Everybody crowded round Derek\'s desk
on the day he was retiring
the Office Manager said \'a few words\'
thanking him for his hard work over the years,
and handed him the massive card
everyone had signed.
He was presented with the silver watch,
a token for all his efforts.
His colleagues clapped and cheered
calling for him to make a speech.
Derek gushed that it had been a pleasure working here
and would never forget the friends he\'d made.
He wished them all the best for the future
and said he\'d keep in touch.
In the days that followed his retirement
when his old phone would ring
the telephone conversation was always the same.
I\'m sorry Derek doesn\'t work here anymore. He has retired.
Yes, he was with the firm twenty-five years, he really will be missed.
But all too soon the replies would change.
I\'m sorry, I don\'t know anyone who works here by that name.