For a moment I want us to examine the life of a man named Johnathan. He had always been a large and demanding person. Always confident in every aspect of his life. He spent his early youth working hard for his father and his young adult life in the Navy. People that knew him saw him as a leader ready to make all the hard choices. At this point you may be getting a picture of what the man looked like but you may be surprised to know that he was also a dandy. He wore velvet coats and capes over a ruffle dress shirt. He was proud of his style and no one was going to object to it.
John's early life isn't what we're interested in. I will be telling you a story of the man in his later age. John had made an enemy in his new career after he was promoted over the another more qualified man, Phil. Their boss said it was good to have someone with John's strong demeanor in the new position. Phil's frustration was well placed as he had been working hard for the promotion for many years. Their boss had also been telling Phil that he was likely next in line before John ever started working with them. John never knew that this was being planned, and had he known he would not have accepted the spot. Besides establishing why there was a rivalry, none of this really matters, because it happened and it's done.
After one particular successful year, all of John's employees had gotten together to plan a surprise party for him. He had held his new position for a long time and everything had been running great. John even managed to hold it all together in the face of Phil's many attempts to sabotage his work. Before the work day began, the green room was being filled with party decorations and people were bringing in beverages and treats. Phil had just sat in a corner feeling salty. When John drove up, the room went silent and everyone but Phil hid behind the furniture. Phil turned off the light from the switch on the wall next to him.
John entered the building through the lobby. Everyone could hear him walking around looking for someone in the emptiness. He made his way to the green room shouting about his disbelief in that he was the only one that showed up on time. John opens the doors to the dark room and looks directly at Phil in the corner. "What are you sitting the the dark for?" John turned the lights on and to his true shock the room was all dressed up and his co-workers suddenly jumped up and cheered. The party continued with people expressing what they liked best about John and the work that had been done. Once everyone but Phil had told their story, the boss brought in a big cake. John was incredibly moved by all they had done for him.
Phil was thinking about why he was still mad at John, even during this party. He saw that it would be much easier to just have fun and accept that John had done a fine job. With a sigh of relief, Phil stood up, hugged John, and requested that he cut John's first slice from the cake. "That's very mature of you Phil." John agreed to let him make this gesture of peace. Phil took a knife and cut a moderate slice of cake from the edge and put it on a small plate for John. With cake in hand and the room's eyes on him, John paused and said one more thing before taking a bite. "May we all have another great year." Then John took a bite and the room cheered again.
Just then John had started coughing and foaming at the mouth. People were panicking and trying to help but no one knew what was happening or what to do. The boss turned to Phil and demanded Phil to tell him what he had done to the cake. Phil claimed not to have done a thing to it. More people turned on Phil saying that he had poisoned John. Among all the arguing and fighting, no one had thought that John had simply choked on the cake and needed help removing the blockage from his airway. John died before anyone could clear their head long enough to call the ambulance.
Story by: James D. Gray
1/23/18
John's early life isn't what we're interested in. I will be telling you a story of the man in his later age. John had made an enemy in his new career after he was promoted over the another more qualified man, Phil. Their boss said it was good to have someone with John's strong demeanor in the new position. Phil's frustration was well placed as he had been working hard for the promotion for many years. Their boss had also been telling Phil that he was likely next in line before John ever started working with them. John never knew that this was being planned, and had he known he would not have accepted the spot. Besides establishing why there was a rivalry, none of this really matters, because it happened and it's done.
After one particular successful year, all of John's employees had gotten together to plan a surprise party for him. He had held his new position for a long time and everything had been running great. John even managed to hold it all together in the face of Phil's many attempts to sabotage his work. Before the work day began, the green room was being filled with party decorations and people were bringing in beverages and treats. Phil had just sat in a corner feeling salty. When John drove up, the room went silent and everyone but Phil hid behind the furniture. Phil turned off the light from the switch on the wall next to him.
John entered the building through the lobby. Everyone could hear him walking around looking for someone in the emptiness. He made his way to the green room shouting about his disbelief in that he was the only one that showed up on time. John opens the doors to the dark room and looks directly at Phil in the corner. "What are you sitting the the dark for?" John turned the lights on and to his true shock the room was all dressed up and his co-workers suddenly jumped up and cheered. The party continued with people expressing what they liked best about John and the work that had been done. Once everyone but Phil had told their story, the boss brought in a big cake. John was incredibly moved by all they had done for him.
Phil was thinking about why he was still mad at John, even during this party. He saw that it would be much easier to just have fun and accept that John had done a fine job. With a sigh of relief, Phil stood up, hugged John, and requested that he cut John's first slice from the cake. "That's very mature of you Phil." John agreed to let him make this gesture of peace. Phil took a knife and cut a moderate slice of cake from the edge and put it on a small plate for John. With cake in hand and the room's eyes on him, John paused and said one more thing before taking a bite. "May we all have another great year." Then John took a bite and the room cheered again.
Just then John had started coughing and foaming at the mouth. People were panicking and trying to help but no one knew what was happening or what to do. The boss turned to Phil and demanded Phil to tell him what he had done to the cake. Phil claimed not to have done a thing to it. More people turned on Phil saying that he had poisoned John. Among all the arguing and fighting, no one had thought that John had simply choked on the cake and needed help removing the blockage from his airway. John died before anyone could clear their head long enough to call the ambulance.
Story by: James D. Gray
1/23/18
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