One
A handsome young man walked briskly through the hallways of the office building he worked at. He was wearing a nice dark gray suit along with a purple tie. He was carrying a blue three-ring notebook and a leather satchel. He smiled and acknowledged everyone he passed. This is Daniel Judge and right now, he is happy.
He entered his office and went behind his desk, placing the notebook and satchel on top. He sat down in his chair and prepared to pick up the receiver of his phone. “There you are Mr. Judge. Good morning,” said a short, cute brunette who just appeared in the doorway.
“Good morning Ann,” Daniel said, smiling. “I was just about to call you. Is everything set up for lunch?”
“You bet. Everybody R.S.V.P.'d and I called the International House of Waffles so they would be prepared. I-HOW is a go.” This is Ann Harper. She is Daniel's assistant. She would do anything for Daniel and even attacked a coffee barista when Daniel's coffee was iced and he wanted it hot. The barista's whereabouts are still unknown.
“I can't believe this day has finally come, Ann. I've looked forward to it for literally years,” Daniel smiled.
“I didn't think you could pull it off,” she replied.
“Oh, ye Gods!” shouted a man from outside Daniel's office. A man came in and threw his hands up in a flamboyant gesture. “Daniel, I have tried and I give up.” This is Rod Kueffer, Daniel's friend and administrative assistant to the human resources department. “I've worked with drag queens that have more class than our human resources department,” Rod continued.
“What happened now?” Daniel asked.
“I brought Sascha her morning coffee from The Java Bean like I do every morning since it's on my way to work and what does do? She takes it then cocks her head to one side, smiles and says 'thanks.'” For years, Rod had brought the HR manager, Sascha Hewitt, a coffee from an exclusive coffee shop. Sascha would then cock her head to one side, smile and say thanks.
“Isn't that what she does every morning?” Daniel asked.
“But this time she cocked her head to the left. She usually cocks it to the right,” Rod explained.
Daniel stared at Rod then slowly turned his head toward Ann. “Is the conference room ready for my nine o'clock meeting?”
“Yep, all ready.”
“Great. I'll see you at lunch Rod. Oh, and just remember that I don't want Lindsay to know about my family. She thinks most of them are all dead and that is perfectly fine with me,” Daniel said as he, Rod and Ann left his office.
“You really like Lindsay don't you Daniel?” Ann asked.
Daniel loved Lindsay. However, Daniel's normal conversation with Lindsay usually ended up embarrassing himself and it had been like that since they met years ago at a gym. Daniel is on a stationary bike and Lindsay is one bike over. Daniel is focused on the nearby TV and chewing gum. Both are oblivious to each other. After pedaling awhile, they finally made eye contact and smiled at each other.
“I'll race you to the top of the hill,” Lindsay said playfully.
Daniel started to say something but swallowed his gum and began choking until dislodging it and spitting it out onto the floor.
Since then, Daniel has been afraid of expressing his feelings toward Lindsay.
“No. No, no, no-no-no, no. No. We're just friends and I'm okay with that,” Daniel tried to convince. Ann and Rod looked at each other and rolled their eyes.
“I'll see you at lunch Daniel,” Rod said and walked off in the opposite direction.
Daniel and Ann walked quietly toward the conference room. A huge smile came across Daniel's face. So why is Daniel so happy? Because it's been five years since he's spoken to his family.
It was five years ago when Daniel walked away from his family. He remembered exactly how it happened.
Grandpa Samuel Judge had been dead only four days. He lay quietly in his coffin as his family conversed around him in the funeral home. Daniel was standing with his father, Stephen, his Aunt Virginia and her son, Chris.
“Damn, Virginia,” Stephen began, “your boy is getting big!”
“Thank you,” Virginia said softly.
“Thank you Uncle Stephen,” Chris said.
