TGIF

Chapter 2: One More Second

"Morning, Larry!" I waved to my neighbor. Larry waved back with his cane in hand, and hit it against the ceiling light.

"Ope, probably shouldn't do that!" he laughed.

"Working on your Fred Astaire routine?"

"You know it!"

"Gotta go, Larry, but nice seeing ya!" I said. I wasn't in any hurry except to see what surprises this Friday 2: Electric Boogaloo held.

Mr. Ryerson was right that spring brought fresh air, though I couldn't find any flowers on my way to the train. The morning commute wasn't the best time for admiring nature, I supposed. I boarded my usual train.

"...you don't look like you'd have a tattoo," Dennis said to Abby, who seemed no more amused the second time.

"Hey Dennis! Hey Abby! How's it going?" I interrupted.

"I was just telling Dennis how much it sucks to live in a town full of hicks," Abby groaned.

"What's got a bee in your bonnet? I grew up around these parts. They're good people," Dennis said woundedly.

"What makes them hicks?" I asked.

"They ask silly questions, like what tattoos I have or where I'm really from," she said, making eye contact.

"That sucks."

"What's got you dressed up today?" Dennis asked.

"Big sales presentation for Mr. Robinson," I said, not sure if they'd already heard the details.

"He's hard to please."

"His mistress pleases him," Abby said.

"I've always found him inspirational," Dennis continued.

"Oh really?" I said, leaning in.

"He reminds me of this podcast I listen to—have you listened, Mike, to Troy Bentley's podcast?"

"It sounds familiar... I think you've told me about it. It's 'The Measure of a Man,' right?"

"Right on. You see, in modern society, things are awful for us. We're being demonized in the media, being blamed for all of the world's problems, and the natural order of things is changing. The glass floor we stand on is crumbling to pieces."

"I'm not so sure I agree," I said thoughtfully. "What do you think, Abby?"

Abby groaned again.

"Troy Bentley is a psycho who poisons the minds of teenagers all over the nation. Give me a microphone, because I'm gonna give a speech about his misogyny if you let me."

"This is exactly what I mean!" Dennis exclaimed. He leaned in conspiratorially, like I was being let in on a secret about how the world truly worked.

Abby cleared her throat. "Our stop's next." She again changed into high heels, and this time I lingered while Dennis marched ahead, presumably wishing to avoid any more awkward conversation.

"Have anything interesting planned at work today?" I asked.

"I'll probably be gaslit again into thinking a fifty-hour workweek is normal."

"Keep your chin up. Just one more day and it's the weekend."

"TGIF, am I right?"

We parted ways once we entered Infinitech, and I felt bad for her for reasons that I couldn't put words to.

Dennis caught up to me in the coffee line a few hours later. I'd spent the morning revising my presentation until my mouth went dry, either from anxiety or dehydration.