Short Story: “Job Switching” by Lesley Ann McDaniel, Installment 1

“Welcome to your home for the week.”

Kyra hesitated at the opening to the tiny cubicle. What had she gotten herself into?

“There’s the data that needs inputting.” The wispy office manager pointed toward the desk. She looked twelve. Wasn’t she a little young to be in charge? “If you need anything, just ask anybody.”

She strode off with an air that indicated she had more important things to do than train the office temp, and that by “anybody” she meant anybody but her.

Kyra expelled the breath that she’d been too intimidated to release, and set her bag down on the floor. A gentle concerto of computers tapped all around her and she sat, resigning herself to her fate. It was too late to back out now.

Whoever usually worked there had clearly been employed long enough to personalize the place, which made Kyra feel like she should be charged with breaking and entering. She had to make her home-for-the-week feel a little homier.

Reaching into her bag, she felt for the rectangle of soft leather that had migrated to the bottom. She slid out a photo, and a little ball of emotion played ping pong in her throat. The kids looked so little. She really should make an appointment for some new shots.

Looking around the crowded desk, she grabbed for a hunk of scotch tape. Gingerly, she coiled it into a loop and stuck the photo to the edge of the computer screen.

Blinking back an urge to check in on Brad, she said a quick prayer. He should be home from dropping Riley and Chynna off at school by now. Would he remember to give Connor his morning snack? Her hand moved toward her cell phone, but Brad’s words from that morning crept into her head. “Don’t forget the rules.”

Stupid rules.

What had she been thinking? Why had she gotten so angry at him last week? If she hadn’t been so frazzled, she would have let his complaints about his job just go right over her head as usual. But no, she had to open her big mouth.

Now, here she sat. She did a quick calculation of how long it had been since she’d worked in an office and wondered how eight years had flown by so quickly. Luckily, she’d kept up her computer skills volunteering in the church office. Otherwise, her stomach would be even flutterier than it was.

She might as well get to work.

Reaching down to push the button that would bring her screen to life, she jerked to attention. Something had clonked her squarely on top of her skull and then bounced onto her desk. A foil ball the size of a plum came to rest between the two stacks of her daily workload.

She looked around, wondering if she was the intended target, and heard a rustling sound in the cubicle next to hers.

Fingering the rough wad of tinfoil, she debated. Should she really invite trouble on her first day? Ignoring her good sense, she took aim, and tossed the orb over the wall.

To Be Continued

Friday, June 8, 2012

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