Talking To

This morning we are faced with extremely unpleasant task of assembling and sending out mailing. The Contessa says with what know from personal experience is false confidence that she will take care of labels and that Susan the work study student is due in any moment. Susan does not arrive, the labels become alarmingly stuck in the feeder, and when to to make copies of letter to be sent out, the copy machine makes a horrible grinding noise then turns itself off. The Contessa, with what must be at least partially misplaced frustration, says that one of us needs to Talk to Susan. She can't come in late like this (this first time Susan has ever been late). Tell the contessa that she is free to to the talking. She says, No, not her, every time she has to Talk to work study students, her lip starts to wobble. Even the acting student who walked around the office barefoot and who once told the Contessa to hold on for a second, she (the Actress) was on the phone with her boyfriend in Alaska. She deserved to be Talked to, but the Contessa says that she, herself, was the one who was wreck for days after doing the talking. The actress agreed to all behavioral changes and then went promptly back to her bad habits. When Susan comes in, say in very firm tone that if One is going to be late, One ought to Call. Susan says, O. She is very very sorry but she's been too busy with school and she really ought to quite. Insanely try to take back firm tone and tell her that it doesn't matter, we can work around her schedule. No, no. She wants to do what is right. We shouldn't be kept waiting. As she leaves the office, presumably for the last time, Romeo arrives to look at the copy machine. He goes straight back to machine. Much later, he emerges from copy room with dark look on face. Says that there is nothing else he can do for her. Think, confused, that he is talking about Susan, who am still in shock over. He says She is like the Bride of Frankenstein, all patched together with different parts and now there is hardly anything left of the original. See that he is talking about he copy machine Think his metaphor very clever and tell him so. Romeo seems pleased. Leaves card with name of Your Sales Person. Hide in pending file. The Contessa claims victory over the mailing labels. Begin loathsome task of stuffing envelopes.


(Michael and Frostine99: thank you for your kind words.)