Good morning everyone. I had a dream last night where I deployed an army of lawn gnomes to defend my blackberry bush. They are in season now and there is one bird who really likes to get under the netting and feast if I am not looking. Pretty sure that is where the dream came from. Not sure about the lawn gnomes though. But for now, we write. Timers set and off we go.
I think I am going to have to spend a few minutes with this one at lunch today.
Thursday, July 3rd: You are late.
“You are late,” Stan growled. I thought about explaining, thought about telling him that my tardiness was not my fault, but I kept the comments to myself knowing they would go nowhere.
“I’m sorry,” I said instead. I slipped into the seat at the table. Looking around I could see that I was far from the last to arrive. I glanced at the wall clock. I was still two minutes ahead of the scheduled meeting time. The others came in shortly after me. None of them were reprimanded for their tardiness even though they arrived after me.
I looked around the table and saw the others avoiding my eyes.
‘Its today then,’ I thought, resigned. I wondered if he would do it as the meeting broke up when there were witnesses or if I would be called to his office later in the day. I made a bet with myself. If he stopped me at the end of the meeting then on my way home I would get French fries and a hamburger. If he called me into his office I would stop by my favorite chicken restaurant for a two piece meal with a biscuit.
‘And if I am wrong then when I get home I will eat the healthy salad dinner I had planned instead of take out,’ I told myself. I doubted I would be eating my salad.
The meeting droned on and I dutifully paid attention and took notes. If today was the day then I was going to give Stan no further ammunition. While others avoided looking at me directly, Stan watched me. His gaze falling upon me often, his mouth pinching into a thin line as he took in my pleasant demeaner and eagerly scratching pen as I took notes.
‘Did you think I would make it easy?’ I thought. I caught his eye once and his frown deepened before he looked away.
I resisted the urge to smile. He expected easy. I suspected that the next few days would come as quite the shock to him.
The meeting wrapped up and the others began to gather their things. I closed my note book and slipped my ben in the provided elastic loop. Others were moving quickly towards the door as though sensing an impending storm and rushing off to find shelter. I didn’t dawdle but I didn’t hurry. Stan left the room before me and I could sense the others watching me even though they looked away when I turned in their direction. I stood and left, heading to my own office space.
‘So no french-fries tonight,’ I told myself. He hadn’t stopped me at the end of the meeting. I moved behind my desk and turned on the computer. I logged in and as I pulled up my e-mail, the office phone rang. I reached over.
“Larson Limited, Alison speaking.”
“This is Veronica,” the voice on the other end said. Stan’s secretary. “Mr. Douglas would like to see you in his office as soon as possible please.” Veronica hung up before I could reply. I smiled and hung up the phone. I was not someone she had to remain professional for and so she didn’t.
“I guess it is chicken tonight,” I thought as I stood.
Ten til Midnight 