There were three modern buildings with reflective windows in the half moon corporate plaza: 4 Gateway Drive, 6 Gateway Drive, and 8 Gateway Drive. Parking was in a huge lot behind the buildings welcoming all to park wherever they wanted, except in the handicap spots of course. Unless you were handicapped, then go right ahead.
There was a one-way two-lane semi-circular loop in front of the Gateway Buildings that was only utilized by delivery drivers. This being a 2001 story, there were more trucks dropping off supplies than there were cars delivering food. 4 Gateway was on your right as you entered, 6 was two-hundred yards past it, and 8 is where you exited, which was one-hundred yards past 6. The cigarette smokers of 4 Gateway and 8 Gateway faced off when puffing. It was too far to positively identify one another by anything other than the color of your clothing and body type which was often misleading as bulky coats were worn nine months out of the year. 6 Gateway looked out at Totino Island, a beautiful-for-three-months grassy divider with a small plaque on a square of granite honoring Rose Totino, founder of Totino’s Pizza. Back in the 80s, Totino’s had an office in this Eden Prairie corporate plaza.
The employees of Gateway entered the buildings from the back but smoked cigarettes in the front. The only time you saw a smoker amidst the parked cars was due to a death or divorce/break-up. Insurance companies were better back then so the need for privacy regarding your health coverage was rare.
On this icy day, a young man brought his two dogs to work at 6 Gateway Drive. An older male smoker from 4 Gateway Drive said to a female smoker who worked in the same building but for a different company, “That young fellow is showing something off with those dogs. I hope I’m not alive to find out what.” The female smoker didn’t revel in dying but she had to agree. Who brings dogs to an office? The older male smoker once worked for a maniac who said, “Everyone wants to sell effing puppies, Levine”; he didn’t tell the female smoker this. They smoked in silence, both wondering about those two shaggy dogs.
–
Lawrence Kent Esq., a tax lawyer for a Big 5 firm, stared out of his mid-sized 8 Gateway Drive office window which showed a rerun of terrible weather. He yelled to his new Administrative Assistant, Marlene Smith, “Marlene, I should just leave this misery like 2 Gateway Drive did.” Marlene didn’t get the joke, at all. As a matter of fact she was alarmed by Lawrence’s demeanor. He never uttered a cross word to her but everything he said was loud.
Lawrence’s old Admin, Therea Scerbo would’ve laughed. She retired after the Christmas party and headed to Florida with her husband Mel. Lawrence had an uneasy feeling ever since. This new year was already grim. He recently found out that Mr. Hand died. The first film he and his wife saw in the movie theatre was Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Plus, he couldn’t convince himself the Vikings had much of a chance versus the Giants in the upcoming NFC Championship. He shook his head to himself.
Harry Richards, an insecure accountant of a man who had hair that was wiry and a body that wasn’t, was walking by to ask a different Admin to make copies he could’ve easily made himself, when he heard, “Marlene, I should just leave this misery like 2 Gateway Drive did.” Harry laughed to himself. Lines like that one are why coworkers constantly stopped by to chat with Lawrence. He was funny! In a recent meeting about the Kavner Estate Filing, Lawrence whispered something to Diana who laughed. Stu Goldman, the Partner in Charge of the Metro Cluster, bellowed, “What’s that Lawrence?” With a dry smile he responded, “As Prince said, something in the water does not compute.” Everyone laughed and they broke for lunch.
CPA Richards didn’t know the Prince song his boss’s boss cracked everyone up with, but next time he was at the mall, he’d pick up a copy. Harry believed personality was something that developed with hard work, research, and success. One day he too, will be a favorite in the office just like Lawrence. He just had to follow his example.
The man with wiry hair dropped the manilla folder he carried off at Barbara’s empty desk and rapidly took off for the stairs of the three story building. When he arrived at the atrium with its water fountains and indoor plants, he put a Merit Yellow into his mouth before going outside. He always thought it looked cooler that way. Harry casually pushed the heavy side door instead of entering the revolving door because that’s what smokers did. Unfortunately the wind pushed back to the point he needed to bend his knees and use both hands. When he finally got it open, he felt the stinging Minnesota air which hurt his cheeks so much his mouth reacted by dropping its cigarette in the only slush puddle available. It’s OK. He had eight more in his soft pack located in the Van Heusen shirt pocket of the blue button down he wore. Sally Rivers and Rosie Mullins were the only ones smoking. Both were bundled up in all the accoutrements of winter. He wished Terrell Robbins was out there. Terrell always made everyone laugh. It doesn’t matter. Sally and Rosie worked with Terrell as travel agents for the firm.
“Larry, are you crazy, it’s freezing out here,” Sally said. Rosie knew his name was Harry, she was just too cold to correct Sally.
Harry got out another cigarette. With a trembling hand he put it up to his lips. Of course his lighter was in his suit jacket pocket. With a smoker’s awareness of another smoker in trouble, Rosie handed her cigarette to Harry. “Thanks,” he chattered. This type of innocent helpfulness led to intimacy on more than one occasion for smokers worldwide. Never for Harry, though the close eye contact was nice.
When he got the cigarette lit, he handed Rosie hers back as the perplexed ladies stared at him. It was 17 degrees on this January day. The smokers were luckily covered from the sleet by the building awning which many of their coworkers resented. Nonsmokers wanted the smokers away from the building, maybe out on Totino Island, exposed to the elements, “Why should we have to smell them as we walk in and out,” was being said louder and more often.
–
Lawrence could see the smokers from his window. He respected their camaraderie and didn’t mind the smell. His father smoked True Green which were Mentholated, True Blue were not. He spent most of his life trying to be the exact opposite of Patrick Kent and only succeeded in not picking up the nicotine habit. His father would be out there selling insurance to the travel agent’s.
“Son, I could leave you this or have Barry buy me out. It’s a business that takes care of people,” Lawrence remembered his father telling him after he graduated college. Barry was his father’s “whiz with numbers” partner. “No thanks dad,” Lawrence replied. Deep down, he didn’t think he could be as good a salesman as his father was. Patrick Kent knew he’d be better but the boy wanted a title, so he sent him to law school. Is that friggin’ Richards out there without a coat on? Could there be anyone more opposite my father than Harry Richards, Lawrence wondered. He turned away from the window and fell back into his leather seat.
Sally and Rosie were almost done with their cigarettes. Harry Richards inhaled deeply, warming himself with the smoke. As he exhaled, he pointed to the miserable grey sky, “Now I know why 2 Gateway Drive left us.” Rosie immediately laughed, Sally stared at Harry with a distrusting smile which turned into a distrusting laugh. Harry delivered the line perfectly. He didn’t consider it stealing because he changed it up a little. Later that afternoon, Rosie told Terrell what Harry said. And from that day forward, workers from 8 Gateway Drive would make jokes about the whereabouts of 2 Gateway Drive as it was nowhere to be found in the corporate plaza. By the end of the week, employees from 6 Gateway and 4 Gateway were making similar jokes. Lawrence never knew nor would he have cared that his joke was stolen. He just missed his old secretary, his old Administrative Assistant, whatever, he missed Theresa. He’d yell to her, “Hold my calls!” She’d ask, “You want me to hold your calls?” He’d reply in a nasally growl, “I want you to hold them between your knees.” Across the hall from them, Clancy would yell from his office, “Terrible!” Lawrence would smile, Theresa would laugh. Those small exchanges made the day seem like they mattered.