So there I was. In bed. My mind making a valiant effort to help my body get up (“you’re gonna be late, you know Boss hates that, especially if he didn’t have his coffee this morning….), and the rest of me just refusing (*yawn*). Eventually my eyes began to close of their own accord, despite the rational part of me desperately seeking escape from the comforts of sleep (“the bus stop is just two feet away!”) when my alarm, currently on snooze, began clanging its horrible cheery wake-up tune, obviously designed in such a way that causes it to have a special place of hate for most people, especially those poor souls like me. I jolted awake, heart racing, like when you trip and begin to fall down in your dream and suddenly waken. Finally, after regaining full consciousness and convinced I’m not having a heart attack, I finally begin, with a groan, to roll out of bed, my whole body protesting every inch of the way. But, then again, I’m already used to it. After all, it’s a Monday like any other.

I rush to the pantry for my quick caffeine-fix savior: coffee. Shoot. Why? Why today of all days? No more coffee pods or instant brew or stuff. And because I’m running late, this means only one thing: I must teleport to the coffee shop!

Well, if only. That would really help matters. Then again, if I had that power, a lot of things would be different. For example, I could have stayed in bed longer.

When I arrive at the coffee shop, breathless and jelly-legged, I look down at my watch. 8:57 am. Yikes! But still, as I enter the shop I know I made the right decision. The aroma here is worth more than my salary, and the coffee? Forget about it.

I place my order and sit down at an empty booth, hoping the staff behind the counter don’t work at their normal pace, which is roughly the amount of time it takes for Boss to finish one of his “You’re late! And you haven’t even finished….I was waiting…..blah blah blah” speeches. I smile grimly, picturing my good friend and coworker hunching behind his cubicle, snickering as he sticks a piece of tape over his mouth and pointing to Boss. I clearly have very mature coworkers. Sigh.

And that’s when I realize I am truly going crazy. What Im seeing cannot be real. Either my senses and rational mind were rebelling against me or I was beginning to hallucinate, neither of which I am too excited about.

BOSS?? Now? In the coffee shop??? What is he doing here at-I steal a glance at my watch-9:07 am, the summit of Boss’s day, the time where he yells at everyone and gets the ol’ tired workforce running on its 2 cent rusty wheels. He’s missing out on work, his favorite time! And most shocking of all-I rubbed my eyes as the scene revealed itself before me to make sure I wasn’t dreaming, which, at this point, wasn’t really all that far-fetched- he was walking toward me….with a SMILE!!!! As if he was happy to see me here at this time. That’s when I was struck by a particularly surprising, but maybe not all that shocking, thought, considering what was happening in my weird life so far.

I try to make myself as small as possible, which is not an easy task; my scale can attest to that. I hope he’s headed for the person behind me, the drink machine on my left, ANYTHING! I try to avoid Boss on a regular day as much as possible; but when he has a smile?? That’s even scarier!

But, alas, to my unlucky fortunes, the grinning man slides onto the bench across from me. “Good morning!” His normally monotonous voice sounds as if he had injected helium and caffeine into it: I’ve never heard him sound so joyful and high-pitched before. “Well?” He asks in his unnaturally excited voice. “Aren’t you going to congratulate me?” He shoves a newspaper into my lap, nearly knocking over my half-finished iced vanilla. I look down at the headline. No way. Absolutely not. Can’t be. I will myself to think of what this means, and I feel a surging of what I think is hope (with a healthy dose of skepticism, of course). My life would be completely changed! I look up into the shining eyes of Boss. “C-congratulations o-on your new job,” I manage to stammer. And while he regales me with HIS new boss, how wonderful his life is going to be, how much money he’ll make, my mind is miles away. I’m not focused on Boss position change at all; no. I’m more focused on the result: a change of managers. And who was next in line, I think with increasing excitement. “…..and then we’ll all be happy!” He looks at me expectantly. I echo his feelings. “Good for you! I wish you only good fortune and success in your new job! We’ll really miss you here”-I add in, looking away so as not to meet his eyes-“but I’m sure we’ll get over it!” He beams at me, a rare occurrence, and walks out the door. There she is! My savior has just walked in! “Sheila, did u hear the news? Boss has left the company? Do you know what this means?” I am hugging her now, completely oblivious to all the stares and her confused look. “You are! You’re assistant manager, and thus inherit said vacant position,” I explain, assuming the role of professor temporarily. “But….why didn’t I hear about this before?” she asks reasonably. Oh Sheila. Always thinking logically. “Uh, hello? Since when has ex-Boss EVER told us about things like vacations and off-days in advance? NEVER, that’s when!” I finish emphatically. “And now you”-I point at her -“are taking over. Which means….” She looks at me with dawning comprehension. “……normal schedules, deadlines, breaks, and especially salaries!” This time she hugs me, and it’s for real. Aside from a normal boss, Sheila is my best friend, and we can finally have a normal, functional company without having to look elsewhere in this tiny isolated country town, which is a lot more than can be said for most. I am truly happy. She was my idol, and now my savior.