The meeting broke up. Predictably, some people rushed to their desks and right out the door. I could hardly blame them, especially if they had family. But, me? I didn’t even have a hotel room to go back to.
The news said hotels were closing, too! What was I going to do?!
Chapter Five
Julius
“How are we going to get through this, Jules?” asked Sam. “You put on a brave face, but you gotta be worried.”
“Worry is pointless,” I said. “We need to just forge ahead. This is an opportunity. Everyone is going to be home and on the Internet. That’s where our business shines.”
“You’re asking people to work through this? Forgive me, but… People are going to be freaking out about their kids, their relatives—”
“That’s exactly why it’s best to keep them working,” I said. “Work keeps you focused, disciplined. You can’t control the world, but you can control your little piece of it. Look, I don’t want to overwork people or anything like that, but we have to give people something to do and keep them employed. You know that this is the worst timing possible for something like this, right?”
Sam nodded. The firm was a little over-extended, and it was in the in-between period from when business slows to a crawl and just before it starts to pick up again. Businesses would not advertise if they couldn’t open up. It could become a real problem.
“You know we’ll have to lay people off, right?” Sam said, lowering his voice.
“I’m not gonna let that happen,” I said. “These people are like family. You don’t let family go hungry.”
“It would be temporary,” said Sam. “That way, the government would eat all the costs. It would be like an extended vacation for most of them.”
“Being on unemployment is no vacation,” I said. “I was on unemployment for a time. It’s nerve-wracking. You don’t know how you’re going to pay your bills in the future, and you end up with a very high tax bill at the end of the year.”
“They’re talking about a stimulus. They might make more by staying home, if you can believe it,” he said.
“No way they’re serious about that,” I dismissed. “They can’t just keep printing money.”
“You got a point. I don’t know… I’m just — This is a nightmare!”
“Buddy, why don’t you head out? I’ll make one last pass through the office and make sure everyone’s out, okay?” I said, trying to give him some assurance.
“Thanks, man. Watch yourself out there.”
“You too.”
I headed through the empty halls of the firm. It was strange. It looked like someone had abandoned the place because of a nuclear bomb or something. It reminded me of some of the footage from Chernobyl I saw on YouTube.
Satisfied the place was empty, I was headed back to my office when I heard a voice. It sounded like it was coming from Dixie’s area, but I had been sure she was one the first ones out. I could hear her talking to someone tearfully on the phone.
“Tara, isn’t there anything?” she said.
“No, I’m so sorry, hon. It’s such short notice, and I can’t get anyone on the phone now. People are in a panic,” said the woman on the other line.
“Could I stay with you and Ken? I swear, I’ll stay in the basement! I’ll cook, and I’ll pay you rent—”
“Ken’s mother is staying with us, and she’s 83. I know you might not think you’re sick, but lots of people don’t show the signs. Ken would never allow you in. He’s freaking out and setting up the basement for her. I have to get home before he has a breakdown,” the woman, Tara, said. “I’m so sorry. Surely there’s someone. Your parents?”
“I can’t — No, it’s okay,” she said, clearly putting on a brave face. “I’ll figure something out. It’ll be fine.”
“You’re sure?”
“I can’t impose on your family. It’s selfish of me. I’ll find something. It’s not so bad. I’ll call around. Maybe… Well, you’d better get going.”
“Thanks, babe. Call me when you get settled?”
“Sure.”
“Bye.”
Dixie hung up and broke down in tears. How could she have no place to live at a time like this?
“Dixie?” I said gently as I approached.
“Oh, God! Mr. Lamb!” she said, startled. “Didn’t see you there.”
“I couldn’t help but overhear some of that,” I said gingerly. “I don’t mean to pry, but… What happened? I thought you were living with someone.”
“I was, but I can’t go back there,” she said, wiping her face. “My boyfriend… ex-boyfriend is a drunk, and he was getting abusive. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I left.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said.
“My parents and I don’t get along, so I can’t go back to them,” she said. “Under normal circumstances, Tara would find me a place, but the whole world’s gone crazy. I’ll probably just find a motel.”