One man 's last day on the job and another 's first . What is the last conversation they have before parting ways [ WP ]

Thought I'd give it ago... Not much of a writer but want to improve! I did n't see the part about it being a dream maker... sorry 
 
 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
 
 
 
 It was his 60th Birthday…he said he would retire at 55. Yeah right…he loves this job, this world, way too much. If it wasn ’ t for his wife ’ s health, he would be staying here for at least five more years…which meant 10 more years. 
 
 Most older folks hated it, the young people coming in and taking over. They would sometimes go to the legion after work and complain about how things were so different nowadays. 
 
 He smiled at the image. A group of old men huddled around the table whining about the youngsters taking their jobs. I ’ m sure his predecessors did the same. 
 
 But he loved it. He loved seeing fresh faces and hearing new, crazy ideas bounce around the office. That ’ s what the industry needs, a continuous feed of new ideas. And for new ideas, new people are needed. 
 
 Well, he wouldn ’ t get to see it any more. It was his last day and only had one more job to do. Go hand his badge in at the security office on the 1st floor. 
 
 Bob hovered his fingers over the elevator button. The last time he would ever push that down button. He thought about the amount of times he had rode the elevator in his 40 years of working here, and the amount of time he ran up and down the staircase in fear of being late to meetings. 
 
 His thoughts were interrupted by a young man coughing. 
 
 Bob signaled the universal signal for ‘ Going down? ’ to the young companion who just joined in and the young man just nodded. 
 
 “ Our Future ” Bob smiled as the elevator doors slid open. 
 
 “ Sorry? ” 
 
 “ You youngsters…you ’ re the future. ” 
 
 “ Oh. Um. I guess…which floor would you like sir? ” 
 
 Bob chucked at the use of the word ’ sir ’ 
 
 “ 1st floor please young man ”. 
 
 The doors slid close. 
 
 “ Oh, the same as me then. Do you happen to know where the security office is? I ’ m new here and I have to get an ID badge. This building is so big I hope I get used to it! ” The young man nervously smiled. 
 
 “ Don ’ t worry, you ’ ll get a handle of it in no time. I ’ m going to the security office too, so you can just follow me. It ’ s funny. You ’ re getting your badge and I ’ m dropping mine off. You can have mine if you like! ” 
 
 “ Is this your last day sir? ” How long have you been here for? ” 
 
 “ Please, call me Bob. Everyone knows each other by their first names here. ” 
 
 “ I ’ m William. “ 
 
 Bob chuckled again. 
 
 “ Nice to meet you William. I bet in 40 years, you ’ ll be known as Bill around here! ” 
 
 William laughed out loud then quickly contained himself again. 
 
 “ Well William, it is my last day here. I joined this company 40 years ago! Time ’ s gone by so quickly. I ’ ve seen so many things change over the years…watched TV and Film battle it out like a boxing match, I ’ ve seen fashion changes, political changes and how much technology has come into play. It ’ s been an incredible 40 years. ” 
 
 “ Wow. 40 years. ” William was lost for words. 
 
 “ So son, what are you doing here? ” 
 
 “ I ’ m an intern sir. I ’ ll be helping out with research at the development office. Probably grabbing coffee and tea for people too. ” 
 
 “ Ah, tea and coffee runs. Everyone does them. One day someone will be doing them for you too! Research huh? In my time we never had researchers as a separate job. We never really had interns either. We just kind of bothered offices until they hired us. ” 
 
 William was going to ask a question when the doors opened up on the 1st floor. 
 
 “ This way Will. ” 
 
 Bob led the way to an office right by the elevator and knocked twice. 
 
 “ Bob! Coming by to drop off your badge eh? I always thought I would retire before you! ” 
 
 “ Dammit Jerry, I thought you would retire before me too! ” 
 
 The two old men laughed heartily and exchanged a hug. William stood outside of the door awkwardly not sure what to do. 
 
 “ Hey Jerry, this is the new kid Will. His first day here! Be kind to him! Remember our first day here? ” 
 
 “ Hey Will. I ’ m Jerry…any problems let me know! I have the power to kick people out! ” 
 
 Jerry warmly shook Will ’ s hand. 
 
 “ Kick people out? Old man like you can hardly walk! Show me a one-two eh? ” 
 
 Jerry and Bob laughed and shadow boxed while Will watched smiling. He wondered if he would be here, 40 years on. 
 
 “ Right Will! Let ’ s get your picture taken for your card! ” 
 
 Will moved towards the seat in front of the white screen….just like high school. Only this time, he was in a place where everyone shared the same passion. 
 
 Bob watched fondly as Jerry started setting up the camera. 
 
 “ Hey Jerry, remember when we had paper ID cards instead of these plastic computer badges? ” 
 
 “ Oh yes! My life was so much more complicated then! Cutting out everyone ’ s photo and trying to glue them on a piece of card correctly. 
 So many people complained that they couldn ’ t read my handwriting! Now it ’ s simple. Just a press of the button on the computer! ” 
 
 “ I believe you wrote my name Robent instead of Robert one year!! ” 
 
 CLICK 
 
 “ Right Will! All done! Let ’ s take a look! ” 
 
 Jerry pressed the button and Will looked at the card with a satisfied expression. This was going to be his gateway into this job every day. He was proud. 
 
 “ Hey! Look what I found! ” 
 
 Bob interrupted Will ’ s thoughts. He produced from his wallet a weathered piece of brown cardboard with a crumpled black and white photo of a young man of Will ’ s age stuck on. 
 
 “ That ’ s me when I first joined the company. I was 20 years old. Look at that handy work Jerry! Still stuck on and recognizable! ” 
 
 “ Sure is Robent! ” 
 
 The three men laughed. 
 
 Just as Will was about to announce that he was going to leave, Bob picked up a pen and scribbled something on the old ID Card. 
 
 “ Well Will, I wish you the best of luck. ” 
 
 “ Thank you Sir—Bob. I hope I last 40 years here too! ” 
 
 With confidence Will extended his hand towards Bob. Bob smiled at the young intern ’ s new found confidence and gripped his hand in return. 
 Bob slipped the brown ID card into Will ’ s hand, saluted, and walked off. 
 
 As Will got into the elevator to go back up, he flipped over the ID Card to see what Bob had written. 
 
 “ You ’ re the future Bill. ” 

