Three of Swords

My Office—AFTERNOON

Andrea makes a visit to my office. I spot her milling around looking in open doors for me, arms piles high with some books and tools have to return to me as well as a handful of promo material for my company which I had once tried to entice her with. All of this junk I would just assume trashing, but decide to walk over and relieve her from her search for me anyway.

Catching up in the crowded secretary’s room, I find Andrea has Anna Feng in tow. Oh good. More awkwardness. Andrea makes like she wants to speak to me but is embarrassed and /or constantly interrupted by our bustling staff headed to and from the copier. Handing back my stuff, she at length asks what it’s like to actually work in our field out of school. What is it like to have real career, that is.

“It has ups and downs but mostly downs.” I say curtly. “Like now, when I mostly feel sick to be confronted where I work with my first disastrous love.”

She stares only quietly back at me. Finally Andrea timidly asks me, “What is it like getting up in the morning?”

“I am not sure your reasons for asking.”

“Doesn’t matter. What is it like getting up in the morning?” She repeats and I immediately respond.

“Hell.” Then thinking I should be more dramatic add, “Sorry. It just is. I think about how you, and Spike treated me. How he actually got me barred from the department and how you are not my shy little virgin anymore.” I toss my handful of tools, books and swag into a trashcan between us and storm out.

“I just think about you.”