“We have to get to the meeting room. Now.

“Now?”

“Now.”

“Okay then.”

I got up and followed. Many of my comrades in the office were making their way there too. It was a small office of only about forty, but in this moment it seemed as though there were much more as they hurried past me and my suddenly aware self.

“What are you waiting for?”

“I’m moving, I’m moving”.

I got up and joined the massive crowd of a few as we all made our way toward the meeting room and squeezed our way in through the door frame.

Of course the seats around the table were taken and thus most of us had to stand. This was going to be short, I hoped, but of course hope is not always something that can shift things to your benefit.

At one end of the table sat a person who seemed to think that they were were more important than they actually were. It was our boss.

“Where is everyone?”

“There’s a few tied up still.”

“Well get them. This is important.”

“Yes sir.”

WE waited in silence. Not one person made a sound outside of the sound of breathing and some shuffling about. This was awkward and far more tense than it needed to be. I could only think of leaving but I knew that if I decided to step away I’d have to deal with a whole heap of crap from the boss kicking up a stink for no reason. They were someone who was a little irrational and juvenile in their approach if you did something that they so much as perceived as a slight slight.

Actually, any reason that they could find they would throw a very calm tantrum over. Calm, yet firm and lacking subtlety. Sometimes also lacking tact.

There was no real explanation as to why we took his crap other than it was easier. They were ineffectual as a leader and a boss and so the less reason we gave them to leave their office, the more we could get done and the less we would have to see them.

Whenever they would come out of their office and start grandstanding, or just talking in general you’d glaze over and not take in anything. The boss would never notice and think that they’d be getting something into you and you’d just be on autopilot as your mind went elsewhere and disregarded as much as you possibly could.

It made the job much easier to handle. The moment you’d let the boss in was the moment you’d get pissed off dealing with a babbling idiot.

We waited in that room, waited for the last of the people to get into the office. It felt like an eternity, and it probably was to someone.

Eventfully everyone was all there.

“Is this now everyone?”

“Yes sir.”

“Good. Thank you all for coming. It is appreciated. Now that you’re all here, we can begin the meeting.”

The time it took to write five-hundred words: 10:43:87

Slow.
Not sure as to what I was going for with this one.

Not sure if I’m referencing any bosses I’ve had.
Pretty sure I’m not.

Written in Redfern.