Time Off

By Joel Pratt

Julie Culler-Gertz is unhappy. She works as a senior manager in a startup organization, her marriage is falling apart, and her relationship with her daughter needs work. Julie's husband, Elliot, stays at home and has a fondness for expensive whiskey. Elliot comes home late one night, and what's left of Julie's marriage begins to unravel, and she begins to grapple with the reality of romance, loss, addiction, parenting, and change.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joel Pratt
• Release date: Mar 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386115274

Book preview

Rough Day

I KNOW IT'S HARD, BUT he can't do the job, and he needs to go. And, well, you know the rest. Today is his last day. Make it happen, Julie. I've always been able to count on you. The CEO of Energyze, Inc. - a fit, tall, and tan 25 year old with long brown hair bunched up on top of his head, a neatly trimmed beard, and emerald eyes - skipped out of Julie's corner office and closed the door. Julie sat back down at her desk.

Whatever, Julie thought, and turned her chair to face the window. From her office, on a clear day (like most days) she could see from Pikes Peak to the Boulder Flatirons. Diagonal streaks of grey and yellow in the distance. Rain out west. She hoped the clouds would be big enough to water her lawn and manicured flowers.

She shook her head. Like a Band-Aid, RIGHT OFF! She smiled, remembering watching that episode of Seinfeld. She dialed three numbers on her phone. Grayson, can you come up to my office in about 15 minutes? Sure, C.G., he said, using a nickname only he used, what’s up? Just a quick meeting. See you then. Julie stood up out of her chair and paced back and forth in front of the window. Her hands, small and delicate, starting to wrinkle around the knuckles, felt around in her pockets for her cell phone. She resisted the urge to pull it out and check it for the 20th time that hour. She heard three knocks on her door. Grayson was, as usual, early.

You're fired, she said, before he even sat down. You know that you've missed your performance reviews the past three quarters, and you know there's still open questions in the, uh, investigation. You are - or were, I guess - employed here at-will, and there's just too much surrounding you to be able to keep you. We will spare you the embarrassment of an escort, but we will expect you out today. Your accounts have been deactivated.

Grayson didn't speak. Tears welled up in the corners of his brown eyes. His face was red. Maybe he's never been fired before, she pondered, and looked down at her shoes. Her eyes started to feel moist. I'm sorry, she almost whispered. She looked up and met his eyes briefly.

His lip quivered. He looked down, shook his head, and stood up. It was a pleasure working here. Mostly. Thank you - for everything. Grayson extended his hand. It was shaking. He had long, thin fingers, and nails all bitten down to the nub. Julie shook it, limply, and turned toward the window. Footsteps, then the click of the door closing.

The phone buzzed in her pocket. OK if I head out 2nite?

Where?

new place down the rd. Emily's or esthers or sumthing

"How