Larry and the too good job offer

It was late afternoon by the time Larry reached the bus stop. Within minutes he learned the bus would be delayed by an hour. However it wasn’t much of a setback. Larry hadn’t been on a bus in years. He supposed he could wait a little while longer.

With this in mind, he looks around at the other people waiting for the bus. At a glance he notices most are his age. In fact, there weren’t any others here except for guys Larry’s age. They were all standing around, or shuffling back and forth. Furthermore, there was no one else coming, or going, in the nearly empty bus terminal.

Larry was not feeling surprised. He didn’t expect that many would have been offered the job he was offered. Accepting the job had been the easy part. In fact, this offer was so good he is surprised to see the ones who are here. Until he arrived at the bus terminal, he assumed this job was a limited position. This must be an upward moving company.

The Too Good Job Offer

He decides to walk around the bus terminal while he waits. He angles down to the loading platform, and then turns and moves toward the back of the station. There is almost no one back here. Then he takes a minute and surveys the rest of the station. There were between fifteen and twenty other guys there besides Larry.

The station is not large. Therefore, it is easy to see the bus arrival area, just outside the station doors. Larry watches as a bus pulls in. It is a deluxe model. Tinted windows and extended cabin. Moreover it was built for the road. Then the doors of the bus open, and several of the guys at the front of the station, move toward them. Larry forms the back of the line, as he joins them.

Thirty minutes later, they are all loaded, and pulling onto the open road. According to Larry’s recruiting contact, the bus ride is eight hours. There is one stop, half way through, then onward. They are to be placed in orientation, on Monday morning. Tomorrow morning. Larry watches the driver turn the wheel of the bus. They ease onto the highway, and begin their journey.

Orientation

Six hours later, and Larry is feeling road weary. In fact, everyone on the bus is feeling road weary. They did not stop at the four hour interval. The bus driver kept looking at his phone. Then he just kept driving. Several of the guys asked about the change of plans. They were all told the same thing. Accelerated schedule, headquarters wanted an earlier orientation.

Larry watches the new guy at the head of the bus. Oddly enough, he was standing along the road. The bus driver made a stop for this passenger, because he was from headquarters. Additionally, he stood next to the driver at the head of the bus. As the driver got the bus back on the road, the new arrival addressed the group.

The Too Good Job Offer

This was going to be a hands on orientation. Then from there, they would be introduced into their respective roles. However, they were going to be hitting the ground running. Learning on the fly, and such. Larry and the others listen, and watch the world outside the bus, turn barren and colorless. The first of the explosions is far away. Then, mere minutes later, the road beside the bus craters with a loud concussive force.

The bus is rocked and the noise is ear splitting. Now Larry feels very worried and he’s not alone. The bus driver keeps the bus moving forward. Even after the front of the bus is demolished. Somehow, the new arrival has survived the impact, and he is screaming at them to leave the bus. Larry can barely hear anything.

He scrambles to get off the bus. To get away from the bus. The noise and chaos are monumental. Everyone is running. They are scattering. Larry watches it unfold, as if it is in slow motion. Then he is running too. End of orientation.

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Larry and the too good job offer