Chapter 19 - Jake Apologizes
Three months later, Jake requested permission to speak with me.
I almost refused.
Then agreed.
Open office.
Another staff member nearby.
He stood at attention.
“Chief.”
“At ease.”
He remained stiff.
“I’m sorry.”
“For?”
He knew better than to offer vague apology.
“I took your food because you ignored me.”
Then:
“I threw it down to humiliate you.”
Then:
“I told you to eat it off the floor.”
Good.
“And?”
“I acted differently because I thought you were someone I could get away with treating like that.”
That was the line.
Not:
I didn’t know your rank.
Not:
It was a joke.
I asked:
“What changed?”
He took time.
“Consequences.”
I appreciated the honesty.
Then:
“And seeing Mason talk about me.”
“What about it?”
“He didn’t sound angry.”
“What did he sound?”
Jake swallowed.
“Tired.”
That affected him more than being yelled at.
He had imagined himself funny.
May you like
Mason had experienced him as exhausting.
Identity and impact finally collided.
