He was just finishing work. It was a Friday afternoon at around 4 pm. He had started working at this company five years ago when it was starting out. He probably knew more about the company than anyone else because he was the only one who really gave a damn. Everyone else was more concerned about what they considered the more important things such as their lives and families. He wasn't, all he was able to think about was how the company was doing his name was Joseph Collens and he was married and had a son named Tom.
After leaving his office he waited for the elevator, there were escalators that also led down stairs but they never worked and Joe did not like walking down the steps. When the elevator arrived he stepped in and pressed L for the Lobby. He covered his ears so he wouldn't have to here that horrible music. When he finally reached the lobby after the elevator had stopped at every floor Joe was the last one out but that did not bother him because he was in no hurry he did not feel the need to rush out. He was reluctant to leave, he loved where he worked and felt comfortable there. Right now he was tired and did not have all the energy that all his coworkers did Because he worked hard all day instead of goofing of and playing games on his computer like the rest of the company did instead. No wonder the company was doing poorly.
Joe was in his early thirties but he looked over forty because he worked so hard. He was balding but he had always worn a hat so he did not miss his hair. You probably think that he wears his hat like everyone else does but you're wrong. Joe wore his hat with a passion 24 hours a day the only time he ever took it off was so he could adjust it he never took it off for any other reason. On his hat was the name of the company he worked for Global Industries and its logo. Whenever anyone talked about him they referred to him as Joe Sixpack Because he was known for his drinking habit. They never saw him at a company promotion with out a drink in his hand. Many people thought he worked too hard and drank to relax and they encouraged him to take a vacation but he always refused.
Every Friday Joe would go to Dewey's a bar that was owned by Jonathan Dewey. He was known as a regular there because he talked a lot when he drank. He always talked about the abuses of democracy and how he hated the food at McDonalds and did not understand why anyone went there. He also complained about work saying that all the other workers had the cushy jobs and that he always ended up with all the work. He believed that the company could not survive and would fall apart without him.
Joe always wondered why he was stuck in a mid rank position in the company and was doubtful about his hopes to become the president of the company even though he worked hard all the time. Joe attributed this to his alma matter Pace University. Why couldn't he have gotten into a good school like Harvard or Yale? Maybe then he would have succeeded in his hope to gain a respectful position.
Today Joe was feeling different than he usually did after work. He felt powerful and that he could do whatever he felt like. He decided that he was the master of his own destiny and he would not allow himself to be controlled by anyone. Joe still felt like going to the bar but today when he entered Dewey's he removed his hat. The bartender asked him what happened with the hat and he replied I don't know I just didn't feel like wearing it anymore. Good I was sick of it for a while, do you feel any differently. Would you stop asking me all these questions I'm just here to have a drink. Sorry I was just concerned about you. Well don't be, I'll worry about myself. All right forget I ever asked.
After finishing his last drink Joe quickly left the bar without saying a word to anyone. He knew what he was about to do and that was all he was thinking about. Joe started going back towards the office it was around 8 o'clock. He got there a half an hour later and the guard let him in because he knew that Joe liked working late. When he got into the elevator he pressed the button for the top floor. The elevator opened and he stepped onto the roof. Then he set down his hat climbed the fence and jumped.
by Michael Cole