It was just an ordinary, regular old day in Corporate America. A day that is filled with the normal responses to the big corporate crybabies, power mongers and pit bosses, when almost purely by instinct I decided to detour down a seldom traveled street that is right off of the main thoroughfare that leads to the elevator shaft.
You see, I live in the section of the building that would be called Buckhead. The uppity posh neighborhood where all of the up and coming, live, hangout and club. This is definitely not my native scene. I am more of the type that lives somewhere in the triangle of Little Five Points, Poncey Highland and
The artsy type that can dig all kinds of music, well ... almost. Could never get into heavy metal and grunge. I prefer the sweet seductive sound of a sultry foo foo sax or electric with feeling....
As far as my new digs, my crib is a nice big window seat at the end of the row. Kind of out of the way. Not much traffic unless some one is looking for you. You see, I am the fix it man. The mercenary, the one who will take a bullet if needed but most of the time I am the unseen sniper on the top of the roof delivering IT justice to those who dare oppose the will of the Castle Dwellers that are located on every corner of the inner ring.
One street over is the quite street that backs up to the retainer wall of the Metroplex and the main on-ramp to the lift. Some of the elder statesmen live on this street. The quite types. A sleepy little corner of our universe that only gets traveled by the occupants of that street.
Well, today after have to take down some of the unruly Cattle Ranchers, I decided to take a quick detour down the side street to stop by Miss Mary's house to check on her cat who can usually be seen chasing the birds in my neighborhood.
I knocked on the door and Miss Mary answered. I could see the sadness in her eyes and I knew that Buttons had not been around in a while. She offered me a glass of lemonade and I was glad to provide her with a few brief minutes of conversation to break the loneliness. I put away my notepad where I had added to the list of things to do, I assured Miss Mary that I would do everything in my power to fix it.
The note pad read, " *** Miss Mary : recover Buttons ASAP"
As I left, I saw Mr. Sandersman. I did not have time to sit for a game of chess, but I had to pay my respects. You see, I new Mr. Sandersman by two name. Most of the time I called him by his formal name, just as I had done when we first met over 20 years ago. Being young, he had taken me under his wing and taught me the ropes and the lessons of the game. The other times I used his familiar name because after the re-incarnation of our relationship, I had been accepted by the Masters. You see, Mr. Sandersman had been involved in some of the work that you read about every day. Just boot any midrange box, and you will see evidence of his past glories. He had been responsible for my acceptance into the land of the living legends. Though my path was different, filled with quarks, and spatial anomalies, I had successfully bridged both worlds. One day I will return to the other universe, but that is a story for another day.
Mr. Sandersman pulled me to his workshop to show me his latest acquision. I was ecstatic to see that he had taken my advice and put his hand on some of my recommended Kung Fu.
While engrossed in a conversation about "Reality" and the past, is when it happened. Before my very eyes, my old mentor and new friend transformed yet again...I have not put a name to this instance, and it may not have been that Mr. Sandersman transformed, but I was listening. Actually listening. Different than before or any other time.
See, it was about minute details. I had always taken my charge in life seriously. A heavy burden filled with pain and pleasure. Never enough time to get it all done... Never...No, No, never enough time.
Regardless of the hats that I wore, I always tried to ignite the flame that burned so brightly in me, in others. Mr. Sandersman could always see that in me but this time his word rang true.
"Always look for the Great Oak...Always and continue to light a path. For each step towards the Great Oak, leave a little something behind"
This I had heard before but there was something else......
"Even though you plant seed on your way to Great Oak, be cognizant of the environmental effects of your presence because someone is ALWAYS watching you!"
