January 21 Free Write - The Office

The prompt that sent the three writers to their pens and paper to do a ten-minute Free Write was "He entered his office." These writers meet weekly either in person or through the internet.

 D-L's Free Write

Ralph entered his office. He saw his black coffee, no milk, no sugar on his desk. His assistant Denise brought him coffee Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Because he wasn't a male chauvinist pig, he brought her coffee on Tuesday and Thursday.

His out-tray was empty, His in-tray was full of folders. So much for the paperless office. Legal still wanted paper originals.

He did have a window. It faced a brick wall.

This was his life every work day: same old, same old, same old.

He hung his coat on a hangar so it wouldn't wrinkle.

After lunch, he'd finished half the folders then Denise brought in another six. To complete them, he'd have to stay late. When he entered his building, it had been a beautiful spring day. He could look into the grassy common alive with daffodils, tulips and pansies across the street.

He stood, put on his coat, scribbled a note and left the office keys on his desk.

Denise found his keys and note: It said, "I quit." Ralph never entered his office again.

D-L has had 17 fiction and non fiction books published. Check out her website at:. https://dlnelsonwriter.com 

Julia's Free Write

Growing up he, like most kids, wanted to be first a fireman or policeman. That always wears off fairly quickly as they grow and come in touch with the variety of life.

In his case though he fixated very early on engineering, water to be precise.

The years passed, he did get a degree in what was first known as Agricultural management but fortunately during the last year of his Masters became Environmental Engineering.

Then came the jobs, mostly in humanitarian instances with the odd stint in private enterprises.  Those didn’t last long as his heart was in the humanitarian work.

More years passed, then he had the years and the experience to apply for the job of his dreams.

A year into that job, he finally felt complete, and every time that he walked into his office, it was not only new, but a pleasure.

 Julia has written and taken photos all her life and loves syncing up with friends.  Her blog can be found: https://viewsfromeverywhere.blogspot.com/

Rick's Free Write

He entered his office.
Flipped the light switch.
It didn’t work.
He froze momentarily, looking, listening.
Smelled a peculiar odor.
Cigar?
No, pipe.
Called out.  “That you?”
No response.
The curtains were closed.
He never closed the curtains.
Dark, but not pitch dark.
He scanned the room, left to right, squinting.
Nothing.
Then a small sound.
A puff.
He thought he noticed a small light.
The fire in the pipe bowl?
Another ‘puff’ sound.
Then the shuffling of feet.
Was he armed?
His line of business.
Why was he here?
In the dark.
Who was he hiding from?
He thought about leaving.
But he needed to know.
Why this hide-and-seek?
He quietly closed the door.
Took a step toward the desk.
Thought about pulling out his mobile.
Use the lighted face.
How would Pipe Man react?
Then there was a hand on his forearm.
He pulled away.
Grabbed at him again.
He flailed with his arms.
The mobile clattered to the floor.
And turned itself on.
“You !”
Rick Adams is an aviation journalist and publisher of www.aviationvoices. com