UNUM

The Fall Out

Jake stared at the mural on his wall. He asked Beth to keep the countdown updated in addition to a few other requests for change since the painting’s inauguration. One of those requests was to remove Clayton from the list of names on the wall. The Clayton family paid for his medical bills, his work desk, and numerous amounts of study material, in addition to giving his dad a steady, and decent paying job. Though that didn’t preclude their name from getting re-added to his list; he wasn’t stressed knowing he could call Beth back at any time.

Seth’s head popped into the room squeezing through the opening offered by the barely ajar door. He rapped softly on the wood as he entered. Jake slowly closed the textbook on his desk as he slowly turned, tearing his eyes from his mural. Seth followed Jake’s gaze, he was still confused by his son’s choice of aesthetic; the list of names was unsettling. Initially Seth thought it was a fleeting motivational tool, but now, it seemed to be something more consequential. Their eyes met, “what do you need dad?” Jake said patiently.

“Someone from the government is here to see you. He said he’s here to talk to you about Unum.”

Jake flushed at the statement, but flashed his dad an exquisite poker face, “send him up please, dad.”