It was Monday, the least popular day of the week for lots of people. Mondays were cruel but inevitable. This Monday was no different. After working on different experiments and a paper for what felt like endless hours it was still only 10 am. Jonathan sighed. This day would probably never end.
He was sitting at the table in the lounge room going through everything they had planned for the next few weeks. A lot of work was ahead of them, lab time had to be booked.
“How long do you think we’re going to need the quantum microscope?”, Glenn asked.
“I don’t know, maybe 2 weeks.”
“Okay, I’m gonna put us down for 3 weeks just to be on the safe side.”
“Great, thank you.”
Jonathan took a sip from his tea which was now almost cold. What was it about Mondays that made time move slower and tea get cold? The weekend had been so nice and relaxing. He got to spend some quality time with Jennifer and his family, had good food and a great time. But then it was over and before he knew it he had to go back to work. He loved his work but he just wasn’t ready today. Something in him wished the weekend back but he knew it wasn’t possible. He had to deal with this Monday whether he liked it or not. He just hoped there wouldn’t be any complications.
And the next few hours weren’t so bad. Everything went smoothly and he had the best chocolate cake for dessert which lifted his spirits.
Back at the lab he and Glenn went through some calculations on the white board.
“I don’t understand how you jumped from this to this.”, Glenn said pointing at the board.
“I left out some steps to save some space on the board, sorry. But they’re all in my head.”
Glenn rolled his eyes. “Of course they are.”
They were interrupted by someone yelling “MACLEAN!”
Jonathan turned his head and then he saw him, Dr. Ralph Henry Woodfield. He seemed angry. As always.
Dr. Woodfield was something else. During Jonathan’s absence after his accident he was his replacement and he was like a hurricane. He ruined some of Jonathan’s work, scared his team, someone even quit because of Woodfield’s temper and general unpleasantness. Not only that, Ralph Henry Woodfield was arrogant and could never admit mistakes, in his mind he was just never wrong and everyone else was the problem. When Jonathan returned to work after a year he had found chaos and spent weeks trying to save his work and get his team back together. But Woodfield stayed at the institute, got his own team and has been a pain in their ass ever since.
He kept storming towards Jonathan and Glenn, his head red with rage. “Why did you do this?!”
Jonathan tried to remain calm. “Ralph Henry. A good day to you, too.”
“It’s Dr. Woodfield for you! Now what is this?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t play stupid. The particle accelerator.”
“What about it?”. Jonathan genuinely didn’t know what his problem was.
Dr. Woodfield threw a sheet of paper on the table. “You’re scheduled for the particle accelerator next month, for 2 weeks. But that is when I need it.”
“And? Looks like we were faster.”
“And it is booked out for the next 4 months which throws me back. And that is your fault.”
“Everyone here knows you have to book it months in advance and that’s what we did. It’s not my fault that you didn’t.”
“Are you saying this is my fault?”
“Yes, that is exactly what I’m saying.”
“How dare you? You will give me your scheduled particle accelerator time or I will become your worst nightmare!”
“Ohh, scary.”, Glenn said, “Well, you’re already our worst nightmare so what’s the difference?”
Jonathan rolled his eyes. “I’m not scared of you, Ralph. We did everything right. And now please leave my lab.”
“It’s Dr. Woodfield!” Dr. Woodfield looked like he was about to explode but he turned around and stormed out of the lab just like he entered it.
Jonathan shook his head. What did Ralph Henry know about nightmares anyway?
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