Larry

L.C. Schäfer set a challenge and is sticking to it, as am I. You can read about it here:

Prompt number thirty:

Write a story set in an office. The picture is the prompt too in this instance.

***

"Larry looks old for a new starter," Jan said.

"He's a friend of the boss, I think," Donna explained.

"Was it necessary to hire someone who only does the photocopying? I mean, it's hardly a skilled job, is it?"

Donna shifted uncomfortably. She didn't know why Larry was employed and she was not one to question things. Jan, however, would make her spite known around the office.

"He's odd," Jan said. "I mean, who has this sort of job at his age?"

Donna smiled weakly but wondered why it mattered, as long as he was doing a good job.

She almost said it too.

***

Donna saw Larry and noticed Jan, flirting with Simon from Accounts who was, she thought, happily married.

Larry was smiling to himself, photocopying with care. Donna looked more closely at him. Was he simple as Jan implied?

Donna could hear Jan giggling. She felt her bile rise. She didn't think that she could live with herself if she acted in a cowardly way so, with a determined air, she strode towards Larry and said "Hi Larry!"

Her boss sat in his office and looked up from what he was doing. He saw Larry barely acknowledge Donna and walk away with his head down. He heard Jan sniggering. She was a nasty piece of work.

He quickly got up and tapped on the glass. Donna turned, startled. He'd never summoned her before.

Nervously, she went into his office. He closed the door and she wondered what she had done.

"I heard you talk to Larry."

Donna nodded.

Her boss was playing with a counter in his hand and looked nervous? Maybe.

She waited.

"Thank you," he said.

She nodded again.

There was a long pause.

"He's a bit, um, awkward but he's a good man."

Donna nodded again.

"Thank you, Donna." He lifted his eyes to hers and smiled warmly, all the while moving the counter in his hand.

Donna smiled, leaving bemused but gratified. Who cared about Jan?

Her boss went back to his desk. He owed Larry such a lot. He looked at the token, just one of them that Larry had helped him get:

To Thine Own Self Be True.

***

366 words

The last line is what is written on the tokens of people, who have successfully resisted their addiction, at Alcoholics Anonymous. Respect to them and their mentors or sponsors. People like Larry.

And I wish there were more Donnas and less Jans.

Check out links to the others I've written here:

Thanks for stopping by! If you do read it, please do drop a comment as I love it when people drop by and it's always good to interact.

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