Episode 5: Valediction without looking back.

Because of the continuous and unreasonable insult and oppression, Hophen decided to resign from all the duties in the theme park. As he predicted before, Lollipop would depreciate his appraisal of work after his probation and the park would not renew his contract of work due to the poor appraisal. Hence he thought it was better to resign than to be dismissed. He tried to think of working at the other cafes in the same park. However he set that whim aside eventually because he knew that no other places would accept a staff that could not finish his or her probationary period. Without a better choice, he decided to depart.

Owing to the 7-day notice, he had to work there for one more week. During the short period of time, he grabbed as many events as possible for future memory. He found that some customers were so careless and often made some mistakes even children would not make. Some of them left their carries-on when they finished their meals. Some dropped pieces of bank notes on the ground without noticing them. A Korean customer lost his orange camera and spoke to Hophen with fluent English to ask for help. Hophen tried his best to find it in vain. Pens, caps and handkerchiefs were the common lost properties.

“A baby was left here the other days and its mother cried for it,” Molder said to Hophen.

“Really? How was it later on?” asked Hophen with curiosity.

He answered, “It died because of the strong wind. How piteous it was!”

He asked again, “Are you serious? I could not read this piece of news in paper.”

He grinned and explained, “A baby bird was blown down on the table over there and its mother cried for it in the tree. The tall trees shadow some of the tables here. You see?”

Hophen laughed and told him, “Birds” nests will cover our heads soon.’

Before long, the annual conference for all staff came to happen. Because of the great number of employees, it was divided into several sessions. Unfortunately Hophen and Lollipop were arranged for attending the same session. When it started, he was sitting at the back of the hall. He saw her sitting in front with other co-workers and he was isolated. Perhaps no one dared keep him company before seeing that the relationship between him and her had turned good. Kennie was the smartest “wind sensor”, always able to detect which way the wind was blowing. When he saw that Hophen was not part of his cluster, he mocked at him as long as he had chances. Such small man was a pet hate or bad egg to Hophen.