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Theo Pryce · (10-08-2013)

:: Amidst the monotony and bore that is Theo Pryce’s 9-5 there is a room within the walls of Pryce Industries where Theo escapes. The location of that room is known only be 3 people, Theo Pryce, Theo’s gopher Jimmy and Mark Delaney, the man who built the room and installed the secret door so as to keep the room’s identity hidden. Theo paid Mark an astounding $100,000 to burn any blue prints of the room as well as an additionally $10,000 every year to keep Mark from ever spilling the beans on the rooms existence. Although Theo does not nearly have as much time to spend in this room as he did in the days before his ascension to the title of CEO he still manages to find some time where he can come and “get away from it all” ::

“Mr Pryce?”

……….

“Mr Pryce?”

“Yes Jimmy.”

“I don’t mean to be rude or sound appreciative but how much longer are we going to be doing this? “

“Are you not having fun Jimmy.”

“Of course I am sir, but we’ve been at this for at least 3 hours. I would imagine Ms. Erica is going to wonder where you are.”

“Indeed she will, but fortunately there are only 3 people that know about this room. Two of them are in here, and the other I pay to keep quiet.”

:: With that Theo rounds the corner wearing a black helmet with a clear face shield, a plastic black frontal vest with blinking red lights. In each hand is a black gun with a solid red beam coming out of it. Theo takes his helmet off so as to make eye contact with Jimmy. ::

“Jimmy I need to ask you question, and I need you to be honest with me.”

“Of course Mr. Pryce, always.”

“Don’t say that Jimmy, don’t ever guarantee something until you know the terms of what you are agreeing to.”

“Yes Mr. Pryce.”

“Am I an asshole Jimmy? Specifically, do I treat you like a second class citizen?”

:: Jimmy pauses for a moment, unsure how to answer the question posed to him by his boss. On the one hand he can lie and reassure Theo that he is treated fairly by Theo at all times and hope that Theo takes his word for it. Or he can answer the question truthfully and tell Theo that he dreads coming to work every day because he is afraid of how he will be treated. That he doesn’t go out at night any longer because he is too miserable from the verbal abuse he takes at work to even contemplate having any fun at night. Of course there is a third option, that he say nothing and hope Theo leaves it alone. But he knows that that will never happen. ::

“Seriously Jimmy, I’m not asking you to try and get you in trouble. Someone made a comment to me the other day and at first I brushed it off but then I reflected on it a bit and realized that maybe there was something to it. So I ask you again, and please be honest with me. Do I treat you as though you are less than me.”

“….Honestly Mr. Pryce, you do. I know that I was hired to essentially do whatever you want, no matter how ridiculous it may seem and that was the role I accepted but there are times…times when I feel like maybe you could ask me to do those things in a nicer way. I really appreciate that you bring me here, to your, “Laser Tag Fun Zone” as you call it, I truly do, but even those few hours we spend in here don’t really overshadow how miserable I am most of the time here.”

“Wow Jimmy. Just…wow. I commend you on your honesty there, I am sure it was very difficult. Truth is, I treat a lot of people like that, it’s not just you. But, for some reason Jimmy, I have a soft spot for you. So tell you what, from now on I’ll do my best to be more mindful of the things I say to you. After all, it’s not your fault your dad was in and out of jail and your mom was a crack whore. You really had no shot growing up.”

“Sir my Dad has never been in prison and my mother is the Chief Surgeon at Johns Hopkins. Also, I graduated from Columbia University.”

“You did? She is? Well then who the hell am I thinking of?”

“I have no idea sir.”

“Well then my good man, I have another question for you. Why the hell are you working here if you graduated from Columbia?”

“Because this pays better.”

“Touche.”

“And my degree was in journalism and there aren’t any real journalists out there anymore and I have no desire to be the only one.”

“Well then Jimmy, in honor of your new found degree from an Ivy League school I am going to give you a raise.”

“That’s not necessary sir.”

“Well ok then. No raise.”

……..

“I’m kidding with you Jimmy. I’m not a total asshole. Tell Ms. Rayner the next time you see her that I told you that you are getting a raise.”

“Thank you sir. And not to sound greedy or ungrateful, but how much should I tell Ms. Rayner my raise is?”

“Geez Jimmy, you open up for one minute and now all of the sudden you think we are on the same level. Give an inch they take a mile.”

“I’m sorry sir, I…I didn’t…”

“Calm down Jimmy. I’m breaking your balls. We might be fast friends after all.”

“Now get your helmet back on and let’s play one more game. First to 21.”

“Yes sir.”

:: Jimmy places his helmet back on and runs around the corner to hide. Theo replaces his as well, lowers his head to face the ground and begins counting…10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…Game on. ::

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