“The man’s got to get a life,” Edward howled. “It’s not even 7AM.” Edward got his coffee. He left the radio off and the window shade down. He had too much to do today to be distracted even for a moment by the world outside. Wednesday arrived sooner that it did last week and his voice mail already took three messages while he was in the shower.

     “Edward, I need to see the mark-ups and photos” Pat beckoned, “this morning . . . !!”

     Pat never left panic mode. Edward never let him down, yet he still couldn’t relax. Edward expected Pat’s deadline call. He always called and the panic mode messages didn’t bother him. The two calls that followed with last minute changes, however, did.

     “Give me a break, will you, Pat” Edward thought as he let out a heavy horse-vibrating-lip breath. Changes are a way of life in this freelance world Edward inhabited, but just once he would like a little of the respect his clients gave their regular staff.

     “How can he expect me to complete anything if he keeps changing his freakin’ mind?” he thought listening to Pat rage as he called up the computer file with his notes for the news-letter.

 

SnippinS         by John E Budzinski

     Edward appreciated the gravy contract Pat gave him. His former boss had to let him go in some corporate reshuffling that never makes any sense wherever it is done. But, Pat did appreciate some of the consulting work Edward did after he fired him and rewarded his loyalty with the monthly newsletter contract.

     “Pat, you’ll have it!!” spying the Caller-ID picking up the phone. “Yes by noon – in fact by 10.” “You know, you’re not the only one I have to work for today,” Edward mentioned in his normal sarcastic way – after he hung up the phone. Of course, his former boss never cared about that when he worked for him and he didn’t care now. 

     10:15AM.

     “It’s fine, Edward, thanks.”

     A second cup of coffee and two more projects waited for Edward. 

     He raised the window shade at 4:50PM. Late February darkness started to settle in. A light snow fell – soft; large flakes; pretty in the glow of the early evening lights. He thought of former co-worker and school days friend, Angela, in North Carolina . She loved the snow and missed it. He remembered he was out of wine.

 

 End.