Wednesday 2th of November 2016 Athens, Greece
I’m never late.
Except for today.
At 09:16 o’clock the sun wakes me shining from behind the edge of an office building, which blocks the view outside. I hide under my blanket. Why is it so bright? It can’t be that late, my alarm hasn’t gone off yet. Halfblind I feel for my glasses. Yesterday evening I set up two alarms, to be entirely sure to not oversleep on this important day. I didn’t worry at all.
As I set my sight from 144p to 4k+Ultra I startle seeing the numbers on the display.
Quickly I got out of my lovely warm bed, into the room, which was a little cold from the air in the beginning of November. For breakfast I only wear the most necessary and look in my almost empty refrigerator. I immediately laid my eyes on the rest of the meal from yesterday. Without any thought I take the boiled away noodles and eat. Meanwhile I read my missed messages and calls. Marcos wrote 53 times:
Hey sorry I overslept
So I’m coming in later :,(
Ay, where are you?
I won’t go in without you
Or are you already onside
*inside
Helllo?
!!!!
…
°-°
The rest are just symbols and words excluding any sense. The calls where his to, but I turn of my ringtone for the night, since people that don’t have money for energydrinks need to sleep at night.
I skip brushing my teeth und just flush out my mouth with water. Hopefully I won’t have bad breath.
Fully dressed I enter the staircase. I put on my Jacket and step out the apartment house onto the street. Then I took to my heels.
While I run, I check my pockets. I have my Phone and wallet with my ID with me. I took the report from the academy too in case someone wants to see my incredibly good grades.
Luckily the bus stop isn’t too far away, just two minutes running. I dodge pedestrians, stakes and occasionally some fresh gums on the boardwalk. The bus almost drove off without me, but Gods was gracious and I was able to scurry onto a free seat. We’re off to city centre.
I realize that, I attract more attention from the passengers as I want to, until I see my reflection in the mirroring window. My hair is a mess and I forgot my tie. The phone is vibrating in my pocket. I curse silently, making calls in public transportation is a no Go for me, because I despise it when others do it. It’s Marcos.
“Where are you, Toby? The boss set his secretary on me. I was standing by the street waiting for an answer of yours. It seems like I’m not the only one who overslept. You really need a good reason to convince me, this really happened to you. While we are at it, where are you??”
I hardly understand him, because it’s so loud in here, but with my investigative skills I can decipher his words.
“I slept in as well. But I am on my way, wait for me!”
“Didn’t you have some kind of philosophy of life. What was it again? Five minutes earlier… something with German punctuality?”, he pondered.
“Who said that? Once won’t hurt. Isn’t that a similar thing? Let’s forget about it and make sure this never happens again!”
Yeah as if the boss will forget about it.
“Okay, you have to go to the upper floor. At the main entrance you have to go up the stairs in the middle, then you go either left or right, there is the staircase or you take the… Oh, you know what I’ll meet you in front of the building.”
“Good, see ya.” On the ride to the international police’ headquarters in Athens, I attempt to tell myself, that being late isn’t so bad. I’m only a quarter German, so the proverb applies to me for a quarter. Also, this is not taken so serious here anyway and I’m not the only idiot being late. I try to enjoy the bus ride as far as it is possible in public transport.
Before I could even see him, I noticed Marcos, because he is calling my name. With no greeting I pass him and go into the building, directing my feet towards the elevator at the end of the stairs. Solely looking at the ground I can only catch a glimpse of the surroundings. The floor is white, the stairs made of glass, done. I hold the door for Marcos and after it closes I burst out with my doubts. “We’re fired.”
“I hope not. This is probably our only chance. We stayed two extra years in school, you even stayed for the autumn semester just to help me with maths. All of this can’t be in vain.” We sigh as the doors of the glass elevator open and it spits us out on the top floor.
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