McCrum, Lisa

English

Digital Commons @ Butler University

10 MANUSCRIPTS"Please don't be... ""I'm sorry Dave. I lost my temper. I better go ... Anne's probablywondering where I am," he said as he whisked out of the room.Dave sat there staring at his cluttered desk and the overflowing ashtray.Outside Paul'swindow he saw the familiar skyline. The light bulb flickeredwildly in Paul'slampand then burnt out. Dave sat alone in the dark, envelopedby depression.Charley's whistle could be heard outside the door."Everythin' okay, Mr. Saffran? I saw Mr. Denton rush out'a here. Hopethere's no trouble?""No trouble, Charley... just another burned out bulb.""They shore don't make 'em like they used to, do they Mr. Saffran? I'salways replacin' these things with new ones, all the time ... "OFFICEPARTY/by Laura WesleyHe slid between the guests delicately, making profound apologieswhenever he happened to interrupt a conversation or disturb anyone'sdrink. He possessed the very polished mien of a gracious lord; he carriedhimself erect, almost to the polnt of seeming uncomfortably stiff, he bowedceremoniously to all his old acquaintances, and every now and then heresponded to sorneone's joke with a lusty chuckle which was quite audiblefrom anywhere in the room. Finallyhe reached the new secretary who wasstanding against the wall like a lost kitten, wondering if she should approachthe young man in the armchair."Ava-ah, LiNda!" He seemed to have just noticed her. His voice wasresonant but hollow, as if he were shouting into a deep, dry well. She onlynodded. He impressed her asa jovial, paternal type, and she was confidentthat he would soon put her at ease. She tried to appease her anxiety byimagining him as Santa Claus. The fantasy wasn't hard to conjure; he hadMANUSCRIPTS 11smile wrinkles around his eyes, and plenty of rosy color on his high cheeks,and a head full of smooth, silver-grey hair. She imagined that he smiledcongenially behind his full mustache, although she couldn't be sure. Hisstomach bulged as if it had enjoyed fifty years of hearty Christmas dinners."Will you be starting work to-morrow?""Yes, sir, at eight." Her picture disintegrated. Santa Claus would havewinked; this man only cleared his throat while allowing her answer toregister. Perhaps a distinguished Englishman- in fact, he seemed to bedeliberately creating such an impression. He wore a grey suit and carried agold watch in his pocket, with a long chain which hung down for show. Hewas holding a pipe, and had been holding it for half an hour, although heapparently hadn't thought to light it. His tweed hat, which he had for sometime been holding like a prop, was perched on top of the pile of coats by thedoor."Ah-HA! Yes! We are always eager to hire another healthy youth in thisoffice. Healthy people are so contented and reliable, you know. None of myemployees ever miss a day of work.""Yes, sir, I understand."His speech lacked any accent which could give it warmth. His vowels weremeticulous, and he never slurred a syllable. He might have been a student ofHenry Higgins'. Most startling, though, were his eyes. True, they wereshaped as if they should twinkle with easygood will, but they twitched faintlyat the corners, and now they looked as if they were studying her, strugglingto perceive even her most minute reactions. They appeared to besuppressing some enormous tension. She envisioned him at the point of agun, afraid to move and yet speculating wildly ... then she imagined himbehind the gun, waiting to pull the trigger if she should flinch. Somethingabout him terrified her."Well, I am certain that I will be able to expect only superb work from you.Enjoy yourself- mingle! These guests are your new friends and associates."He turned abruptly to slide toward the punch bowl. Suddenly she felt like aflyamong spiders. Instead of approaching the man in the armchair, she slippedout of the room through the back door and headed home.

The Movers

https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3355&amp;context=manuscripts

The Movers

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Digital Commons @ Butler University