Cream and Sugar

Chapter 3

Valeria walked into the office with a sigh. She held a cup of coffee in one hand and a bagel in the other. She had enough time this morning to have a decent breakfast, (surprisingly). She spotted Jim talking to Pam at reception and a walked over.

"Solitaire?" She asked.

Pam nodded.

"Six on seven" remarked Jim leaning over the desk to see Pam's screen.

"I know. I saw that".

Valeria took a bite out of her bagel.

"So then, why didn't you do it?"

"Isn't it obvious Halpert? She was saving it for the T-ts-ts-tch-tch-tch" chuckled Valeria.

"Right. Who doesn't love that" smiled Jim.

***
"I don't know why, but does it seem like Jim's being a little awkward around me?" Asked Valeria, "I hope it's not because he likes me. I have a date tonight with this nice guy, it'd be a little awkward".
***
Valerie noticed Michael coming from his office and made a beeline for the annex so she could avoid any encounters with him before the 'Diversity Day' meeting.

After placing her things on her desk she walked back to the front desk.

"I'm not looking forward to this" groaned Valeria.

Pam looked at her sympathetically, "Maybe since he's not the only one in there it will be more bearable".

"I hope so".

Valeria followed Jim and walked into the conference room. A man at the front of the room was handing out cards.

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Great".

Michael smiled,  "Come on people, let's get 'em in. Get in the cards! Get in the cards!"

"Thank you. Thank you very much. OK. Thanks for filling these out and I promise this'll be quick. At Diversity Today, our philosophy is about honesty and positive expectations. We believe that 99% of the problems in the workplace arise simply out of ignorance".

"You know what? This is a color-free-zone here. Stanley, I don't look at you as another race" stated Michael a triumphant expression crossing his features.

Valeria shook her head, "He is so ignorant it's almost shocking".

"Uh, see this is what I'm talking about. We don't have to pretend we're color-blind".

"Exactly, we're not...."

"That's fighting ignorance with...."

"Tolerance!" Interrupted Michael.

The man looked at him skeptically, "No... with more ignorance".

"Right. Exactly. Uh, instead, we need to celebrate our diversity"

"Let's celebrate!"

"Right. Okay".

"Celebrate good times. Come on! Let's celebrate diversity. Right?"

"This is going to be the longest meeting I have ever been in" whispered Valeria.

Jim nodded absentmindedly. This did not go unnoticed by Valeria.