I'm at the water cooler. I hear it gurgling behind me. I'm not sure it's supposed to gurgle, but it is. It's gurgling. I pour myself another Dixie cup of the water. This is the only water I've ever had that doesn't taste absolutely terrible. I'm starting to crave this water when I'm at home and all I have is the tap. I'm starting to be constantly thirsty because of this job, and yet this is the only place I can deal with it anymore because of its wonderful water.
I crush the the little paper cup in my hand and throw it in the trash. I head to my boss's office like he asked on the phone. "Alright," I'd said, "Gonna get some water."
He'd laughed. My thirst was funny, apparently.
I knock on his door. He tells me to come in. His smiling face gives away that I'm safe still. No one but me knows what I'm doing here. I'm safe. I'm safe.
"Zachary," he says, that smile still on his face, "Have a seat." I do, in the chair across from his desk. He continues, "I've noticed that you spend a lot of time not really doing anything in your cubicle..." He's still smiling. Am I safe?
He pauses, seems to consider the best way to continue. Then does. "I'd like to offer you an opportunity," he says. He explains and I start to tune his jolly voice out. His fat, smiling face has always bothers me. He's a terrible boss. Still, though, I nod and pretend I'm excited for a chance to move up in the company.
I go back to my cubicle and pretend to brag to my brother. Jackson doesn't know the truth about me.
I'm laying on the ground in the alley, bleeding, the hooded gang standing around me. One of them rips their mask off and leans in close. I can barely make out his face, but in the end I can. Suddenly it's starkly clear and I wonder how I didn't recognize his voice before.
I crush the the little paper cup in my hand and throw it in the trash. I head to my boss's office like he asked on the phone. "Alright," I'd said, "Gonna get some water."
He'd laughed. My thirst was funny, apparently.
I knock on his door. He tells me to come in. His smiling face gives away that I'm safe still. No one but me knows what I'm doing here. I'm safe. I'm safe.
"Zachary," he says, that smile still on his face, "Have a seat." I do, in the chair across from his desk. He continues, "I've noticed that you spend a lot of time not really doing anything in your cubicle..." He's still smiling. Am I safe?
He pauses, seems to consider the best way to continue. Then does. "I'd like to offer you an opportunity," he says. He explains and I start to tune his jolly voice out. His fat, smiling face has always bothers me. He's a terrible boss. Still, though, I nod and pretend I'm excited for a chance to move up in the company.
I go back to my cubicle and pretend to brag to my brother. Jackson doesn't know the truth about me.
I'm laying on the ground in the alley, bleeding, the hooded gang standing around me. One of them rips their mask off and leans in close. I can barely make out his face, but in the end I can. Suddenly it's starkly clear and I wonder how I didn't recognize his voice before.
