Subject:      Work
From:         mnrsage@freedomnet.com
Date:         1996/12/23
Newsgroups:   talk.bizarre


  I was at work yesterday helping a gentleman.  I turned from him
  for a second to get something and heard him call my name.

    "Jes"
            It was almost a whisper.

  I turned around.  He smiled and added something to his order.
  It seemed he made sure to say my name again, and again almost as a
  whisper.  I turned back around.

   "Jes, do you like working here, Jes?"

  I stopped but didn't turn right away.

  What's the deal with this guy?
  He was here with a woman who had walked off.  It wasn't a flirting
  tone he was using.  It was more an unnerving quiet he spoke with.

  "Yes, I do", I commented over my shoulder in the most cheerful voice
  I could muster.  I love my job, but there was something strange about
  this man.

  Why, as busy as we were, with all the cluttering of noise around me,
  could I hear this man whispering my name?
  I got him his request and turned back to face him.  Looking him over
  to size him up.  He was 'a guy'.  His picture could probably be found
  in the dictionary next to the term 'guy'.
  Maybe 40, maybe younger, light brown hair, glasses, very average looking.

   "Jes, I'd like some coffee too.  Would that be alright Jes?"
   "Yes, of course.", I replied.

  Why did he say my name so much?
  He was smiling.  A knowing smile.  I don't know him.  He read my name
  off my badge.  Maybe he just liked saying the name Jes.  Maybe he knew
  someone with the name, someone he never talked about, but with me having
  that name he could say it, aloud, over and over and over again.
  There was almost a delight in his face to say my name.  I didn't want
  to look him in the eye.  Something about him bothered me.  The way he
  whispered my name.  Like it was a secret between us.

  "Thank you Jes...and Jes, have a Merry Christmas"
  "Thank you...you too sir."


----

                             Minor Sage
                (apprentice sage - geek in-training)

     "And knowing what is good and right, and in what we believe,
     The coward takes the easy path, the fool, he takes the lead."