Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 46257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Checking I have everything before I close the door, I’m startled by a car honking, then feel all of Monday welcoming me to work.
A spray of dirty water from the passing car on the road ruins my outfit, and I just know it’s gonna be one of those days.
Dad wants to fuss about it, but I shoo him away. I tell him I’m fine and turn to make the short dash to the ancient-looking building, shining from the rain, water spouting from the stone gargoyles on each corner of the rooftop five stories up.
I feel a shiver, but it’s not from the cold. Not from the creepy old building that looks more like a haunted manor than my workplace.
A different kind of shiver. Like someone’s been watching me.
It’s not a creepy feeling either, instead, it makes me feel all warm inside. It’s just as well because I’m soaked through and would normally be in tears by now.
I turn before going inside, wondering if someone really is watching me, but there’s just the usual city traffic. A car honking and a truck moving off from the lights opposite.
Making my way to the ladies' room, I figure a few minutes under the hand dryer should dry most of the water. But it won’t do much for the condition of my poor skirt and blouse.
“Jesus, Bridget!” A familiar voice exclaims.
Karen, my boss, says, coming out of one of the stalls. “You look like hell. What happened?” she asks, and I open my mouth to tell her. But that’s not how Karen operates. She starts talking before I can even draw a breath.
“Don’t forget. Fire drill at ten thirty sharp,” she clips, flattening her mouth as she scans my body. Clicking her tongue with disappointment.
“And for god’s sake, clean yourself up. What if management came down here? I don’t want them thinking I’d let that in the office,” she exclaims, pointing at my outfit and shaking her head.
“I haven’t forgotten,” I grind through my teeth. “…And yes, I’m about to dry myself off.” I somehow manage to get out those words without losing my mind.
She’s quick to leave before remarking that it’s on me if anything goes wrong with the drill.
It’s a good ten to fifteen minutes before I even look half decent enough. But at least I’m dry again. Not that anyone except Karen would notice. The office is a pretty cheerless place. Being the youngest and most unexciting, I only ever get attention when someone needs blaming.
But a job’s a job. And a glance at the in-tray on my desk lets me know it.
Here for work, Bridget, not a super-happy fun time.
The thought makes me giggle to myself, and I can’t help but think about how I felt before I came in. Before I got splashed.
I dunno…It really felt like something from the world reaching out to me. Like something or someone that I couldn’t see actually cared for once.
Weird. Maybe I’ve been spending too much time at home with my parents.
Maybe their weirdness is rubbing off on me.
No time to dwell on fantasies, though. And as much as I hate to admit it, Karen’s just being a boss. I can tell at a glance that I have a ton of other stuff to get through before the fire drill.
That little part of me wonders if she’s deliberately heaped more work than usual on me. A question she answers herself when she pokes her head around my cubicle, with more files piled high in her arms.
“Bridget. I’ve been called away to an urgent meeting with a client this morning. I’ll leave these to you to deal with…along with the drill,” she says, dropping the files on my desk before checking her watch.
I watch them slide into my existing work, messing up everything I’ve already organized so far.
“If you need to stay later to get it done, it’ll mean less for you to do tomorrow,” she smirks.
A sigh of satisfaction to herself is all I hear before she makes one of her typical exits for the day—leaving all her work to others so she can do who knows what while still keeping her job as boss.
I’m used to her shenanigans, but today really does look like she’s put a lot of effort in to make sure I’m overwhelmed. I can’t say it isn’t working either. But I need to make sure I don’t let her see she’s getting the best of me.
With a slightly trembling hand, I make the call to the fire department once she’s left, letting them know we’re having our scheduled fire drill.
I'd probably just cry if it wasn’t for the drill and my responsibilities or that feeling I’ve had since getting out of the car earlier.
But the feeling lingers. The good one, not the work one.
The feeling that there is good in the world and today might just be the day it somehow falls right into my lap.