The Nothing (5 page)

The
job at Transcom of Houston was a low paying position. But after three years, it was the longest he had kept a job. For the low pay, the job carried a large amount of responsibility and training. Pride in the responsibilities and skills he learned, made it a job that he felt good waking in the morning for. He felt that as an Emergency Response Analyst, the day had finally come where he could walk into a room and prove to everyone that he was superior and important. But then came the comments about having a degree in Philosophy yet working for Transcom. Questions most commonly asked were, “Why aren’t you doing something with Philosophy or research? Wouldn’t you make more money? What exactly do you do at Transcom?”

James’
mother often got frustrated with him. Too many times, the hope of James moving out was killed when he would quit a job or not put in much effort in finding a better opportunity in Philosophy. His mother tried to discuss it with him and get him to show more initiative in a better career using his degree.

“Why get $25,000 in school loans only to work a job
making $12 an hour that has nothing to do with philosophy? You always talk about your philosophy on this or that, but you don’t pursue it. Remember that professor of yours that runs the Endonite Institute? You talked of working for him and the government. Working in consumer science or something dealing with technology. I tell you boy, that degree was a waste!” Such talk bounced off James as if he didn’t even listen. “Put a sock in it Mom, there’s glory in working for the company in charge of watching over Houston’s roadways. Any major catastrophe always starts on the roadways. What I’m doing is of great importance and impacts national security. It was out of Dr Abernathy’s hands. He had to leave me behind. But I knew there was much more to it than budget cuts. Guess the President saw my name and instinctively became afraid! I have that effect on people you know. Even if they have never met me, God gives them the foresight to see that I am not someone to fuck with.” Of course the bullshit never fazes his mother anymore. It just amazes her how elaborate James’ excuses can be.

When
James first started at Transcom, he told everyone that he was only going to be there for a short time. That he was working on a book and that when it finally gets published, it will be a blockbuster. James said his intention for college was to gain credibility so that his books would be best sellers. He didn’t like the idea of working a regular job. It was beneath him and it was his duty to educate a world of people drowning in basic minded thinking. In many conversations with James, people would hear the words ‘Basic minded people’ frequently. Those were his three favorite words. What was funny though, he has been talking about writing a book for several years but has yet to start. Many people told him he needed to be around people more and he would just be isolating if he were writing. But isolation was James’ comfort zone.

If people didn’t fear
geniuses like me, I would be running fucking Transcom. My fucking door would be fucking locked and these losers would have to lay their wimpy fears on someone else’s doorstep.

***

All forty screens in station 3F were blank. The signal went dark at the moment the cop entered Almeda’s Burger Shack. James heard the doorknob being turned behind him, and then the squeak of the door as someone walked in. He defiantly didn’t turn around when a man in a fancy suit with cigar breath spoke, “Mr. Featherworth, I need you to go the server room and use the landline to call in a comtech failure report to HPD. Harold here will take your station. All cell, satellite and radio waves are non-existent. We aren’t sure what is going on but we need to notify them. Here is your confirmation code.” It was one of the big bosses, second in command. Everyone called him Mr. Jones. Definitely someone you say yes sir or no sir to and jump when he said jump. James knew it was procedure to notify HPD by landline when there is a signal interruption or to file a communication technology failure report if communications are down. Transcom has been a part of HPD command since the company contracted with the city to monitor roadways and the surrounding areas. Transcom has operations in every major city in the United States. When there are traffic accidents, conditions that affect city operations, or if there is a catastrophic event, Houston Transcom would fall under the control of the police and fire departments. And in the event of a national crisis, they would be placed under the control of the military.
But why not have Harold make the call?
I’m sure he can pull his finger out of his nose and his fist out of his vagina long enough to dial a fucking number!

“Yes sir, I can do that.”

Supervisory staff at Houston Transcom have always found James Featherworth quite annoying. Too often, James would send emails directly to Mr. Jones and CC it to everyone in the building. Many would contain simple suggestions such as having the coke machines filled more often. Or better air conditioning in his station. Others would be blatant criticism of policies and procedures. Sometimes the messages would cross the line of professional etiquette. Once, he emailed the entire building staff asking for a $300 loan. When he didn’t receive any responses, he sent out another email with a lecture on teamwork and family. Another time he sent an email to a webcam stripper he had been chatting with. But accidentally included the whole staff list for Transcom.

‘Hello Brenda, Its me again.
If you would meet me, you would be very satisfied with my companionship. I know I may have emailed you too much. And that it was a bad thing me telling you that I love you even though we haven’t met. But I feel it. Tell me the name of the club you strip at and I can come there to see you. Please!! I have the supernatural feeling that you need me and that I can make your life wonderful!’

In his three-year tenure with the compa
ny, James had managed to accumulate several write-ups for disciplinary infractions. Suffice to say, most of his behavior was addressed verbally in person resulting in no paper trail.

On
e time James approached a woman waiting in her husband’s station to surprise him for his birthday. “Excuse me Miss, I’m James. I noticed that you are attractive and that John is quite the opposite. I weight 305 pounds, I think he weighs less, but not much.” She quickly interrupted, “Sam weighs 220 for your information and it is his birthday. And what is it you are asking?” James cleared his throat and swallowed. “I know he is much more than 220. You should know that since you are his wife, but anyways! What is it that women like you, see in a man like that? I am looking for information because I am hoping to go on the same journey as him and find the most acceptable woman. One with the same body structure as yours.” The floor three supervisor walked up behind James, but kept silent so he could hear the rest of the conversation.

“Umm,
Mister what is your name again?”

“My
name is James and I was hoping…”

“Hope for nothing.
My husband and I are not from where you are coming from and I am not sure that this is the most appropriate conversation. If you don’t mind I would like to wait for him in peace and surprise him.”

But James just didn’t get it.
“Are woman like you more like a sexual servant? I’m like, what other reason is there to make your body as fit as it is? If your husband were to pass away, would you be attracted and interested in talking to me? John and I pretty much weight the same.” Floor three supervisor Mr. Mack decided to intervene and put a hand on James’ shoulder. “Lets take a walk my friend.”

“But I’m having a conversation with a friend here, please don’t touch me.
I am not gay.” The wife and Mr. Mack both laughed sarcastically. James seem to be oblivious to the context of the laughter and thought that they were both actually paying attention and got what he was saying. Mr. Mack squeezed James’ shoulder harder. “Seriously, come to the patio and have a smoke with me.”

“Hey
boss, never knew you were like that! I guess it is me that is going to be giving you a raise!” Mr. Mack was not impressed with the sexual innuendos, but gave a smirk so that James would comfortably follow him.

It was an isolated and peaceful patio where smokers could mingle and gossip.
On this break, the two men were alone. And for Mr. Mack, it was time for another one of those verbal lashings that had become quite familiar to James. Mr. Mack took out a Marlboro and handed it to James. “I imagine you are a smoker, if not then you should be.”

“Yeah I puff here and there with the crew when we all go out.”
James raised the cigarette up to his mouth and Mr. Mack lit it. James had never had a cigarette in his mouth before but didn’t want to disappoint.
Hell if a macho man like Macky can smoke, I can sure out smoke his pansy ass.
Plus he didn’t realize that the small puffs and lack of any inhaling were obvious.

Mr. Mack looked James in the eyes and slapped the cigarette out of his mouth
causing James to step back in complete shock. “I’m not going to let a little pussy bitch waste any of my goddamn cigarettes. You have to inhale like a man. You can’t just talk like a big tough shit! You have to walk the talk! And fucking act it balls to the wall. What that was back there with Sam’s wife was the most pathetic pussy man crap I have ever seen.”

James felt
a swell in his chest that usually comes before a big cry. He was able to hold it in though. Mr. Mack’s hope was to shock some sense into him; a sort of tough love. He had always been for the underdog and felt like helping him. “I don’t know what to say to you James. The way you talked to that woman was inappropriate and could bring negative attention to our unit. Do you want to get fired? Do you want to get slammed with a sexual harassment suit? I would be affected as well because I am your direct fucking supervisor.”

As quick as light disappears with the flip of a switch, James broke
down crying. He had been holding his breath and when his lungs burst out, the sobs followed. Mr. Mack paused to let James gain his composure. These were heavy cries from a heavy heart. Mr. Mack could read it in James and felt even more that James was a man who needed help. After a minute or so of crying, drooling and spitting snot, James was able to speak. “Mr. Mack I am not doing well. I have been having trouble moving on from my ex and taking care of my mother who is in and out of the hospital. It has been rough lately and my judgment got the better of me. I saw that woman and thought it could be an opportunity to learn more of what woman want. She didn’t act like she was too happy to be there and I just thought she needed a real man to talk to.”

Mr. Mack
was amazed at the nerve of the fat, nerdy boy of a man. Yet he felt like James needed a pep talk from someone who knows what it means to be a real man. Besides, it looked like James has too much on his plate and needs a break. Mr. Mack became supervisor in two years because of his ability to see into his fellow coworkers and find quick solutions. He didn’t want to have to discipline James, so he decided to give him another chance. However, what Mr. Mack didn’t realize was that James hasn’t dated for several years and his mom was doing quite well health wise as a yoga instructor and kick boxer at the good ole’ age of 53.

“I tell you what dude, I am going to help you out.
I have a woman friend that is good at helping guys like you. You know, forgetting the ex and any other problems. She is what I call a true physical therapist.” Mr. Mack’s hope was that maybe this woman would help James relax and gain more confidence. He knew her pretty well too. She was a high-end call girl and an up and coming porn star. Mr. Mack was also an active participant in the swinger world and felt like everyone on earth would be happier if they were all getting laid daily. James hacked and spit a wad of mucus on the ground. Then a grin developed on his face that looked almost mischievous. “I have probably been needing a therapist like that! Does she do anal?”

Wow!
This James is a piece of work. Did he just ask is she does anal? Damn! One minute he is sad. Then a minute later he becomes a pompous freak. I hope I am not making a mistake and end up regretting this. Hell I regret this already! Shit, if this will help him loosen up at work and not be such an asshole, then why not!

Mack clapped James
on his shoulder. “That’s the spirit! I need to go give her a call and see when she can fit you in, literally! It’ll cost three hundred dollars though, can you swing that?” James thought of his Mom’s antique vinyl records. “Oh yeah, and more!”

“Good then, I n
eed to get back upstairs. I’ll stop by your station when I know what’s going down. It may be a day or two.” James figured that this was a top-notch hooker he was going to see. His mom had a record collection that spanned from the roaring twenties to the latest Jonas Brothers. James will blindly grab a bunch from the twenties and thirties and take them to an antique dealer. Which happens to be across the street from the coffee shop where he was arrested for showing his penis to a woman then asking for her honest opinion.

A real man is one that doesn’t hold back and isn’t afraid to ask anything. That is how I have evolved into such an intelligent being. I can’t let myself be concerned with the reactions to my inquiries. I have a right to attain as much information as I can. How else am I going to lead and rise above others? I know women appreciate that type of thing.

This was his thinking when
James imposed on a girl with a bunch of her friends at the coffee shop. He had pulled out his penis on the balcony of The Magma Coffee House and asked the girl what she thought.