A Few Days Earlier
Jake Caulder was a man prone to anxiety attacks. He had worked at Jacobs and Son, an electronics firm for a couple of years. Old man Jacobs had informed Jake two days earlier that they were cutting back but there was a job opening in their mid-west branch that he could have. It was in their plant in Topeka, Kansas. If he didn’t take the job out west, he would be out of work. Every time he thought about the move from Cleveland and starting over in a new place brought on another bout of acid indigestion and heart burn.
His co-workers knew little about Jake as he kept to himself a lot and didn’t make friends easily. All they knew was that he had been given a new job and was about to leave. They were nice enough to him but he was always distant when they tried to strike up any type of conversation with him, and so they left him alone.
Jake felt that everyone was just trying to be nice to him to take advantage of him, as everyone always did. With thoughts like this, his acid flared up again and he popped 2 more antacids.
“Good morning Jake.”
It was one of his coworkers that had spoken to Jake, but Jake was so involved in his thoughts that he barely heard anything and just walked by without even acknowledging the man was there.
“Man Jake. You are the rudest person I have ever met and it will be good to see you leave.”
At that Jake did turn and approached his coworker with hatred in his eyes.
“You, Brown, are nothing but a piece of dog turd.”
Matthew Brown, the office jester, who always liked joking with people had just been teasing Jake and really liked the loner quite a bit. He sputtered “Jake, I was kidding around and will really miss you when you are gone.”
Jake was not the least placated by this and he continued to brow beat Matthew who backed up trying to get as far away from Jake’s tirade as he could. Jake felt that Matthew was just like all the other workers in this office, all trying to take advantage of him every chance they could get. He’d had enough. Without warning, he struck poor Matthew on the chin so hard that he went backwards over the nearest desk, knocking everything onto the floor.
Mr. Jacobs, the owner of the company, came running out.“Caulder, what is the meaning of this?”
At this, Jake wheeled and turned on Jacobs. He had had enough of this pompous ass for as long as he could remember.
“Jacobs, you’re a jerk and if you bother me any more I’ll do the same to you and more that I did to your little friend here.”
“Don’t threaten me. Do you know who you are talking to?”
With that, Jake pounced. He hit Mr. Jacobs so hard that he also went sprawling over the nearest piece of furniture.
Someone in the office had the common sense to call security and not try to approach Jake, who was like a mad dog who didn’t seem to know right from wrong any more.
Two burly security guards grabbed Jake and threw him to the floor, restraining him from doing any more harm.
By now, Jacobs was on his feet, wobbly, but able to get up with help from others who had gathered.
“Caulder, you can forget that new position. As of now, you are no longer an employee of this firm and if you set foot in this office again, I will have you charged with assault. Now get him out of my sight.”
“You can’t do this to me. I need that job!”
“Get him out of here before I press charges right now.” And with that, Jacobs turned, went back into his office and slammed the door.
The security guard escorted Jake to his desk so he could clear it out and then led him to the front door.
“Don’t come around bothering Mr. Jacobs or anyone else, or matters will be much worse for you.” warned the larger of the 2 guards.
With that they shut the door behind him.
Jake was fit to be tied. He popped 2 more antacids but nothing helped to keep the acid from burning his stomach. What was he going to do now? He knew that Jacobs would regret how he had treated him and he decided to wait in the parking lot until closing to settle the score with Mr. Jacobs.
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