Staff Meeting
Yasmine brought in doughnuts to the staff meeting.
“You know you can’t do that sort of thing anymore,” her boss reprimanded her later in his office. “We do healthy things now, you know, fruit. Cut up cantaloupe and the like.”
Yasmine could hear Ann crying in the breakroom.
“It’s just too disruptive,” her boss carried on. “Paul had to take a sick day and the 4th floor has heard a rumor that the company is filing for bankruptcy.”
“I’m sorry,” said Yasmine, “But what does this have to do with the doughnuts?”
“It’s because of the doughnuts, you fool!” wailed her boss. He loosened his tie and beat at his chest. “God almighty, look what you’ve done!” Her boss climbed onto his desk, his haunches bursting through his navy blue chinos. He pawed and swiped at the papers cluttering its surface and started flinging pens at the wall. He howled a horrible howl and Yasmine could hear echoes of it through the cubicles outside. Someone turned over a desk. A window shattered. Ann’s cries had turned to screams.
The next day, Caroline brought her pet hamster into the office. Everyone was thrilled. It was delicious.
