned. He was simple; dressed in
jeans and a t-shirt with a baseball cap on his head. The contrast between him and Walter was
extreme. Walter was cool, and appeared
to enjoy having his name on things, but Simpleton was unassuming. He also looked as if there was more room in
his body for him. He stood petite at
about five feet, eight inches. He wore a
pair of loafers with his jeans that didn’t quite make sense to me. They were worn, and I got the sense they were
beloved. The hair hanging out the back
of his hat was a dusty blonde. He and
Walter did appear to be about the same age, but at two different times
perhaps. I hadn’t gotten much of the details
on how the two families were connected, but I thought to wait and let those
things be unveiled. We shook hands and
Simpleton patted me on the back.
“Walter tells me we have new
family in town.” He joked.
“It appears to be that way. It’s a pleasure to meet you Sir.”
“Just Simpleton will do just fine. So, Tayeton, you ready for your new life?” He was also excited, and I could tell they’d
been conversing about me. I just didn’t
know what all they had discussed.
“We’ve been looking at your
blog. We can’t wait to hear more of your
thoughts.” He went on. I returned to my seat, but he remained
standing.
“Don’t bother to sit. Let me show you around a bit.” We left the
large room where Walter was busy picking up messages and going back and forth
to the click of his mouse. We walked
along the carpeted path that led us to the elevator. There were many work stations on one side and
more rooms on the other. The second
floor was brighter. The moment we got
off the elevator I could feel the inspiration that must have been left
behind. Whereas the third floor had a
lot of gray and blues; I was energized by the return of the yellow from the
outside. The floor was just a big square
with one office on either side of the elevators, and then a “t” that created
four spaces within the interior. Each
space held a small round table and a couple of supply carts. This was where I was going to be
stationed. Well stationed was the term I
had in mind, but Mr. Simpleton quickly unlocked the door to the room on the
right of the elevator, and flicked the light on. It was not a large room and was full of wooden
furniture; two book shelves, a large aged desk, a wooden cabinet, and two brown
leather club chairs that blended and appeared like wood also. There was one abstract painting bursting with
color that hung behind the desk and made me feel at home.
“If
there’s anything you want to get rid of, just let me know. Otherwise this is you.” I stood in the room with no words. I’d been a courier for just about five
years. Prior to that, I’d done
security. Nothing in my work history
said I’d be here. I’d heard Walter use
the term director of acquisitions and it had just rolled off the skin of my
ears, but there it was on the door. I
wanted to call my mother and let her know what was happening, but then I
remembered she was gone. Next I thought
of Kat, but then I remembered she also was gone.
“Take a look around. Get comfortable. In the morning, you’re with me. Be sure to have breakfast. It’ll be a long one.” Mr. Simpleton sat the key on the desk, and
left me to myself. I took my seat behind
the large desk and cuffed my hands under my chin with my elbows on the
top. It wasn’t like me, but I found
myself praying. It wasn’t anything
elaborate. Just, “Please God, let this be
real.”
Freeborn, a novel
Freeborn
© Grace Call Communications,
LLC
Copyright © 2017
by Natisha Renee Williams
All Rights Reserved
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