Resigned

For audio click here

The rain fell like javelins outside the window, summer was gone, and autumn was rapidly turning into winter. Holly watched umbrellas with legs pass by the office, all oblivious to her troubles. She absolutely had to do it today, if she didn’t do it today, then she would have to turn the new job down, and she couldn’t do that, could she. But how could she tell her current boss that she was leaving?  She’d tried; god knows she’d tried. She’d rehearsed in the bath every day before work, picking the exact words that she’d use to inform Mr Edwards that she was going to their main competitor. Like a 16 year old going in to a pharmacy to buy condoms, she’d gone into his office two, three, four times determined that this time would be the time, before bottling out coming up with an excuse for being there and leaving with a metaphorical packet of chewing gum.

She knew he’d be disappointed, not angry, she could cope with anger. But Mr Edwards would be genuinely sad. Most people hate their boss, or if they don’t hate them they at least have a mild dislike, bosses like teachers and traffic wardens weren’t made to be liked; they were made to be tolerated, maybe admired, but certainly not liked. But Mr Edwards was not most bosses.

He was not only a good boss but also a good man. He was old-school, put the well-being of his staff high on the agenda. He knew everyone’s name and took interest in their family lives; in a way you might think he was a nosey old man but this was a family business and that didn’t mean just his family.

She wouldn’t get that in her new job, yeah the pay was better, there was less travel and more chance of promotion but it was a big multinational. There Holly would be one of the many, an anonymous face in the crowd. Would her new boss even know her name? Would he care when little Jake was ill? Would she get time off to take little Ashley to the dentist?

She sighed. Time was ticking, the clock reminding her of her duty. She had to do it, it wasn’t fair on anyone putting it off like this. She rehearsed the words one last time, took a deep breath and launched into action.

‘Hi,… yes I’m good thanks…Yes, I’ve got some news…um, it’s difficult to say this but I’ve decided not to accept your job offer and stay in my current position.’