Jacob Marley frowned and kicked the empty can lying on the sidewalk. He had been kicking it for the last two
blocks. His car was a mile behind him in the parking lot of his old job. He needed to walk. He was sixty
three, and out of the blue his boss had called him in to tell him that he was being let go.
"The company is downsizing," he had said, "Consider this your two weeks notice. You can go home. You have
vacation time coming, so we'll just apply the next two weeks to that."
"But I've been with this company for 20 years, and I've got a kid in college. Where am I supposed to get a
job at my age?"
"Just take early retirement. You're over 62."
"I won't be eligible for Social Security for another 2 years."
"Sure you're eligible now - just a reduced benefit."
Silently, Jake left his former place of business. He began walking aimlessly not sure what to do. Where to
turn.
He looked up from the can. He was in front of a carnival.
He hadn't been to a carnival in ages. Maybe it would pick up his spirits.