Fitzroy’s Last Day At Work (Part 2)

Packing The Polo Neck

Speaking now of my Friday, we shall begin from what seems a galaxy of time, far, far away. In the morning I awoke at my regular time of 5:50 a.m. and with that I had a shower straight away, something to eat and then prepared myself for a work day. Packing my bag with my new polo neck sweater I knew I would want to wear it out to the little get-together at the Pavilion that night but I wasn’t sure whether I would wear it.

I didn’t want to feel like they thought I was being showy and that I was trying to look good so that I can get women’s attention but that’s probably what they thought. Anyway, leaving my house with a couple of minutes to spare I caught my bus, caught my train and then headed to work. That guy and girl who work at HIH were also on the train sitting across from me and as I know who they are now, I’m pretty sure they know who I am and where I work.

Grabbing the mail from downstairs Aleka noticed me and uttered “Kako Ci” which means “How are you” in my language. This was pretty much as far as our conversation stretched apart from little words about work because she was at work. It was hard to talk like I did with her when I saw her at lunch because her workers were around her and I would have felt awkward. Therefore, I headed upstairs with the mail in hand and to my desk where the rest of the day would be held.

Maps And Caricatures

For once I didn’t end up using my most favorite pick up spot in the building, the photocopier in the kitchen area. For the whole day I was preoccupied with briefs or other events apart from photocopying so go figure. Basically for the whole day Najla and I chatted away as we worked together again. We worked together to create rosters so that it would be easier to know when to do what brief. Being Fitzroy’s last day he was being a crack up left, right and center.

Near the end of the day he started drawing key details on a map of the city and saying stupid stuff like “This is where Tony lives, cheap street” and other laughable comments as such. Like asked, Fitzroy drew some more caricatures before his departure, signing them on a paper with his ASCII drawings. Everyone was writing into a letter for him so because he thought my last comment in a card was laughable, I wrote “Legal Tony, wishing you best and original wishes.”

Lunch Under The Evergreen

Having my lunch at midday, I headed out to the station first and decidedly bought teriyaki instead of sushi for the day. Buying the larger meal knowing it would keep me from getting hungry a little while, I caught the train to Museum Station and headed to my spot under the evergreen. The day was immensely windy and because I wasn’t wearing a jumper I was on the verge of almost freezing.

However, it was too late to go back and get it after leaving the building so I carried on as normal. The teriyaki tasted beautiful as I sat in the cradling clutches of my fig. When all was done I headed back to the station, waited a couple of minutes and then caught the next train to Wynyard where I then headed back to work.

Errands Before The Diary

The day, it seems, is drawing to a close but really, you haven’t even heard the start of it. The day didn’t really begin until work finished and even then I would have three times more to write than what already has been engrossed in these pages. However, I do have errands to run and business to attend to so I must leave the description to another day. From what lays ahead, tonight should see me heading out to the movies or somewhere interesting and tomorrow I have a plan to go out also but to where I’m not sure.

Right now I will be heading on foot to Campbelltown because I can’t get a hold of Keith (you’ll learn soon enough) and while there I’ll get my hair cut and some other shit attended. When I get back home I’ll be visiting the gym and from there I have no other course of action but to write in my diary and plan for the rest of this night. Let us hope that no description will be flagrantly hewed when I speak of Friday upon coming back home. Let time not stop these deeds of heraldry. Let I be one with nature and her qualms.

Clothes Cannot Fix Me

Saturday 6:04 p.m.

Another day of whole-hearted shopping in this spree of life and as I try to build on my outward appearance, an inward glance would show me fully spent, out-loved, out-drawn and incapable of opening up. If my life were the clothes that I bought and I could bring out a new emotion just by bringing out a new look with different clothing to my frame, I would be inwardly happy.

However, I take heart in the fact that heroes aren’t born, they’re created and if I want to appear as confident as the clothes I wear, I just have to work on myself. I have to do what I have to do. I really wish it were as simple as donning some new clothes and proclaiming my reinvention but being confident and outgoing doesn’t come from clothes, it comes from the heart.

Just as love and trust, I must inherit the significance of being open and must surpass the thought of buying clothes and other accessories because I think they will enhance my chance to meet a woman. In truth, I buy clothes that are in style because I want to look good for me and it gives me some confidence but never enough to approach a woman.

Like a fine marble statue that starts as a block, I must chisel away at myself, each chip with perfection, to in conclusion, create the most stunning, beautiful and humbled bronzed figure of my inward self. Right now I am two, who my clothes deem me to other people and the reality of myself inside that none ever get to see because I’m too afraid to let loose and just take a chance. Today I spent more money, bought a Jag wallet, some body wash and TLC, the eighth song causing me to get into this mood of writing.

Plans For The Farewell

Heading back to the charisma of chronology known as Friday, we shall begin from the second half of the day, after lunch. The most of the tidbits I have already noted about caricatures and Fitzroy’s little prank of words but there are some minor points that deserve some mentioning. While the talk was slowly stirring about Fitzroy’s night at the Pavilion, Najla and I asked each other if we would still be attending.

Thinking this would be a good opportunity to mingle as well as get to know Najla on a better level, we agreed to head there together. I would now take this opportunity to note that Najla has finally mentioned in passing that she has a boyfriend which doesn’t really have much significance to me. I know I’ll have to end any passion to have her share my air but it won’t stop me thinking my usual thoughts at work, getting to know her better and having a great relationship with her at work.

Keith Rings The Office

During the last two hours of work I received a phone call as usual and when picking it up and answering, “Legal Department Tony speaking” the caller answered, “You’re a hard man to find.” Noticing the voice, I knew it to be Keith and as we started chatting away, Fitzroy’s curious peering over the barrier was sealed as he knew it was for me. What I wanted to know is how Keith finally found me but I gathered that he probably rang directory assistance.

However, it would appear that Keith contacted the Bridge Street office and then finally talked to Reception downstairs to find out my extension and call it. Anyway, Keith wanted to know if I would like to head to ‘The Cave’ in Star City Casino which would cost $20 and the price was a bit steep but being under the impression that there was a fair few people going I accepted. However, I told him that I had a little get together to attend after work where we would be buying drinks and from there I would head back home.

Keith was heading into the city to pick up Tamsen at 5:30 p.m. as he told me I could have gotten a lift home if I had dumped the party but I wanted to have two good times in the one night. Informing Keith that I would be at least an hour or two at the get-together, I told him that I would call back arriving in Campbelltown and from there we would plan our night.

Signing Off At Work

The rest of the day rolled by as I called up three barrister’s offices to check up if they had some briefs. In each conversation I never felt intimidated and rather, I have, at last, found my confidence on the phone. With those phone calls, preparing for Tuesday, giving briefs to the Diskovery and signing Fitzroy’s card, the day was over and it was time to head off.

A few minutes before the end of our working day Fitzroy gathered up everyone that was heading for the Pavilion for his farewell and we were off. Jana wished him well and one of the lady solicitors kissed him on the cheek as a show of gesture. When she left he showed us some more comical faces as he pulled a repelled expression.

This was the end of Fitzroy as we knew him and although I had only known him for two weeks, he was quite a character. I’m not sure what he’s doing from here but he’s got a job in a legal firm within the city and he’ll be backpacking through the rest of Australia some time in the future before he leaves back for England. I can be sure that when he talks about Australia and how he worked in some companies he’ll refer to that guy called ‘Legal Tony’.