Something Big!

I have to admit that I loved it when he is wrong!

Not that I have a demented streak hidden deep within me...although some may accuse me of that because of my appreciation for the humor that I find, in the absurdity of many human behaviors...

It was not that he was ever wrong in a bad way...he normally under-estimated the outcome...

He was known for that...and everyone that knew him...knew that whereever he went or whatever he did...things got better...most often better than everyone...even he ever expected...that is a nice position to be in...

When he estimated "good"...it turned out GREAT!

Many would think that..but he was not a pessimist...in fact...just the opposite!

Everything he set out to do...became better...REALLY BETTER...I think that what he truely underestimated was not his efforts...but his own impact and ability to make change...

To the outside...he was humble and arrogant at the same time...

I believed that those simultaneous personality traits played into his estimating ability...

"I need to take him to a casino when he is feeling lucky" I thought, "we'll walk out millionaires!"

Despite all of the humbleness...to most people, he was an ominous being and well respected...

Yet he never took that seriously...in fact he never took himself seriously...or at least it appeared that way!

For those who were within "his circle," he was light and humorous...almost a clown...or a crazy professor...but deep down there was a constant and pointed seriousness...

...it was just that the outside world can NEVER be allowed to see that..."They may get the wrong message!" he would say...

...That single characteristic was only seen by the closest of those within his circle...

For the rest, the consistency of his atitude was amazing...he responded to set-backs and victories exactly the same...

While working...his pace was always the same...

When relaxing...he was the same...

I chalked all of that consistency up to either to experience and personal control or mood altering drugs! (actually not the latter!  I used that to get a rise out of him.)

I was so excited to see that he had AGAIN under-estimated the length of his hiatus between assignments!

He had predicted that he had a "couple of months" to wrap up his loose ends...in fact his absence was only two weeks!

I heard the entry door to our offices slam and caught a glimpse of him carrying his small box of personal items back to his vacant office...

I smiled and realized that they never removed his nameplate from the door! They always do that immediately when "someone leaves"...I should have known! I am so narrow and literal sometimes! I have to be more observant and think in a broader context...I reminded myself!

In his normal way...everything that he "needed to wrap-up" was done in one week...he worked with a focused intensity...and sense of urgency...got them done...and then spent the next week depleting his rum reserves...which I somehow knew would never get to empty!

I hurriedly finished my daily routines and left my office to welcome him back...and tell him that he was wrong about how long he was going to be gone...and that it was really great to have him back!

I was about halfway to his office, in the hall, when he too walked out of his office and turned toward me...

His pace was far different from his normal saunter...it was a rushed and his usual smile was missing...and the intensity that I only saw in his eyes at offsite locations...was there...

It was a bit alarming...

More alarming was what happened when the distance became feet rather than yards...

"Hey boss! How are you doing today?" he congenially said.

"Great!" I replied...as I stopped...

and he kept walking...right past me!

"HEY!" I responded...

He immediately came to a stop...having realized that he had broken his normal character...he turn back and then I saw the "old him!"

"We'll talk later" he said in a reassuring voice, "Got to be busy...you never know who the next person to judge your performance is going to be..."

We laughed for a brief moment...at his words of wisdom...and he went on his way...

"Whew!" I responded..."He can't help himself...he always has some tidbit of wisdom to share!"

It was blatantly apparent that he was on a mission...a BIG mission...I couldn't wait to hear all about it!

The next six hours were the longest six hours that I ever lived through! I must have checked his office thirty or more times, it was as empty as it was before he returned and he was not sitting in his normal position, looking out the window...and contemplating great and brilliant things...

I had no idea where he disappeared to!

My office was located between most of the offices and the rest of the building...not many comings and goings occurred, without me being aware of them...I liked it that way...in fact, I chose that office just for that reason!

Many think that the "corner office" is the most important one...but during one conversation, we found the truth...corners are where seldom used tools are stored...so that they do not get in the way! Stay out of the corner...unless you have nothing of value to contribute to the moment...was our conclusion!

Upon his return, he took on a new character trait...he became a ghost!  Everyone knew he was there...just not visable...almost paranormal!

I was about to give up on him for the day...when I heard the front door slam again and he reappeared in the hallway...I figured that he would scuttle back to his office to wrap up the day with his journal writing...but instead he walked straight down the hall, to my office...

I tried not to let on that I had been secretly waiting for him and that saw him.  I made believe that I was intensely working...

He stood in the doorway for a few moments...and then said, "Hey boss...sorry about this morning...I had so many things to get moving...things happened quicker than the company or I anticipated..."

"I know...I wanted to point out that you were wrong again...and we are working together in weeks rather than the months you anticipated!" I said...and he just grinned...

"What brings you back so soon?" I inquired...

"It will be announced in the next couple of days...I am sworn to secrecy..." he replied...

Recognizing that this was my queue to confirm his confidence to prying ears, in a voice loud enough for all to hear...and to invite him to eat, I responded, "I will respect your commitment and I won't ask that again...how about we go out to dinner?"

"I appreciate that'" he replied, "How about a rain check on the dinner invite?"

With that he disappeared!

I was taken aback! This never happened in all of the time that I knew him! SOMETHING BIG IS UP!

I went home and after my domestic responsibilities, retired...and fell asleep reflecting on the days events...

I was startled back into consciousness, by the ringing of my bedside phone...as I searched around to put a stop to the noise...I also looked at the clock and saw that it was 3:07am...

I hope that it is a wrong number and the caller was someone that does not know me...because I do not want anyone who knows me think that I am capable of the swear words I was about to use...

But before I could start...I heard his voice..."Did I wake you up?"

"Ahhhhh...Yes!" I responded...

"I just wanted to apologize for my behavior today...it kept me up...now I can go to sleep..."

"Oh...OK...no problem," I confirmed...half asleep..."Good night!"

"Good night!" he said...sounding very relieved!

"Do you want to meet for breakfast?" I asked...

"Can't...got to go in early and get to work..." he responded...

"OK...see you sometime tomorrow...Great dreams!"  and with that I hung up and tried to go back to my dreams...

...and tried...

...and tried....

...and tried!

It became apparent to me that something as menial as a simple change in a person's behavior can keep me from my second most favorite thing...sleep!

I finally fell back into unconsciouness shortly before the alarm was set to go off!

...
...
As I pulled into my parking spot I noticed that I his car was not there...yet...

I spent most of the day sifting through my email, looking for the announcement...

Every note caused me to jump, look and frown in disappointment.

I also waited for him to appear in my doorway...

I had seen that his car was in its spot...but he was not!

My PC made its familar beep, announcing the arrival of another disappointing email and almost the same time that the PC make that noise...he appeared at my door...

Do I turn and check the message or do I focus on my visitor...?

I decided that the email could wait!  Unless the network AND my PC were destroyed by some catestrophe...that email would be there...the ghost would not!

"It is nice to have you back in the land of the living..." I said as a welcome...

"It is nice to be back" he cordially responded...

He scanned me as if he were looking for something...which made me rather uncomfortable...

Without my invitation he entered my office and sat down in a chair directly in front of my desk...normally he sat at the table out of the line of sight from peering eyes in the hallway...

"Have you read the announcement?"  He asked

"No...I haven't received it yet..." I responded

"Look" he demanded...

And sure enough it was the one that just arrived...

I read it and was not surprised...

"So they are reorganizing again...that happens on a regular basis..."

"So my boss is moving up...that is great news...For him..."

"That it is...he'll do really well in his new position" he observed..."They asked my about that and I told them I thought that he would..."

"You know that I have always told the company that you would be good..."

"I hope that you estimating ability with me is as good as the rest of your estimations!"

"Of all of my estimations...this is one of the few that I can say will definitely exceed my calculations...but I have a reputation to uphold..."

"Don't let me down...OK?"

"Never...why would you say that?"

"Although the announcement indcated a few changes...I suspected that he was going to run the place until they could find a replacement...which often takes months...that was cool...we can make many of the changes we always dreamed of...before the next guy gets in...and then it would be up to him to carry them through..."

"So what are we going to with this opportunity that is afforded us?" I asked...

"What do you want to do?" He asked in reply..."It's your show for the next 6 months!They asked me to tell you that!  I work for you now!"

"I knew that I had a month at most and he had told me that with the first two words out of his mouth!  If I had only listened...I would have known days ago!" 

"...I am so narrow and literal sometimes! I have to be more observant and think in a broader context...I reminded myself!  Some lessons are harder to learn than others!