Another Day at the Office

My ears were ringing by the time I made it to lunch. Cell phone on mute I made it to the local diner with just barely my sanity. Taking a booth I glance at the menu knowing the exact lunch special I’m going to order, with a small glass of wine to ease my nerves.

“I’ll have the chicken Cobb lunch special and a small Cabernet.” I tell the waitress after she places a glass of water on my table.

She lifts an eyebrow at me. “Wine doesn’t come with the special.”

“I know.”

She heads off with my order and I finally release my breath. My shoulders can’t quite relax from trying to reach my earlobes, but help is on the way.

Actually, I’m used to it. It’s just another day at the office but, from time to time it gets to me. Usually when Andrew needs a second set of eyes on the numbers he’s crunching. I just provide my assistance even though I’m not in the accounting department. And when there is a problem in design- my department, it’s not going to get solved until I fix it. It’s a typical day’s work for an under-valued, underpaid, unappreciated assistant visual design director to one of the largest retailers on the east coast.

And I find myself proofreading numbers for Andrew in accounting. Never mind, all of maintenance is on a smoke break when the toilet in the ladies room is clogged and there's a leak in the fitting room. Why am I the one taping up a "Do Not Enter" sign? I'll have to check my contract, but I don't think that visual design includes areas where it's nobody's business what goes on behind closed doors.

"One Cabernet and Cobb, anything else?”

I shake my head and dig into my salad.

Stomach full and with a quarter glass of cab, I’m feeling much more relaxed. It’s days like today I wish I worked at headquarters in the heart of the city. I imagine pirouetting on the sparkling city street into the most stylishly displayed playground for all of plastic holders to enjoy.

Backed up toilet? I’m sure there’s a satisfied employee with a plunger that will sashay into the loo as elegantly as I swirled through the revolving doors. Unwelcome pipe water? It’ll be fixed by the end of the day. Numbers not adding up? Send it to the CFO. The visual design director has customers to woo with her art.

“Would you like your check?” The waitress must be getting off of her shift.

Checking the time I take the last sip of my wine and a deep breath.

“Yes, thank you.”

Heading out the door I have firmly decided to remain in the flow of future possibilities as I head back to my office on the fifth floor. Assistant today, director tomorrow under the bright lights of the city.

Maybe I’m stuck in my fantasy, or it’s my self medicating but, I did not see the old gray shrew with the cart until I sent her flying with the other side of the diner’s door.

“Sorry, can I help you?” Shouldn’t that door open the other way?

“Clumsy is what an idiot does, foolish girl with…” begins the hag.

“What? What’s going on here?”

“I’m not finished! Foolish girl with a mind a twirl, you see things as you wish, but the truth is what you’ll get.” She finishes with an indignant look of satisfaction.

“Okay, I guess that’s a no.” I say as I walk away.

That old woman just cursed me. I tried to say sorry, but… but…

I feel bad as I cross Main Street to the department store. I tried to offer my help. Maybe she didn’t hear me.

I stop in front of the department store window, in shock. How has my springtime tennis wear display morphed into summertime swimwear?

I head to the elevator with vengeance on my mind. Suzanne, the visual director, didn't even tell me it was time for the summer display. First the woman who called me clumsy and foolish, now this.

I’m just off the elevator at the executive offices when Mallory the receptionist chirps.

“Hope you enjoyed your lunch it’s a shit show over here.”

“Thanks Mallory, wait what?”

“Gail, I found out what happened to maintenance they’re on strike for better wages, I’m going to ask the diner if I can use their restroom during the week.” Brian rushes past me.

“What?” I shout after him as he calls the elevator.

“That was conveniently left out of the company email, sons of bitches!”

“Huh?”

“What are you so confused about? They’re not all smoking and nipping the bottle like we thought.”

As he enters the elevator I feel I must explain to Mallory what he meant.

“We never said that…”

“Never said what?” Mallory looks at me confused.

“What Brian just said.”

“That he’s headed to lunch, and he has questions about the design brief he’ll ask you when he gets back.”

“Oh….”

“Suzanne called, she wants to go over the summer window display ideas when she finally gets off the beach and her much younger boyfriend’s d!@$.”

“I… Suppose… Suzanne hasn’t returned from her long weekend…”

“From last weekend, no, she wants you to call her as soon as you can.” Mallory gives me an all too sweet smile.

“Gail,” Andrew greets, “do you want to get dinner sometime? Oh no, a happy hour drink is much less commitment… Can you look this over for me one more time?”

“Sure Andrew,” I take his folder, “I’ll be in my office”.

“Don’t forget to call the cougar!” Mallory reminds me to my back.

I get to my office and shut the door behind me.

“Thank you old hag, you fixed my day. I think I’ll take Andrew up on a drink… if I can get him to actually ask.”

The End