Tom Bishop woke up to hear the sound of envelopes posted through his door. It was Saturday, so he knew he didn’t have to rush to go to work.

His wife Irene lay in a deep sleep facing him. Tom looked at her for a moment, wondering whether to wake her up with a cup of tea and breakfast in bed. It was her fiftieth birthday and because he couldn’t sleep any longer, he longed to give her present. He sat on the edge of the bed, brushed his grey hair back with his hand, and then rubbed his bristled chin. Tom picked up the tray with the glasses of water on it and made his way to the bedroom door.

He walked downstairs with a limp, holding onto the banister rail with one hand and the tray in the other.

Tom looked at the bottom of the front door, to see the pile of envelopes scattered on the floor. One envelope caught his eye; it had the crest of his company on the top. He put the tray down and picked the envelope up.

“Interesting!” He spoke quietly to himself with confusion of what the letter was about. Tom opened it with the knife, sat beside the tray on the bottom stair.

First he read that it was from the Personnel Manager Chris Morrison, then turning a shade of white, his hand dropped to his knee his face turned red with the envelope crumpled in his clasp. A tear came to his eyes, “I don’t believe it!” He wept as he picked the envelope up again and saw the most dreaded words a working man can ever see, it read.

“Dear Tom, We regret to inform you that due to important restructuring of personnel at the company, your services will no longer be required from immediate effect.

The Management however wish to thank you for your valuable input to the production of our products over the last thirty years and trust you will find employment elsewhere.

You will be able to collect your tools and belongings on Monday morning at Ten o’clock. The Management and I will be available if you wish to discuss any queries”

Chris then continued to try and soften the blow that turned Tom’s blood to boiling point. “We will do all we can to help you with any contacts and references in future.