A cloud in a skirt

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

This is an eternal pursuit of independence and excellence. Is it indestructible? I hate it when the bosses yell at me. Before, I was all squeezed into a tiny fist, trying to become small, very small, in order to squeeze into some crack like a cockroach. Perhaps no one will notice such a tiny creature. This tactic suited me well, a man who never wanted someone's comfortable chair or heavy briefcase. Let others take full responsibility and torment themselves by answering difficult questions. And I'm just humming quietly under my breath, I will build my light and colorful houses on the desktop. Until, under the scorching gaze of the authorities, the paper begins to smoke. Then it remains only to quickly and without a trace dissolve in the air like the fairy Morgana. If there is no person, then there is no problem either. And there is no need to trumpet about this. And tomorrow, at exactly 8:00 am, will I again arrive at the planning meeting with innocence in my eyes?

My dear colleagues, realizing that I am simply not capable of nasty things by nature, sincerely rejoice at my successes, angrily resent when I fall out of favor with my superiors, they gladly come to the rescue in my work. But only within the confines of our modest office for six"

The most interesting thing is that the "favorites" and the best employees, awarded with personal offices with soft sofas, luxurious computers and squeaking "hundreds", are not at all better than me. The fact is that no one notices their mistakes. These punctures do not seem to exist in nature even when the office, through the fault of a pet, loses millions of dollars in lawsuits. This is something like production costs, says the bosses, affectionately stroking their unfortunate "brainchild" on the head and rewarding him with another large sum of money: "Oh, my dear, did you go through such stress when you were sued?"

Well, what about me? I am silent, nodding my head to everything. You can scoff as much as you like and practice forbidden strikes on me. That's enough … What to choose with your weapon? Scream? Will not work. In this they are masters, they will change. Tantrum? And this is familiar to them, they will only rejoice. I don’t know how to do nasty things. This means that they need something that they do not have at all, and never will. And I know what it is?

Smile! Yes, a normal human smile. Kind, warm, joyful, to the top of your mouth.. So sincere and understanding, and sympathetic?

Well, the opportunity was not slow to present itself, and very quickly. Another call to the carpet. The boss, like a courier train, all brilliant and powerful, grimacing contemptuously, slowly got under way, stretching and spreading, as if reluctantly, began to utter the words: "I studied your project and realized that you did not work well on it." I knew: now he will puff, heating up like an iron, then everything inside him will boil. And, igniting itself, it rushes again along the rolled rails, increasing speed, and then, unable to bear it, it will start releasing scalding steam, spray of boiling water will fly, and, finally, a deafening whistle will be heard. And at that moment I will hide in his trash can and there I will silently sprinkle the ashes from his cigarette on my head? No matter how it is! I didn’t wait for him to flare up. And when the chief fell silent a little, taking in full lungs of air to snort contemptuously, I smiled at him! Affectionate and clear, like the sun at dawn, boldly looking straight into his eyes. The chief froze in a half sigh, his mouth parted. "Yes, you are absolutely right !?" - I happily rushed across the railway, playing with a bright smile flag. “However,” - ah, with what pleasure I pronounced this word, as if turning out easily and naturally heavy sleepers and rails with a deafening explosion. If you provided me with a car on time, you wouldn't have to look for new partners for my project today. And the firm would also have new opportunities if I worked on a new computer. In addition, it would be necessary to change the design, try to work with new technologies …

I smiled and smiled, now a little haughty, slightly condescending, like a beloved teacher with an excellent student. And with a mentoring tone, she showed with tough gestures what financial benefits await the firm as a result of my project. The chief was silent. He was dumbfounded and seemed to be shorter. He sat in his chair, pensive, thoughtful. Well, in the meantime, he was in the "retreat" I left with dignity and a victorious smile on my lips.

He never tried to yell at me again. True, others have tried. But they met my smile again on my face. I have become different. Inside, peace has settled in the soul. Huge and warm. I gave it to everyone with great pleasure. My colleagues in the office greeted me with joy. I almost became the life of the party.

And the leadership? They just stopped noticing me. I fell out of space. Neither my advantages, nor disadvantages, nor victories, nor mistakes were discussed at the planning meeting anymore. The boss generally stopped calling me to him. He began to come to our office himself when there was a production need to give any orders. Sometimes he talked to me on the phone exclusively for work. I tried to joke with him, told him jokes, inquired about health and well-being in the family. But the person simply refused to make contact. He got off with routine phrases and did not want to show his humanity in any way.

My salary was not increased. They didn't give me a new computer. Anyway, I felt as if in front of the thick glass of the terrarium, completely safe. I watched from the side, who would eat whom and not choke. Who will let the poison to whom. And she calmly did her job. My nervous and depressed colleagues fussed around quietly. And I was not in the least interested in gossip and the struggle for power, which suddenly flared up in our office with unprecedented force. The chiefs began to swear already among themselves. But I, on the other hand, enjoying the peace and unexpected freedom, could do whatever I wanted. To be late for the planning meeting: no one will notice it anyway. To run away during working hours somewhere on my urgent matters, because I still do a great job.

Suddenly, the project partners made me a tempting offer - to go to them, along with all their ideas. The terms were excellent, and I agreed. The authorities no longer needed any profit or the project itself. They became more and more bogged down in squabbles. Now I am working very fruitfully in a new place. I have more than a new computer and a soft sofa in my office. There is my little business, which warms not only me, but also three of my colleagues. As for the former office, it has now safely collapsed into two parts, each of which was headed by one of the chiefs. They divided their relatives and friends among themselves, having fired the "black horses". And the third, my immediate boss, the biggest fan of yelling at subordinates, was left with nothing. He now resides in Israel and works as a night watchman in a supermarket. No, I'm not gloating. It's just that life sometimes brings strange surprises. This is me also to the fact that quite recently, both bosses took turns insistently calling me. Get invited to work. However, I will never fall for their bait now.