Retirement

"And so, we'd just like to say 'Thanks John' and hope you don't miss us too much in your retirement!"

The staff laughed as John accepted the gift offered and forced a smile. He was seventy years old: seventy years strong. He hadn't wanted to go; did it for the young ones with families. Compulsory redundancy would hit them harder. Space needed to be made.

He cradled his engraved clock on his lap on his last bus ride home from work.

Once home, he sat and it was then that the tears came.

What was he going to do now?

***

100 words- a drabble

I think a lot is made of retirement and the prospects that it offers but what about those people for whom it is a lifeline, who have nothing else except work and all it gives: routine, camaraderie, a purpose?