Rolling hills of green pine sway softly in the wind. The sun, high in the sky, is casting its golden gaze upon your bare chest. You lay there, basking in the warmth, content. A calm trickling sound catches your attention. Your gaze falls lazily upon the crystal clear water of a small flowing river beside you. You could spend an eternity here ...

“Beep, Beep, Beep.”

Every morning you are in a rush. Cringing at the shrill alarm, you relish the warmth for another second. The sheets are hugging you, the bed is soft. It is almost pleading with you to stay.

It was time. Billson had been dreading this moment all week. Jones from Human Resources had demanded a meeting to discuss ‘a matter of great importance’. No elaboration given, just a date, a time and a room number.

Billson knew what it related to, but couldn’t quite grasp what the big deal was. He always spoke this way, always joked this way, and the people laughed. True, he wasn’t always sure if it was with him or at him, but that didn’t matter, it was getting the laughs that counted.