two.

Paul never returned to work.  After a week or so, upper management began to grumble – after all, a job is a job, and the work had to be done. Upon inquiry, Paul’s supervisor was surprised to find that no one actually knew Paul’s phone number; thankfully, it was on file with Human Resources. Four different attempts were made, but Paul never answered the phone or returned any of the calls.

Of course, no one was “really” worried – this kind of thing happens all the time. Every day, people simply stop going to their jobs, without any kind of warning or notice.  But in Paul’s case, it just felt different - possibly because he had always been such a consistent, dependable employee. Possibly because he’d worked at the warehouse for such a long time.  And if not honest, deliberate worry, there was at least a curiosity in regard to his absence, one which spread over the course of a few days, only to dwindle within a few more.