My boss Allen, leaning back in his chair shrugged. "If it gets too bad, then I guess they will just figure out a way for us to work from home or something..."
He's always like this, straight-faced with no clear drop of any evident emotion in his voice. The only notable tell if he is being serious or not if typically if a side-ways smirk lines his face. Sure enough the tell appears on his face as he twists his arm back and starts typing on his phone as if there is all there is to this.
A sigh escapes my lips, my shoulder slump as I slowly pace a few feet to my desk. Casually I toss my glance over my shoulder at my coworkers. One mirrors my boss in action as she has her phone to her face. Nicole sporadically retorts off bits of news articles about the situation at hand. Her voice is as light as normal, like she's reading off lines about some funny social media meme.
My eyes meet with hers, to which her response is a simple eye roll. "Cassandra, you are stressing out over nothing- again. It's like an overgrown version of the flu. The fact people are buying up toilet paper left and right like it's a best selling toy during the holiday season is laughable."
The other coworker, James only lowers his head. His eyes dodging mine as he rubs the back of his neck. "What if it's not?" His voice lingers enough to find all of us watching him with anticipation of where he's heading for this.
Before anyone can press where James is going with this. Another figure turns the counter and enters, a tall man with a mustache and a tie that screams eighties from the rooftop. Perhaps the same year he last bought anything remotely fashionable. "What's up, all?"
His greeting sends a jolt to the two on their phones, in a frantic state they shove their devices out of sight. A feat that leaves me chuckling at their weathered expressions. "Mr. Johnson, ready for that game Friday night?" My boss asks as he gestures towards the coffee cup on his desk with the state's team's logo across the surface.
"Game's not happening. Or any game, maybe anything really...." Mr. Johnson shoves his hands in his pockets as he leans against the wall. "We just got a call from the governor's office, they are requesting all non-essential business close...."
A small chorus of surprised remarks surface between the three others. Me, I just sigh and flop down in my chair. The overwhelming desire of wanting to sit down overcomes me, as does a wave of nausea.
"...you're heard of those 'shelter-in-place' orders, right? Tomorrow night we have one in effect. It's only two weeks, shouldn't be too bad. Might miss a game or two, but that new season comes out on Netflix Saturday night, so no guilt having a marathon."
"But are we an essential business?" James voices, as he tugs at the top of his tie.
"Yes, are we?" I find myself echoing as I watch Mr.Johnson closely.
Again, he shrugs. I feel my brows crease in annoyance, what is with nearly everyone being so nonchalant? "We do work with suppliers in the medical field, so production is fine to keep going. But you guys," He points towards us. "Get to work from home."
I suppose he sees the concern lining my face as he sends a smile towards me. "Relax, think of this as a mini two-week break from the office. We'll be back to normal by month's end and have our company cook-out as soon as we get back!"
--
"I can't believe you get to work from home, so lucky..." A ting of jealousy rings in my girlfriend's voice as she helps me transform our dinning table into a proper working desk. She does as far as to bring a small vase of fake roses from my bedside table and place them by my computer. "Working from home everyday, Mister Whiskers will love the non-stop human interaction."
