The Bobby Andrewz Show

Chapter 2 - The Office

Chapter 2

Bobby pushed a button and spoke on the intercom to announce his presence.

There was a brief static sound, some background noise, a slight pause and a "sophisticated sneeze" from the invisible person on the other end.

A few seconds later, the electronic door unlocked itself.

Bobby inhaled deeply and closed his eyes for a second before stepping inside.  He had a flare for drama but would never admit it. He liked the suspense even though his rib cage was gearing to explode. 

The little endorphin rush was overwhelming, almost unbearable but Bobby paid no mind.  The more colorful, the more dangerous, the more uncertain his circumstances, the better.   

Bobby closed the door behind him, walking slowly in the dark as he headed towards the inviting ray of light streaming from the adjacent room.  His long awaited moment had finally come as he had already imagined countless times in the past.

"Prepare to be amazed." Bobby whispered excitedly to  himself as he anticipated being blown away by what he was about to see. 

But the fireworks never came.

Seated behind the reception desk was a small framed lady with Hispanic features and a curvaceous build. She was talking on the phone while looking intently at a piece of paper.

Her name tag read Chie.

She must be the receptionist or the secretary or the Admin person, the right hand of the Chief, The  Keeper of the Petty Cash.

Surrounding her were a handful of young men and women who looked like they were plucked fresh out of college, dressed in business clothes. They were all quiet, listening to Chie’s monologue, patiently waiting.

Bobby felt awkward.

He was not a shy man but that was not the kind of reception he anticipated. He did not know how to get Chie's attention without breaking the queer yet sacred silence.

He felt vulnerable although no one seemed to even care that he was there.

Bobby felt like he accidentally stepped in a congregation of sorts with a  camaraderie so thick, he could almost touch it.

Chie put the phone back on its cradle with the sophistication of a professional actress. Without looking at Bobby or anyone else, she uttered the magic word.

She said “Approved” and the room exploded.

A guy named Jad began hopping like a bunny, throwing gigantic throw pillows on the wall while shouting strange jargons that only he understood.

A young bespectacled guy named Lee was just smiling timidly in one corner while his other male co-workers were running around giving high fives to everybody.

The young women, on the other hand, were smiling broadly and chatting excitedly as they headed back to their cubicles.  They were all holding sizeable cloths for cross stitching, walking and sewing at the same time. 

Interestingly, at eight o'clock in the morning, one of the women who kept on applying rubbing alcohol on her arms during the huddle was already halfway through her bottle of soda.

What kind of an office was that?

Like a gigantic wave under a surfboard, the vision of R.E.M.'s music video flashed on Bobby’s head.  He swayed to the rhythm of his mental voice that sounded exactly like Michael Stipe’s. 

On fire.

“It’s the end of the world as we know it …. And I feel fine ……”

Bobby heard his name not once but three times.

The voice calling him was soft but slowly progressing into borderline pissed off. 

Bobby turned around. Chie was standing poised on her polished heels with her trimmed brows perfectly arched, raised and demanding for an answer.

Bobby grinned in embarrassment. He frantically searched for his badge and showed it to Chie. He walked to her waving the pink order slip that he was holding.

Chie looked at his badge and smiled. “Bobby Andrewz?” She asked.

Bobby suddenly remembered what he was initially excited for before the strange commotion took place in front of him. He was proud of his name and everything else that it stood for. 

“Yes ma’am. Bobby Andrewz at your service.”

Chie was certain she saw the young man wink but she didn’t say anything.  She smiled at Bobby.  The day was just unfolding.

Maybe he was their lucky charm.

TheBobbyAndrewzShow.2014

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