"Then I was like 'Uggghhh!'" She lets her expression droop to a sad face.
"Then I was like . . ."
"I get it. She's scary," I cut her off and give her a sideways glance. If I didn't stop her she would go on forever acting out emotions for me.
And then I was like, "SHUT THE FUCK UP!" "Anyway at least she's taking her lunch hiatus so we can relax." Jamie gives me a smug look for no reason whatsoever. I wonder if she is just testing out her acting 'range'.
Crystal's lunch periods can range anywhere from two to four hours. That is if she returns from lunch at all. Most of the time she gets cocktails and appetizers at any one of the overpriced, trendy restaurants in the area. She then returns, intoxicated, and complains loudly about how she has too much work to do.
So much to do, so little time . . . wait. Strike that. Reverse it. On this fortuitous day Crystal has chosen a shortened hour-long lunch. My eye caught on her polished Mercedes pulling into the parking lot as I turned my back to Jamie's ever-shifting face.
"Shit." Jamie says matter-of-factly then moves her expression to despair. I roll my eyes.
"Better scoot," I say to her and pick up some papers sitting to my left that I have to talk to Crystal about. I am so distracted by my task at hand that I don't notice her again until she walks into the front door. The sound coming from her flip flops is wild and erratic so I cock my head up.
To my horror I see her wrestling with a miniature schnauzer at the entrance to my office.
"What the hell?" The question escapes my lips before I can stop myself.
The dog cannot weigh more than 10 pounds but it looks like it is winning whatever battle they are fighting. I can't really tell who I am rooting for. For a moment this thought makes me smile.
"Jesus, Atrox! Stop!" Crystal calls, prying the dog away from her body with both hands. She finally triumphs and the animal goes nuts, barking and growling at her.
I lean back in my chair and take the situation in. Crystal's usually smooth, flawless hair is frizzy and sticking out at all ends. Her makeup is running and her eyes have the uneven, feral look of an animal.
"Uh. . . new hire?" I ask, stifling my laughter.
"Stupid DOG!" She yells. Her eyes flash back to the creature thrashing in her hands. They are both heaving with a lack of breath.
"It's . . . my . . . daughter's . . . animal . . . " Crystal pants, "and . . . she . . . is . . . in Mexico . . . for the . . . week." She blows out some air and takes a deep breath in.
"So you are stuck with it, huh?" I ask, still bemused by everything I am seeing. She nods as she wrestles a thin leash from her pocket and clips it to the dog's collar. The animal looks defeated but happy nonetheless.
You win this round!
"Yeah, I guess," Crystal sets it on the ground and glares down to the animal.
"What's it's name?"
"Atrox. I think. That's what the lady at the Pet Store told us but my daughter is planning on re-naming it 'Poodle'."
This gives me pause for a moment. Is the daughter being intentionally ironic by naming the dog a different breed or does she honestly not know that the dog is not actually a poodle?
"That's . . . cute." I finally manage through my confused stupor. Atrox has taken to yipping at Crystal's side incessantly so she yanks the leash and takes off towards her office. He actually saved me having to figure out a way to end another painfully awkward situation.
"Oh! Crystal!" I call for her down the hall, "I have some paperwork I need you to look at for the Commission Project!"
"NOT NOW!" She bellows back. The clacking from her flip flops is receding down the hall, "I'M BUSY!"
Tossing the paperwork aside I decide to investigate the name "Atrox" as it strikes me as very unusual. I google it quickly and erupt in giggles when the search engine retrieves the results.
Atrox means 'terrible' in latin.
"So you are stuck with it, huh?" I ask, still bemused by everything I am seeing. She nods as she wrestles a thin leash from her pocket and clips it to the dog's collar. The animal looks defeated but happy nonetheless.
You win this round!"Yeah, I guess," Crystal sets it on the ground and glares down to the animal.
"What's it's name?"
"Atrox. I think. That's what the lady at the Pet Store told us but my daughter is planning on re-naming it 'Poodle'."
This gives me pause for a moment. Is the daughter being intentionally ironic by naming the dog a different breed or does she honestly not know that the dog is not actually a poodle?
"That's . . . cute." I finally manage through my confused stupor. Atrox has taken to yipping at Crystal's side incessantly so she yanks the leash and takes off towards her office. He actually saved me having to figure out a way to end another painfully awkward situation.
"Oh! Crystal!" I call for her down the hall, "I have some paperwork I need you to look at for the Commission Project!"
"NOT NOW!" She bellows back. The clacking from her flip flops is receding down the hall, "I'M BUSY!"
Tossing the paperwork aside I decide to investigate the name "Atrox" as it strikes me as very unusual. I google it quickly and erupt in giggles when the search engine retrieves the results.
Atrox means 'terrible' in latin.
