The Breakfast Club for 40-Somethings

Chapter 2Russ

Russ felt Karen’s attention turn back to him. I bet she was thinking about the kids again, he thought, with a touch of annoyance. It was hard to get much ‘head time’ with his wife once the three kids had come along. She was an incredible mother, and he was constantly grateful for that, but she was also very focused on them as her priority.

Russ knew that she loved him — she told him often enough and he believed her. But her passion and focus was definitely the kids and, if he cared to admit it, this made him feel lonely sometimes.

He knew he wasn’t great at keeping up with his friends. He thought of them, of course, but never actually got around to sending a text, or catching up for a beer that often. He was pretty useless like that. He always vowed that he would make more of an effort and, when he did get to see friends, he enjoyed it greatly.

He especially loved seeing his oldest friend from high school, Jasper. The eternal good time guy, who always seemed to be catching a big one, or going on this adventure or another. Lucky bugger, Russ thought ruefully, as he prepared to tell his wife about his new plan and the new challenge that would make his world much more fulfilling.

For the most part, he liked what he did. But, more and more, the company culture was tougher to take. If he was honest, Russ had been struggling with it for months. His days were feeling longer and longer, and having to smile and accept what increasingly seemed a culture of self-interest ...