It would have been easier if somebody had been unreasonable.
Anger is useful. It gives the mind somewhere to sit.
But what could the main character do with a kind colleague who said no because her children needed her?
What could he do with a manager confirming that he still had the same job?
What could he do with children whose main offence was requiring an adult to exist near them?
Nothing.
He said thank you.
He said he understood.
He closed the conversation and began looking for another solution.
This is the part of adulthood nobody advertises. Sometimes maturity is simply accepting a completely fair answer that has ruined the plan.
He needed cover so he could go and be a father.
She could not cover because she needed to go and be a parent too.
That was the answer.
Fair, human and absolutely useless.
So he looked at Tuesday again.
Tuesday looked back.
And somewhere, on a computer screen, his name remained inside its little box.
Perfectly covered.