| It is funny the way some people decide who they are | | | | “Do you know who the new chic will be? She is |
| going to take advantage of. Some people I think | | | | going to start next week”. I ignored her statements |
| listen to the sound of your voice, or look into your eyes | | | | and made a mad dash to the water cooler. |
| for a measure of vulnerability. They pounce on your | | | | Who said that there was comradeship at the water |
| weakness and Whamo! They think they have you. | | | | cooler? We are not buffalos at the water hole, waiting |
| Well today was no different. “I want you to do | | | | to pretend to enjoy the same muddy waters. I |
| this thing” Dorothy said over the phone. I knew her | | | | answered “No I did not know who the new chic |
| voice but she did not know mine. I had recently | | | | would be” I answered that way because I suddenly |
| occupied the office of the person I replaced at my | | | | realized she has never seen me before and she |
| new job. “I know that you will have no problem | | | | thought she was talking to the previous occupier of |
| doing it because you are the best” Oh God what a | | | | my new office. |
| fool. Why do people have to preface their request for | | | | I felt brave and said “You know, I heard through |
| something with such nonsense? “What do you | | | | the grapevine that someone is getting terminated from |
| want I asked Dorothy? “Well you know what you | | | | the program for being a trouble maker” |
| always do” “fix things” I wanted a light bulb to | | | | “Someone who like to make crank phone calls and |
| appear over her head. | | | | set people up” She asked where I heard this rumor. |
| The way I figured, sooner than later her true colors | | | | I replied with a Harrumph and said, “Well truly I got a |
| would come seeping through her ears like water out | | | | note under my door and there was an extension of |
| of a diver’s ear. Her voice grated on my nerve. | | | | two three one two” This was her office extension. I |
| She sounded like a teacher scratching the school | | | | said that I was not sure who sent the note although |
| board and listening for that Oh my God! statement | | | | the handwriting was clear on the proverbial wall”. |
| from the students. I told her that she would have to do | | | | “Furthermore” I said I am to be a part of the |
| whatever she needed to do to. I was curious so I | | | | investigation as to why this person would want to do |
| listened to her request. “This thing” she said was | | | | such a “Thing”. “What thing? She asked. |
| to plant the seed of doubt in someone’s ear about | | | | “Did someone ask someone to do something that |
| the new chic. “Why? I asked must I do this thing” | | | | was wrong? She paled. “Oh that is terrible”. I |
| “Well” she said, “You are believable” and | | | | shrugged and walked away. I left her looking confused |
| “I am not”. I gave the excuse that I did not | | | | and questioning. She started to mumble something and |
| have the gift of gab and that I was a Christian person | | | | thought better of it. I kept on walking and thought. I |
| whose mother taught her never to lie. “Hey” | | | | could do that “thing” It was pretty easy and not |
| what happen to the “If you have nothing good to | | | | necessarily enjoyable. |
| say about someone do not say it” cliché? I | | | | There was a lesson to be learned from doing this |
| asked. She totally ignored me and asked “Well | | | | “thing”. It was important not to underestimate the |
| are you going to do this thing”. It should be very | | | | look in someone’s eye or to misjudge the soft |
| simple to; this “thing” I thought, say something to | | | | spoken voice. Strength is not in the voice, but in the |
| someone and then that someone says something to | | | | persistence of the voice and the number of voices. I |
| someone else; pretty easy. I placed the phone on the | | | | wondered what voices she was hearing in her head. It |
| receiver and quietly left my room. | | | | is like having nerve of steel when you are afraid to do |
| I practically ran into her in the hallway. I pretended not | | | | something. It is better to take the chance than to risk |
| to see her and she looked quizzically at me. | | | | never having tried at all. Never do that “thing” it is |
| “Hey” she said out loud. “Do I know you” | | | | wrong. |
