Harry New Episode

Tuesday April 8, 2003

Building 16, Johnson Space Center – Houston, Texas

 “Harry, thanks for coming. You doing all right today?” Steve Kress looked nervous.

“Fine Steve, how about yourself?”

“Well, that’s an interesting question. You know you did fabulous work on the tile project, right?”

“I’m glad people were happy,” Harry said hesitantly.

“Harry, they want to keep you attached to the shuttle investigation. That operation is based at the Cape. NASA is transferring you, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Harry’s eyes went wide. “Oh.”

“NASA is going to take care of you, Harry. They’ll take care of the moving expenses, deal with your house here, and your salary will be adjusted upward for the area’s cost of living.”

“Okay…”

“I don’t want to lose you, Harry, but your success put eyes on you.”

“When do I go?”

“Finish out the week here. NASA will give you two paid weeks to get moved.”

“Okay,” Harry said as he stood. “Is it all right if I go let my wife know?”

“She works here?”

“She’s over in HR.”

Steve nodded. “I didn’t know that. Please do - they’ll have arrangements to make for her as well.“

“Thanks for the opportunity,” Harry said as he stood and shook his supervisor’s hand.

“Thanks for making such great use of it.”

Harry set off down the hallway knowing only that the certainty he’d found in his future yesterday felt like it was completely gone today. 

Maybe that was the way of things.

There was only one way to find out.