Exiting the packing plant following his interview Daniel wondered why he’d bothered to buy a suit at all. He knew the job was nearly his before even coming for the formalities, and aside from a few minutes’ worth of getting to know Daniel, the owner had no need of extending typical interview questions nor discussion of past salaries or experiences. They did not, in fact, even sit down during their interview together. Mr. Johnson, as Daniel fortunately recalled the name just before being let into the office by the receptionist, simply informed him that he was ready for him to start on Monday and explained some of the benefits and perks of working at the plant. He indicated that there would be a Christmas party announced the following week after Daniel started as well, and that Dan was welcome to bring that charming young ranger he’d heard from Ted and Janine was going to be in town for a while. That suggestion threw Daniel off guard somewhat as he wasn’t aware that anyone else was privy to that information. But he did not have time to reflect upon it at all, let alone suggest that they weren’t particularly on those kinds of terms just yet, before he was led by the receptionist again out to the floor and shown where he keep a supervisor’s glass-enclosed office managing the staff.
In all, Daniel was feeling extremely grateful that things were lining up so completely. Even in these harder times, the salary mentioned by Mr. Johnson, was significantly above his last employer that had laid him off. There seemed nothing at all to concern himself with in the world as he began pondering just what sort of a dinner Rachel might be willing to let him take her out to for a celebration. He secretly hoped he could coax her into wearing the beautiful evening dress she had worn at the Lumnaria in Mesa Verde. Perhaps one last perfect evening he could enjoy before she moved along and found that position at the next park assignment.
Instead, as his truck trundled out of the parking lot and turned up the road heading back towards Springton and Woodland Hills, he noticed the peculiar absence of light on the hill. The storm cloud had nearly made its way through the valley and down to the lake, but he hadn’t noticed it much beyond the cool breeze that flipped his coat corners walking from building to truck. Now, however, it seemed threatening and he watched several strikes of lightning hit locations around the hill and just before him in Springton. There were about 8 miles that still set Springton at the base, and Woodland Hills another 3 miles above it, apart from the larger cities in the valley. For the most part the others had all grown into one mellow suburban complex, spreading from the local university outward. But experience told him in dark weather like this as he exited the bigger cities and made his way up the state route he should see the convenience store sign lit and the familiar red neon. None of that shown. Above, there should have been a number of homes lit, both with the warming light from windows, and also from the number of homes that would normally sprout Christmas lights for a few short weeks this time of year. This past season with all the rain, it seemed as though there had been virtually no decorative bulbs placed at all. But to have the foothills as dark as the mountains above was unsettling and Daniel found his foot was getting heavy on the accelerator.