FRIDAY

“……….. Billy Jean is not my girl”
“Ohhhhhh”
“… who thinks that I am the one. But the…..”
Fuckin radio alarms. As I look at the time I see it says 8.30. Fuck I start work at 8.30, but as my sleep addled mind gets flooded with adrenalin I slowly realize that just like every other day for the last 6 months I have set my clock 20 minutes fast. Sweet 10 more minutes in bed and then 10 minutes to get ready, wash up and take the 15minute drive into work.
25 minutes later walk into work. Tell the security guard I forgot my clock in card, will have to sign in. The last person has written 8.40. Fuckin ass hole, it is going to look pure shit but I put 8.30 beside my name. Shit late, better play it cool keep eyes down, also checking I am wearing pants, smile don’t make noise or eye contact.
Sit at my machine turn on computer, sweet no one has asked me, ‘what time I think it is’ in a humorous but patronizing way. Look around something is not right not enough people on the line. Shit morning meeting …….. no they were cancelled when someone pointed out that they take 20 minutes but no one learns anything. Turn to the tech beside me.
“What’s going on?” I ask him. He looks at me with blood shot eyes, I notice his skin looks yellow.
“Don’t know……. I’m going for a sleep in the jacks, if anything happens wake me. I’ll be in the second cubicle in.”
“Ahhh, ya”. I’m not going to wake him but I figure nothing will happen anyway. Walk up to the next station.
“Where is everyone?”
“The start of the line was put on evenings.”
“Mmmm, were we put on evenings?”
“No……… I’m headin to the canteen for a coffee, You commin?”
“No I’m good” I say still trying to figure out what is going on.
Sit back at my machine and stare at the computer. It’s linked to my machine, no internet, no games….. Shit.
The supervisor walks up to me, this is never good.
“According to the clock in machine you were late twice this week. The production manager was on to me about it.”
Wrong I think I have been late 5 times this week but only used a clock in machine twice. I also thought the clock in card was only used to tell who is in the building in case of fire and not as a way of watching people but I can’t remember if that’s true or some thing I made up.
“Sorry won’t happen again.”
“Ok” he says “You better get back to work.”
What work I think but walk back to my machine. I decide I had better change things I don’t want the ‘According to the clock in machine’ talk again. From now on I’ll sign in every day.
As I sit at my machine and stare at the green screen I think ‘God this is shit, but thank fuck its Friday.’