I always planned on ending up with more. That was the plan at least. I've worked at the same company for 29 years. I've spent most of my time here checking those gauges and pipes to make sure the machinery was still working correctly. Would you believe that I was only a year away from getting a full pension and retirement? All that ends today.
The plant is closing as the company tries to save money. They're shipping the jobs somewhere else. I don't know where, and it doesn't matter. They're not taking me. They're going to have robots and computers do the jobs. 29 years with the company and now when I'm just a year short of retirement they lay me off.
Sure, I get 3 months severance, but that won't even cover 2 months worth of bills. My wife got sick and can't work. We have medical bills to pay with less money, and the premiums keep going up. And at my age and with my specific skills, where I am going to get a job? No one is hiring "gauge pressure checkers."
They said it was going to be different. I don't know who "they" was, but all my life I've known that things were supposed to be different. Where did it all go wrong? I did the right thing. I worked hard. I was loyal to the company.
Whistle blows
Well, I'd better get going. That whistle is the signal that shift is over. And being that this was the last shift, there's nothing left to do here. Might as well go collect my last check before I leave.
I was never supposed to take pictures of where I worked because of secrecy or something. I don't suppose that will be an issue now. One picture to remember the place.
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Image Source: Pexels
