Broken Tears 11

Broken Tears 11

The office that Melody and her friends remained in seemed like a tomb. At times, it was so quiet that one that thought that everyone had left, including the cleaning staff. Everyone was holding their breath and praying that Mr. Blocker’s next orders would be that the problem was solved and that the group could be dismissed.

Vera paced near the doorway of Mr. Blocker’s office. She was concerned that she was going to have to give the employees, her good friends another set of bad news. Then the phone rang again and she slowly picked up the receiver.

“This is Mr. Blocker’s office.” She paused to let the other person speak.

“Are you sure? And Mr. Blocker has approved?” she rolled her eyes upward toward the ceiling.

“Aw_oh.” whispered Violet to herself.

She turned to face Brad who mouthed “What?”

Ursula had quickly ended her conversation on her cell phone, “Talk to you later honey. Some news just came in. Say a prayer that it’s the good kind, or I bet you that you will be giving the kids their dinner tonight.” She closed her cell phone and scooted her chair closer to the aisle so she could pick up the talking that was going around.

Melody was just about to get her cell phone out to make a call when Miss Owens walked in with a man from the computer networking maintenance department. She listened to what he had to say. She nodded and then showed her where Vera’s desk was.

“We have someone here who is going to get the virus or whatever it is cleaned out of our system. It might take minutes or it might take longer. Mr. Blocker will let everyone leave now.” Everyone gave a collective sigh of relief. Miss Owens continued. “You can make up the time tomorrow or have pay subtracted for the time you have missed. We will send around a memo tomorrow.”

The employees murmured a few words and retrieved their things that they needed to leave. Many of them were still grumbling when they walked out the door and went to the elevator.

“Melody, did you ever think that we would have to stay at work for a reason like this?” asked Mandy as they both waited for the elevator.

“No. I thought that Simon Lagree lived in another century.” Melody looked inside her purse for her keys and looked at the crowd that wanted the same elevator. “Hey Mandy, let’s forget the elevator and walk down the stairs. I can’t wait to get out of here.”

“Good idea.”

The ladies both walked down the few levels of stairs and reached the first floor the same time as the first load of people who came out of the elevator. They all waved good-bye to each other and went their separate ways.

When they were outside the ladies separated. Mandy went to the left where the bus stop was that she used each time she went home. Melody went to the garage where her car was parked. Across the street was a small café that had a few customers who were getting something to eat before they started their evenings journey home. Among them was a man in a dark jacket and pants. He was drinking his third cup of coffee that had a lot of sugar in it. He waved good-bye to the friend he was talking to and left a dollar as a tip. He went out the door and started to follow Melody to the garage.

Melody had parked the car in a spot that had been reserved for small cars. She noticed that a few other people had gone home. As she walked she listened to the sounds of cars going down the ramp as a speed faster than was advised. Many times she heard the screech of brakes and the honking of horns. She also heard the chiming of the clock that was in the church that was a few blocks away. She never thought that being in a garage at this time would feel good to her.

As Melody walked towards her car, she noticed that she also now heard the footsteps of a man. This usually did not bother her but she felt that the footsteps were following her. She hurried her pace. She arrived at her car and felt the blood rushing in her body a little faster. The footsteps also seemed that it had began to be faster. She dropped her keys and saw them roll a little under her car. She hated that when something was out of her reach. She bent over and picked up her keys. When she got up, she saw that the man was standing at the rear bumper of her car. She looked into the eyes of the stranger who had been following her. It was her ex-husband, Bradley. He looked a little out of breath but still had that smug smile that used to drive her crazy.

“I guess that you didn’t expect to see me today.” he said as he sauntered closer to her. He looked like he had not shaved that day or put on the cleanest clothes that he had.

“Not really and I don’t care if I see you tomorrow either.” she replied as she began to put the keys into the lock of her car.

“Melody I just wanted to talk to you about the money that I should have sent you.” he spread his hands out wide in a gesture of openness. “Can you at least let me have a minute to talk?”

“No and no to whatever else you might want to say.” she had the key inside the lock and began to turn it.

“One minute?”

“You have 30 seconds left.” She turned to give him her full attention. “Start talking.”

“Boy you are in a foul mood. Just like the last time we talked.” He put his hands on his hips.

“Fifteen seconds.” She saw the lock of the door pop open.

“Melody. I’m trying to get back to the better man you knew. I slipped and you know how bad that can be.”

Melody rubbed her face where he last slapped her. “Yea, in 3-D for sure.”

“How many times do I have to apologize?” He stepped closer.

“I’ll look in my crystal ball to find out. And your time is up. Step back so I won’t do something I might enjoy.”

“Okay, but don’t say that I did not make an effort.” He pointed his finger at her. “I just want to let you know that it might be a little longer before I can be reinstalled as a pilot and get paid.” He put his hand down. “I am sorry.” he said in his most gentle voice.

For a brief second, Melody thought she saw the wonderful man she married and wanted to take one step closer to him to offer comfort. But as soon as that second passed, she snapped back to the cautious person who left the house that morning. “Apology for today accepted. Now if you don’t mind, I need to hurry home.” She got into the car and started the engine. As she pulled out of her parking space, she saw a man who was looking down at the floor of the garage and putting his hands into his pockets. She turned towards the exit and turned on her lights. She felt as though she had enough of jobs, husbands and the whole stinking world. She wanted to become a bird and just fly away.