The Loneliest Man

One Friday, I get called into a meeting by Nart, my Project Manager. Nart is an intelligent, lazy, overbearing incompetent. A meeting with Nart is usually a prelude to disaster.
Nart sneers, “We seem to have a problem with you and Billy needing the main computer at the same time.”
I say, “I need the main computer because I am developing a communications program that needs the comm linkages that only the main computer has. Billy is developing a utility program that doesn’t need the power or linkages of the main computer. I fail to see what the problem is.”
Nart says, “Well, Billy has convinced me that he needs to use main computer. You can also use the main computer, but you will use the main computer on second shift.”
I point out, “I need to work with computer at a remote site. The remote site computer is available only during first shift.”
Nart sneers, “Well, let’s just see if we can work something out with the remote site people.”
(Nart has no programming background and no concern for anything other than workplace politics.)
I say, politely, “Nart, I don’t think that it’s going to work out.”
Nart sneers, “Either you work second shift or I lay you off right now.”
(I have a stock options speculation that I am certain will make me a great deal of money. However,the stock options speculation is hovering around zero value. I need to have my paycheck money available to keep things alive. I have no real financial choice, at the present time.)
I say, “Well, I need the job, so I’ll try second shift.” (I’ll try second shift and also try to find another paycheck.)
(Over the weekend, I try to find another job, another paycheck. As is usually the case in such circumstances, I am unable to find anything or even get interviews.)
I come to work Monday, at 4PM, the scheduled start of my computer time. I find Billy still on the computer. I politely remind Billy that it is now my scheduled computer time.
Billy tells me to go fuck myself.
I go to Personnel and file a complaint.
By about 5:30PM, Billy finally wraps up and I get my computer time.
I do a bit more than an hour’s work on the main computer, then I need to do a test run, with a remote site. I write a report, requesting first shift computer time to do a test run, with a remote site. I have little hope that I will get my requested first shift computer time to do a test run, with a remote site, but I have done what I can.
I then spend the rest of second shift working on my own stock option analysis program.
The guards peer into the window of my computer lab, as they make their required hourly investigation of the building.
I wrap up my second shift time, just before midnight and I then check out with the night guard.
The night guard checks his clock and says, “Yeah, I got orders not to let you out until midnight.”
I say, “Yeah, but I don’t have to call my Project Manager ‘Massa,’ yet, at any rate.”
The guard snorts a laugh, “You finding out how the other half lives.”