Jimmy had been on the road for the last seven hours.  Four hundred and twenty miles from Chicago to Minneapolis.  He was almost there.  Just another few more miles and he'd be at his crappy hotel, awaiting the job in the morning.  This was a big account for Jimmy.  He wouldn't have come all the way out here himself if this wasn't an important account.  Mills Plastics. Co. was going to pay the bills of his company for at least three months.  They'd be able to meet payroll and the rent for the office for just that long.  Things haven't been very good lately.  Half of the people that were working in the company got laid off.  Jimmy was feeling the heat from the bigger heads at the office. 

Jimmy never liked these meetings.  He always felt incredibly self-conscious, felt like other people could see through his game.  The brave face, the charming smile, the vigorous handshake...  'All my weaknesses', he worried, 'are every bit betrayed by the subtleties of motions, and they all know'. 

What Jimmy feared they all knew were his insecurities, the nagging sense of inadequacies, his bitterness.  He hated himself for feeling this way sometimes.  He hated the others for secretly knowing.  He saw the sneer, the turned up nose, the stifled chortles all too many times to not recognize it when he saw it.  Perhaps it's just in his mind, but he saw the subtle derision and the people, staring just a bit too long. 

He didn't speak to a single soul the 7 hours he was on the road.  Not even to the gas station attendant when he stopped for gas.  He just gave the attendant the money, walked out of the store.  He did stop at a rest stop.  Just to see the sights.  All the leaves turning gave Jimmy renewed strength.  He breathed deeply, took a few photos to share with his lady, got back in the car.  It was a beautiful day for a long drive.  A part of Jimmy was glad to have taken the trip. 

On the way, he listened to music and counted roadkill.  Apparently, this strip of highway was bad for deers.  He counted over a dozen dead deers dragged off to the side of the road on his way.  He also saw a half a dozen raccoons, a few possums, and what he thought was a cat.  He said a silent prayer for every one of those animals that he had seen along the way.  Even the indistinguishable mass of fur stuck on the pavement. 

Finally, he turned up at the hotel, checked in at the front desk.  There was a problem with the reservation and the account, but Jimmy was too tired to argue.  It had been a long drive and though it was a nice drive, the sun had shone on Jimmy's face for the length of the drive and he noticed that day long exposure to the sun had a tendency to tire a person out.  He begrudgingly took the smaller room by the elevator and began unpacking his bag.  The meeting was at 8am, he couldn't be late.  He had to be on time.  He set the alarm for 7am, laid down on the strange, yet familiar bed.  He'd be having yet another night of delivery pizza and sportscenter. 

Jimmy heaved a heavy sigh. 

It was his birthday today... 





-The End-