Chapter One:

The alarm on his cellphone suddenly went off, as it buzzed incessantly on the night stand next to the bed. I was still groggy as I had just been caught unsuspectingly by the alarm. I woke up startled from the alarm to see that the time on the display showed that it was already 8 o’clock in the morning. The panic of sleeping in for an extra hour than I had originally planned made me forget the already fading dream I was having just before. I couldn’t believe I slept through the alarm for the past hour. Still not wanting to get up, I sat back in bed trying to remember the dream since it felt like it was really good one. Then the alarm went off again, shaking the heavy thoughts on my mind. Angrily looking at the cellphone, I thought I turned off the alarm a moment ago. Stupid, I must have hit snooze instead. The thoughts of the dream disappeared, just a grey feeling that it might have been something good. In the end I sighed longing to have good dreams that seem to be so few.

“Especially since reality is such a nightmare, it haunts me even in my sleep a lot,” I muttered groggily in complaint to the mirror as I brushed up my hair a bit. I was thinking I couldn’t come to work looking bad, especially since I am the editor in chief to the biggest newspaper in the city. No matter how late I will be, just to keep face to the business is the only thing I hold at utmost importance. It’s better to be very late then to come in quickly to the office right out of bed especially with nasty bed head that I usually get. I got to the office a little exhausted with a bit of a head ache that was growing since waking up late. I look at the calendar by habit, even though I already knew that today was busy with meetings. I had planned all the meetings ahead of time after all. I even gave myself a week to prepare for them, so I breathed a soft sigh as I felt that I will be ready. What has been giving me the real-life nightmare was the numbers as I look at the budget plans again. “No news is always bad news in newspaper business. I can’t believe it has declined so much! Even the advertisements in the newspapers don’t cover the costs! The business has been in the red for two years now, and there seems to be no end in the pit of debt that keeps getting deeper,” I said to my friend who happens to have come to visit my office every once in a while.

He shrugged to say, “Come on. You know even though I am your friend, I don’t read it except for the times you hand me a free copy at the door. I just don’t have the time to read it. In fact I might even come by your office less. After all, you know I have been a married man for two years. She will think I am cheating if I am missing so much.”

I sighed. I was thinking to myself a bit. What a geezer he talks so much without pause, I bet he didn’t even listen to what I was saying. Well, there are all kinds of friends, and sometimes ones who come by even if they don’t listen are sometimes the best. I watched as he walked out of the office without so much as a good-bye, no wait he may have said good-bye. I stopped paying attention to his rambling conversation; I am too worried about work to actually listen to his gossip. Ugh, here I was thinking he didn’t listen to me. Oh, well.

I see the secretary walk in with stacks of paperwork that were dropped precariously on top of the already surmounting documents that was previously left on the desk. I couldn’t even tell the desk was made out of rich red oak wood anymore as it was covered in white sheets of paper and computer cables. I actually missed seeing the simple red oak wood desk that lacked all the stupid stuff cluttering it. Why is it that as the deficit keeps getting deeper, the paperwork that comes with the bankruptcy is getting higher. I glare at the paperwork vehemently, hoping they would combust half-heartedly. Nope, think positive. Well I guess even if it did combust, it would not solve anything. It would probably mean loads more paperwork to do. Now looking at the paper work with renewed vigor, surely it’s an enemy much like the dreaded hydra! Especially since it seems that it multiplies so, when one sheet is gone then nine more comes in to replace it. Well, I guess I will have to fight on! The only way to fight this beast is with the trustworthy pen. I start filling the paper work when I suddenly realized that I lost track of time. I look at the clock, I sighed. I can’t believe I spent two hours filling out paper work, and it’s not even close to being finished.

I get up to get away from the endless words that have been making my eyes swim and tear up. I decided it’s best to get something to eat before the meeting. I look at the staff room where there was company provided donuts, fruits, and drinks. As they were company provided, that means it’s really coming out of my pocket as an incentive to the employees. I grimaced a little thinking about it, but it was one thing that can’t be cut from the budget as it really was popular to the employees. Most company benefits were already cut since five years ago, however this one stayed as appeasement to the strike that occurred due to benefit cuts. Maybe I could get the employees to agree to less company purchase of donuts and coffee. Ask them to stick with company purchase of water and fruits only? I didn’t mean to be such a penny pincher, but the budget is bad. I knew that even if I got the food and drink costs down it would still be in the red. I start eating the donuts, knowing it’s eating my money I might as well enjoy it. I grab an apple and a water bottle to take back to my office.

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I kept my eye on the clock more closely, planning on finishing more of the paper work before the meeting. Since I was looking at the clock, of course even the second hand seems so slow! It’s a miracle time is moving at all when watching the clock, twenty minutes is like an eternity. I didn’t get as far as I hoped with the paper work, half wishing to hire someone to do it. Then again, no money available to hire the extra hand needed. I am working as much as five people for this company, no at least ten! I am working over nights, weekends, and holidays trying to keep the city’s only newspaper publishing afloat! There were five smaller local newspapers, however they have failed to keep up the publishing costs and went under five years ago. I look at the picture of my father I kept, the owner of the newspaper publishing before me. The noise and the business seemed alluring to a young kid, it’s all my old man’s fault for taking me to work! Now I’m trying to take on this impossible task of keeping the company stay in business if just a little longer. I would find it a pity to lose the newspaper company, especially since it’s the last one in this city.

I don’t hate that I ended up working myself too hard for the sake of the newspaper business. It’s not because of my dad either, it’s because I truly think it would be sad for the town to lose another piece of its history. I remember when I was younger that a building that was by the river, it seemed in good enough condition. The nice iron gates around it and the gutters were made out of copper that has corroded to a jade colored green. The edifice was a work of art with its wreathed copper framing the round windows as well as copper gargoyles on the gutters rims. There were leafed columns that held a certain pride at the front of the building with marble steps. The building wasn’t able to sell for fifty years, so it was torn down and the copper from the building was melted down and estimated to be worth $20 million. I was really sad then, however I could only express it with anger back then. I was moody, feeling that if only I had the money to buy the house then maybe it could have been a historical site since it was around so long. It was in fact in line to be a historical building, but the money to buy the house was too much for the city’s historical society to take it. I was always attached to history, whether it was coins, buildings, or newspapers. The moment I was able to share a piece of my father’s history by working my way into my father’s newspaper publishing, becoming the newspaper editor to the city’s largest newspaper was exciting. However, the burden became a bit much when I had become the owner of the publishing company, so I took the second seat as editor in chief.

Yet how come the burden doesn’t seem less when I am the editor in chief, where the heck is the editor at? I look at some paperwork on the desk that should’ve been filled out by my boss; in fact most of them should have been done a month ago! It doesn’t seem like the work has become less at all since taking second seat, it grows even more! I should have thought it through better on who was going to become the editor! It’s not like the editor is totally useless, nor completely irresponsible. Just that he doesn’t seem to be at the office for long stretches of time, that’s all! A vein was ready to pop as I thought about what trip he may be going to under company expenses, which was my own pocket money. It is necessary for company trips, but it still made me bitter to no end. I better not hear where he’s gone now is all that I had in mind. It’s not that I can’t fire him; it’s just that he’s actually not a terrible person. I know it’s just my personal feelings of pains that have deluded my ideas of his good intentions for the company. Of course the jealousy that it feels like he had the better cut of the deal in the end, while I get all the breaks has left me in a dark mood for a while that it has been a part of my character to have a permanent grimace on my face.

Now then it’s about time for my meeting; in fact it should be one of the last meetings. Since I am filing bankruptcy, it should be no surprise to the employees, but as official business it must be spoken instead of letting rumors circulate anymore. Yep, no going back once I file the bankruptcy, I would have avoided this if I could. I failed again, this time is it my fault that another part of the town’s history will be gone? Was it inevitable, or was there a way that I missed too keep this business afloat? No, I overworked myself too much; I should rest for a while after claiming bankruptcy. I could live with a friend for a little bit until I could get back on my feet again, it’s not like I am too old to get another job. At least I don’t feel old, but then again I don’t think much of my age anymore. Yet, if I had a chance to save this business, I know I would take it! I gave my life and love to this business, might as well go in and give my soul for it too? I half-heartedly laugh thinking that such thought was stupid and was only joking, yet. Nah, I shouldn’t have such thoughts or it might summon worse luck! I heard a knock at the office door causing me to be disturbed, maybe it’s too late and bad luck has already come?