, adapted slightly for Legal Tilt: No one seemed to notice him walking into the office late. He sat down at his computer and started working on a file, but soon switched to the browser and did more research on earthquakes. Then on sound waves, and waves in general. When the phone rang he let it go to voicemail. He ignored his email. Eventually his boss Murray came by on his daily saunter down the hall and parked himself across from Travis.
“So, what are you working on?”
“Just some research.”
“I can’t stand doing research, I don’t know how you have the patience. Well, I guess it’s a good thing that you do.”
“I enjoy it. You can get lost in research.”
“There are other things I’d rather get lost in. You know, I’m seeing a new girl.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, she’s good looking considering she’s in her 40s. She laughs at my jokes, so that’s a plus.”
“A shared sense of humor is a good thing.”
Travis tried to think back to any time that Murray had actually told a joke, but he came up blank. Murray sat staring at him in his slightly unfocused but expectant way. He stretched his legs out, creeping into Travis’s space. Travis tried to look like he was returning to his work, but Murray wasn’t getting up to leave. Apparently he still wanted to talk, but just couldn’t think of anything else to talk about. Travis turned back to him.
“So how did you meet her?”
“Online dating service. It’s amazing, there are so many girls out there. The ones I end up with all seem to be divorced and in their 40s. But then I’m divorced and in my 50s so I guess I can’t complain.”
“Yeah, well . . . sure.”
Another awkward pause. Murray farted. Then more painful silence with the addition of the foul odor floating by. A mixture of egg salad and old age. Murray pointed to the picture on Travis’s desk.
“That your wife?”
“Yes.”
“She’s a looker.”
“Yes, I seem to have a weakness for good looking women.”
“Good man.”
“So, what are you working on?”
“Just some research.”
“I can’t stand doing research, I don’t know how you have the patience. Well, I guess it’s a good thing that you do.”
“I enjoy it. You can get lost in research.”
“There are other things I’d rather get lost in. You know, I’m seeing a new girl.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, she’s good looking considering she’s in her 40s. She laughs at my jokes, so that’s a plus.”
“A shared sense of humor is a good thing.”
Travis tried to think back to any time that Murray had actually told a joke, but he came up blank. Murray sat staring at him in his slightly unfocused but expectant way. He stretched his legs out, creeping into Travis’s space. Travis tried to look like he was returning to his work, but Murray wasn’t getting up to leave. Apparently he still wanted to talk, but just couldn’t think of anything else to talk about. Travis turned back to him.
“So how did you meet her?”
“Online dating service. It’s amazing, there are so many girls out there. The ones I end up with all seem to be divorced and in their 40s. But then I’m divorced and in my 50s so I guess I can’t complain.”
“Yeah, well . . . sure.”
Another awkward pause. Murray farted. Then more painful silence with the addition of the foul odor floating by. A mixture of egg salad and old age. Murray pointed to the picture on Travis’s desk.
“That your wife?”
“Yes.”
“She’s a looker.”
“Yes, I seem to have a weakness for good looking women.”
“Good man.”
Murray sat a while longer, then finally got up and left. Travis got back to his research. He took some notes on a legal pad and sketched some diagrams. The voicemails and emails piled up. He continued working until 7, then took the train home.
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