Semi-Daily Scribbles

It was the openness Helen dreaded. She kept her cards close to her chest, and did not like people poking about in her business. Helen felt her professionalism and excellent attendance was all an employer should expect of her. Why, then, did she have to attend these horrible leadership courses where they made you act out silly role reversals? Helen didn't care what ran through Mr. Shipley's mind. She knew what needed to be done, and did it. As far as Helen was concerned, her boss was window dressing. Attention seeking was not her style. Helen let the lazybones around the office compete for the title of "Employee Who Has Too Much On His/Her Plate." Helen thought maybe, if these people stopped complaining about being busy and just did the damn work, she wouldn't feel so foolish during the Trust Building exercises. When did being everybody's friend become necessary in earning a paycheck? She worked so she could pay her bills and have a little extra at the end of the month for books and the occasional movie. Helen didn't want to lord over anyone, or hear about someone's family troubles. She wanted to come in, perform the tasks at hand, and go back to her peaceful rooms filled with freshness and color. Helen splurged the day before and bought one dozen yellow roses. She smiled at the thought of the tight little buds unfurling for her when she returned home that evening. It would not be a lie when she'd say to her flowers, "well done, my dears." That was openness. Helen knew none of her officemates would care to hear how she thought they were all small-minded and rotten.