Have a seat

 The fluorescent lights buzz and fill room with white glow, not the soft natural lighting as promised. I pace behind the table, scanning my spread - manilla folder, documents, pens, laptop, logged plus my and HR business cards.  The rain pelts the window and you can see the trees swaying in the high winds.

I stand motionless, arms crossed, scanning the area - shirt tighter across the mid-section - positive workout results or too much dining out? My stomach makes a few noises as the nerviousness  arrives, but this is one I am not dreading. 

"Hey, sorry I am late, the parking lot is a mess!" She drops her bag on the table across from mine and sat an breaks my trance.

"Not a problem." I sit and click the button on the HR page - her system access is gone.

"Do you have any coffee or possibly tea? Anything available on this floor?" She frantically turns back-and-forth surveying the room while squinting out the doors.

"Let's focus right now."

"Sure, I wanted to talk to you anyway, staffing concerns, overstaffing issues, possible options, nobody likes Markus." She laughs while applying chapstick.

"Thanks so much for meeting today. I wanted to let you know that this is your last day with the company, actually it ended when we started this discussion." I stop and look up, I feel happy inside, so happy to be able to deliver this news face to face. I hope there is no visible joy.

Silence as she stare blankly at me.

I return the silence and sit, awaiting a response.

"Are you kidding me? After all that I have done? Does Bill know about this? We are close, he would never let this happen" She leans back and stares at the ceiling.

"Yes, Bill signed off on this." Keep all answers, short and direct, no emotion, nothing off script.

"Oh my god." She buries her face in her hands and wails, cries fill the room.

"I turn and look out the side window that overlooks the nearby pond and think about going to hockey game later. I roll my eyes as the crying escalates, glancing  at my watch - really crying this much?

The crying downgrades to sniffles and sobs. Her eyes scan for tissues, but there are none and I do not move. She uses her sleeve.

"So, that's it?"

"Yes, here is the paperwork. You can sign the documents now  or review them and drop here or via mail." I slide the manilla folder in her direction while slowly opening to reveal the first page. "You need to initial all pages and sign the 10th page. Here are my and HR's cards, please do not hesitate to reach out" I never wanted to hear from her.

"I can't believe you are doing this."

"Will you sign today  or wait?"

She quickly signs and pushes everything towards me. I find a copier and hand copies to her and  then escort her out the door - retrieving all gear (id badge, laptop, and bag. She looks at me and turns and walks away, no look.

When she is gone, I plop down in my seat and I start laughing uncontrollably. I invite my manager.

"How did she take it?" 

"Lots of crying." I laugh while giving the play-by-play.

"Gawd, she is a drama queen, she got what she deserved, why cry?" He has a broad smile on your face.

"Yeah, I didn't think she was ever going to stop, so annoying. It was an ugly cry too, lots of mucus, disgusting." I shivered while laughing.

"Everything she does is ugly."

"Who is next?"

"James and that should be good for now, just need to cut a couple to fix budget. Thankfully, he said something stupid in a meeting a couple weeks ago so he is on the radar - an easy selection - just like her running her mouth in that town hall gathering."

"Bring'm on."

"Hey, I want to hit the hotel before going to the game, so let's leave in 45." I look down at my watch while motioning toward him. The game is the reason I volunteered for this trip.