{cont!} || @feeblefortuity !
Olimar bends down to help gather up the litter of papers, giving Eric a look of barely-concealed pity. He doesn’t know this coworker very well, but he is familiar with their boss’s temper.
“You could blame me, you know. I’m always out on the road, so he’d have to call me up to yell at me. I just won’t answer. Hah!” He gives an encouraging smile, straightening up and offering his free hand to help Eric rise to his feet as well.
“People are always blaming delays on ‘late deliveries’.” Whether their assignments involve shipping or not. “So I’m used to it by now.”
“My name is Olimar, by the way. You’re… Eric, right? I think I saw you at that ‘Bring Your Children to Work Day’ lunch.” That initiative had ended in disaster and was canceled before the day was through, but still. It was fun while it lasted.
“How are your wife and children?” That seems a safer question than “are you holding up okay? I can’t help but notice you’ve been demoted again since the last time I saw you.”