Winston
Janet Yung © 2008
Winston had been avoiding Margery all morning. He sat at his desk, nose buried in a computer printout the numbers making no sense while he would sneak a peek over the top of the page. They’d brought in doughnuts, cookies and cake for his birthday but since Margery surprised him at the coffee machine with a kiss he’d retreated to his office without getting the second jelly doughnut he was craving. The first one had been so good and the department secretary had bought two of the jelly filled doughnuts especially for him. “I know they’re your favorites,” she’d smiled when he opened the box and a small groan of delight escaped his lips when he spotted them.
“Mmm,” he grinned as the filling squished out with the first bite. He’d been so happy standing there with his coworkers, drinking coffee, eating the treats and chatting about his birthday plans. Then Margery ambushed him.
When she planted the kiss on his cheek, he nearly choked on the piece of doughnut in his mouth. He didn’t know how to conceal his embarrassment, especially with his face turning a brighter shade of red than the jelly spilling out onto his shirt and landing on the portion of his stomach extending over his belt. “Excuse me,” he mumbled and ran into the cubicle he occupied. It was the only time he missed the office he once had. He didn’t have a door he could close. All he could do now was pretend he was engrossed in his work. He’d become adept at it, too. He might have been demoted but he could hang on another year. That was all he needed, making this birthday especially welcome.
His heart was still pounding now an hour later while he tried to figure out if the coast was clear. He didn’t have an unobstructed view to the coffee machine where the treats were neatly stacked on the table kept there for that purpose. The staff seemed to be celebrating something all the time lately. Usually, it was a birthday or service anniversary. But lately, it had been departures. Some voluntary and some not. Winston shook the report and cleared his throat signaling his deep concentration with the figures in front of him. Another quick glance. Phones were ringing -- not like they once did -- but there was enough to keep the remaining staff busy.
He folded the report and put it on his desk. He could hear Tom in the next cubicle talking on the phone. It sounded personal. Winston didn’t like to eaves drop but in such close quarters it wasn’t easy. It seemed Tom and his wife were going through a rough patch. Winston was glad he wasn’t young any more. All he and Carla were living for was retirement. When he thought about it, it was depressing. Wishing your life away he’d told himself more than once. But he couldn’t wait for the day when he didn’t have to answer the alarm clock. Twelve more months. He could do that. It was a piece of cake.
He cleared his throat and pushed out of his chair with a groan. He was going to get that doughnut. Stepping outside his cubicle, the coast was clear. He looked both ways twice to be on the safe side. There were no obstacles between him and the coffee machine. The Drive Through Doughnut box was within his sight. He hurried towards the table, cup in hand for a refill. The jelly doughnut was still there. He quickly poured his coffee and scooped up the doughnut. As he turned around, Margery stood face to face with him. He almost dropped the doughnut.
“You sure like those doughnuts,” she grinned. She started to pucker her lips.
“Yeah,” he stammered unable to decide if she was laughing at him. She had to be at least ten years younger but she looked a little rough around the edges. Tom told him she was divorced and on the prowl. Winston didn’t like to gossip but she did have a kind of desperate look. And why had they hired her in the first place when they were cutting back? She hadn’t been there six months.
“Do you need some help?” She started to follow him back to his cubicle, her bracelets jangling.
“No, I’m fine.” He picked up the pace the last few feet to his desk. He landed in his seat with a thud and some of the coffee splashed over the top of his world’s greatest grandpa cup. He started to blot it up with his handkerchief.
“Here, let me help you, birthday boy.” She bent over his desk, cleavage showing as she gathered papers while he blotted.
“Thank you,” he mumbled trying to avoid looking at her. He picked up the reports, engrossed in the numbers. Margery sat on the corner of his desk, swinging one leg, her shoe tapping the metal. He kept pretending to read the numbers. He felt her eyes boring into him and finally looked up. “Did you need something?”
She smiled her crooked smile. She wore a bright red lipstick, a color Carla would never wear. “What do you think?”
Winston felt dizzy and his ears were ringing. What would Carla say if she knew about Margery? And why had she zeroed in on him of all the men in the office? He shrugged his shoulders.
“You’re so cute.” She gave him a funny look and before he knew it, planted another kiss on his cheek. “Happy birthday,” she said, sliding off the desk. She glanced over his shoulder as she headed back to her station.
Winston was mortified. Fortunately, no one had seen it. He looked at the doughnut and suddenly lost his appetite. He was thinking about tossing it in the trash can but decided his appetite might come back.
Just then, Tom stuck his head over the partition. “Whoa, Winston,” he was grinning. “What was that all about?”
“I don’t know.”
Tom leaned over. “Looks like she left her mark.”
“Huh?”
Tom pointed to Winston’s cheek. He pulled a small mirror out of his desk drawer. There were lip prints. He quickly started rubbing the lipstick with his hankie. “You might want to get rid of the evidence before you go home,” Tom offered.
“Huh?”
“The lipstick,” he pointed to the handkerchief.
“Oh, yeah,” Winston studied the white square as Tom slid out of view when his phone rang. The scent of her perfume lingered in his space._____________________
Janet Yung lives and writes in St. Louis. Previous pieces of non-fiction have appeared in small, local publications. Short fiction in “Writers On The River” and on-line “Foliate Oak” and “Terrain“.