Bad day

She is doing all the talking. He says nothing.

“Look, I know how much you want to get the supervisor role, but to be frank, your performance lately has left something to be desired.”

He opens his mouth as if to speak and then shuts it again. His hands clench behind his back.

She carries on. “You haven’t hit your target for, what is it, four, five months? You’re slipping and you need to pull it back. Results matter. Doesn’t matter how long you’ve been here or what you’ve done before. Now is what matters and no one is guaranteed a job here.”

She pauses a moment and watches him. He stares at the PDA on her desk. “I’m making Janice supervisor,” she tells him. He purses his lips and nods slowly.

“So she’ll be my line manager then?” His voice carefully calm.

“Will that be a problem?”

“No. No problem.”

“I’m going to be looking for some real improvement from you, Jeremy. Do you catch my meaning?”

“Yes, Sandra.”

“See you Monday.”

**********************************************

He sits at his desk; office banter reverberates over his head. Fingers snap in front of his face.

“Jezza, Earth to Jezza, are you receiving me?”

“Sorry, mate, I was miles away.”

“Well, snap out of it. Me and the lads are going to the Lion for a session later. You up for it?”

“Yeah, yeah, that sounds good.”

“Wicked, see you there, JezBoy.”

He turns off his computer, puts on his coat. He sees Sandra and Janice leaving together, laughing. He goes home.

**********************************************

“Bad day, love?”

“You could say that. Make us a cuppa, would you.”

He slumps in a chair and picks up the remote, stares at the blank screen of the TV. Frowns at the cups clinking in the kitchen.

She brings in the tea and places it carefully on the table.

He looks at it. “Sugar?” he asks.

“Sorry, I’ll just get it, love.”

She goes back into the kitchen. He turns, picks up the tea, slowly pours it into the plant pot and puts the empty cup neatly under his chair. She brings the sugar bowl, puts it on the table.

“Great,” he says. “Now, where’s the tea?”

She hesitates, glances at the table. “I-”

“You what?”

“I thought I-”

“You thought what?”

“I thought I already brought it in. Sorry.”

“If you’d brought me the tea already, I wouldn’t be asking for it, now would I?”

“Sorry, love, I must have forgotten. I’ll just go and get it.”

“Helen, Helen, Helen.” He lifts himself slowly from his chair.

“Yes?”

“What are we going to do with you?”

“I’m sorry, love, I’m just being silly. I’ll go get your tea. You sit down.”

“Pardon?” He moves towards her.

“Sorry, love. I mean, I just want you to be comfortable.”

“Please don’t tell me what to do, Helen. I. Have had. A hard. Day. Do you understand?”

“Yes, love, sorry, of course I understand. I’m just being stupid.”

“Yes, that’s been happening a lot lately, hasn’t it? In fact, your performance lately has left something to be desired.”

“Sorry?”

“I’m going to be looking for some real improvement from you, Helen. Do you catch my meaning?”

“I’m sorry, Jerry, please, I’m sorry, I’m really sorry.”

**********************************************

She is lying where she fell, her knees drawn up to her chest. He squats down beside her. “Helen, I’m sorry, but you know work is hard for me at the moment. I just need you to be more... supportive at home. Yeah?”

She nods.

“Good.” He smiles, kisses her on the top of the head, then stands. “Good stuff, love. It’ll all work out, you’ll see.” He pulls his coat on. “Don’t wait up, I’m going to be late back.”

**********************************************

“Jezzzzzzaaaaaa!” The chorus greets him as he swings the pub door open. An arm loops round his shoulders, a hand ruffles his hair. “Where you been, mate? You’ve got some catching up to do. Your round!”

He laughs and gets the drinks in. The beer flows. He feels better.