“Everyone is going into the Green
Room,” Miranda realized.
“I received gold jewelry I did
not order,” said a kindly, ninety-two year old woman on the telephone with
Miranda, her customer service agent. “I will return it immediately.”
“Thank you for your honesty,”
replied Miranda. She felt a tap on her shoulder. “I wish more of our customers
were as gracious as you she said as she hung up the telephone.”
“Log off,” ordered her manager.
“Go into the Green Room.”
Entering the
environment-friendly, open-concept, green room where they held company parties,
she heard her employer’s voice.
“Turn off your computers, clean
out your lockers and hand in your key cards when you leave. You are all going
home.”
“The company is shutting down,”
whispered Dwight, a stunned, twenty-year old. “Five hundred employees are being
laid off today with no notice!”
Shocked into silence, Miranda
stared at the paper he handed her.
“Sign it. We are out of here
permanently.”
“Layoff,” she read. Signing it, Miranda returned to
her workstation.
Several employees waited,
arguing with the employer.
“I have six mouths to feed!”
yelled a man in his mid-thirties.
“It’s over!” the employer
responded. “Get out of here before I call the police.”
Quietly, Miranda shut down her
computer, gathered her belongings and emptied her locker. She handed her key
card to the manager at the door.
“That’s it?” she thought, as
she walked home. “Not even a thank you?”
Being in the Green Room,
Miranda would never forget. It signified the end of her call center job, a
transitional era in telemarketing and new freedom for her.
“The park looks green today.
The air is better out here.”
“You are home early,” said
Tricia, the owner of her apartment building.
“We were laid off.” Miranda
explained, tearfully.
“I am so sorry.” Tricia said
apologetically. “Let’s have coffee.”
“How will I pay my rent?”
wondered Miranda. “My last call was so wonderful.”
“I am living in a green room
here,” she realized.
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