Redundancy

He was good to watch – scary for the successor
precision and anticipation
fast when speed was needed
patient when stress bullied in
a burst of laughter afterwards – always.

Born Peter
but Pete to everybody.
After he left, after they knew he had gone
all the sales rep’s were still disappointed
“ Pete left?” – as if popularity could reinstate.
The receptionists who phoned on their behalf, sighing –
sad to learn he was gone – wistful.
He had names for them all
Gorgeous, Sweetie, Tootsie, Buttons – they loved it.
It was the 1990’s – the rules didn’t apply to Pete.

For five days he was the sorcerer,
then I inherit all.
When the door of his reign closed
I felt slow and inadequate – unable to fill the space
not personality
mine was XXS – that was always known -the output.

For the first while,
busy found me,
things to learn, and become proficient in.
People thought I had it easy
that things were more hectic for Pete: “ he was so good under pressure.”
Heat and light,
he knew how they got mistaken.