by Alan TownendHere will see some sentences (in italics) as they occur in the story
with a re-written version below.
Some of the sentences in italics are abridged.
When he was forty-two, Charlie Banham was made redundant.
At the age of 42 Charlie Banham lost his job.
He didn't take to the idea at all.
He didn't like the fact that he had lost his job.
His boss, Angus Henderson, whom Charlie had not taken to the
moment he'd taken over from his previous boss eighteen months
before, took him aside early one Monday morning and asked him to
come to his office, assuring him as he did so that it wouldn't take up
much of his time.
Angus Henderson had been Charlie's boss for 18 months and
throughout that time Charlie hadn't really liked him. Early one
Monday morning Angus wanted to talk to Charlie in private and told
him it wouldn't take long.
Henderson asked him to sit down, took up a piece of paper and
proceeded to read from it.
Henderson asked him to sit down, picked up a piece of paper and
started reading from it.
The content of the speech was that Charlie would have to go but of
course, if he wished, he could take the matter up with the managing
director and take the matter further.
In summary Charlie had to leave the company and he was told that if
he liked he could talk about this matter with the managing director
and have additional discussions.
In other words Charlie was being asked to take himself off as quickly
as possible.
In other words, Charlie was being asked to remove himself as quickly
as possible.
It took several minutes before Charlie could really take in the news.
It took several minutes before Charlie could really grasp what had
happened.
What really galled him was that Henderson was so taken up with
himself that he couldn't even be bothered to thank Charlie for his
services over the last ten years.
What really made him angry was that Henderson was so preoccupied
with himself that he couldn't even be bothered to thank Charlie for
his services over the last ten years.
Charlie was apparently being blamed for the drop in sales of his new
product which he had convinced everyone would soon take off.
Charlie was obviously being blamed for the decrease in sales of his
new product which he had persuaded everyone would soon be
successful.