The days which are to change our life always start in the most innocuous ways. Mine started at 6 AM with a cup of coffee and a newspaper. But, I guess if you start every day with the exact same routine, it would only make sense that the significant ones would start that way as well… Regardless, it was in my usual pattern that I sipped my coffee, read my newspaper, and headed to work that morning.
"Bernard, I'm going to need you to fix the projector in the new wing. It stopped working this morning and I expect it to be up and running again by the time the first tours run through here."
"Yeah, I'll do what I can…"
"Don't 'do what you can,' do your job!"
"Yes, ma'am." This is my job. About a week before the Metro City Metroman Museum opened, I saw an ad in the newspaper saying that they needed an Audio/Visual Expert to run maintenance and to help with the installation of new tech. Long story short, I got the job, and with it a sentence to deal with the delightful Madam Johnnson. I'm a trained professional when it comes to systems and tech management. I could be working at Excels Corp. getting paid through the nose and working with the latest business systems, like an idiot, I work here.
You're probably figuring, 'it can't be so bad…' or something along the lines of that, but trust me, it is. Right now I have to figure out how to fix a twelve-year old projector system. What's wrong, you might ask? Let's just say gum doesn't exactly run as smoothly as Mrs. Johnnson's slides at the monthly staff meeting. Some little angel (probably about the same age as the projector) must have decided that the machine deserved a tasty treat for all of its work. The sad thing is, as little as I'm getting paid, my weekly paycheck is probably worth more than this hunk of junk, but here I am at seven in the morning trying to fix it.
The rest of the day went well enough. I got most of the gum out of the gears with a little Goo-B-Gone and a lot of work, and someone even left doughnuts in the break room, saving me money on lunch which was much needed for rent. It was a pretty uneventful day until my shift ended and I ran into Roxanne Richie. Yes, Roxanne Richie from the news. Yes, uber-babe Roxanne Richie. The little known fact is that Roxanne Richie and I actually attended some classes together at Metro U. We headed toward different majors of course, but during our freshman year we were booked in two of the same general ed courses.
I noticed her as I pushed open the large glass door of the museum. I wasn't going to say anything but she looked at me so I assumed she recognized me. I waved. She gave me a confused look as though I meant to wave to someone else.
"Hey, Roxanne," I greeted her.
"Hello, uhmm… sir."
"It's Bernard," she clearly thought I was some creepy fan of hers.
"Bernard…"
"Yeah, we attended classes together at Metro U." I'm not really sure why I am bothering until I see her pretty eyes studying my face. She's beautiful. God is she ever beautiful. She's the smart kind of quirky-sweet beautiful who would never have the time of day for a guy like me. It's all for the best I suppose. From what I've heard, she's pretty caught up with Metroman anyhow.
"Oh, yeah! Bernard. I remember now," She smiled politely in a way which made me feel that she probably did not.
"Yeah, well—" before I could make my graceful exit, a shiny black car appeared behind her. Literally, appeared. My mind was numb until I saw a gloved hand reach out the window. The hand caught her by the back of the dress. My body, wasting no time to confer with my mind, sprang into action. I pushed theRoxanne Richie out of the hand and onto the sidewalk. Her eyes grew wide as she watched another hand reach out with a cloth and cover my nose and mouth. I couldn't figure out what was happening as I faded. I felt the gloved hands pull me gently into the car.
"Miss Richie? Miss Richie? Oh my freaking—" I passed out.
