[Where were we? After sessions with a therapist, Bodie was eager to try his new mentor's advice at work.]
Chapter 1 in my profile.
*****
On Monday Bodie went to work with a brand new attitude. He was definitely seeing his coworkers in a new light, but he found it hard to get any work done. By the time 3:00 rolled around and he left for his mentoring appointment with Mr. Sterling, he was feeling pretty frustrated. He said as much when John Stirling had seated him in his office and asked how he thought things were going.
"Well, you're not the only one who's frustrated, boy. I've just had a chat with your supervisor." His face looked grim. "He's not happy, Bodie. And neither am I."
Bodie's frustration shifted to alarm. "Why? What did he say?" He cringed inside.
"Apparently, you were even less productive than before, and worse, he says you were skulking around and creeping people out." Sterling glowered. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" The words, though not loud, carried the force of an angry shout.
"Uh, uh, I, um, I... I don't know... I..." Bodie sputtered helplessly, stripped of any shred of confidence. "I tried to do what you said... I..." His voice faded.
Sterling just stared at him for a minute as if he'd discovered a turd on the carpet. Finally he spoke softly with the steely resolve of a bearer of tragic news. "Oh, you did what I told you? Tell me, how have you served? What did you do today to help your teammates? How have you advanced corporate interests or your boss's agenda? By meddling in other peoples work and acting like a perv?" He shook his head. "You disgust me."
Bodie was devastated. He had let his idol down, the one man he needed to please. What was wrong with him? Stirling's question echoed relentlessly in the empty cavern of his hollowed-out mind..
"What do you have to say for yourself?" Stirling demanded.
Bodie stared blankly, panicked. What could he say? Say something, anything... his mind tried to prompt him. He hung his head, tears welling up, choking him. "I... I just was... I did what you said," he repeated. Trying to explain, he added, "You know, people... cocks and pussies.. like you said." He was whining pathetically. Even he could hear the pathos.
John thought it was time for the truth. "Well, boy, that means I've failed. So, I'm afraid we're through." He shook his head sadly "And you're probably going to lose your job," he added. "I would certainly recommend it."
Bodie panicked. "No, wait!" He staggered out of his chair. "Don't give up on me, please!" The desperation, the aching need for Stirling's condescension, and the deep desire to worship him and his manhood overwhelmed him. "Please give me another chance! I'll do anything.. please... anything you want." He was on his knees, reaching out to grasp Sterling's legs. "Please, he sobbed. Burying his face between the strong thighs of his mentor, his tears dampened the fine woolen fabric.
"Get off of me, you pathetic worm," John growled, pushing him away. Bodie slumped, a limp heap on the office floor.