Dream Tales

Prick of the Day

I arrived to the security checkpoint in the employee parking lot at precisely eight o’clock. Don’t know how that happened, but I wasn’t going to question any speck of luck after my morning. After showing my ID and pulling into a parking spot, I rushed to the time clock as if it were a professor and I a freshman student. The punch read 8:06am. “Within my eight o’clock window.” Once again, another spot of good luck. Getting to an open computer and onward to my venue, that was going to be another challenge all on its own. After the whole IT repair work in the office this week, it left us with only a few computers.

 Prichard, a fellow stage management colleague, was sitting at a computer that I usually claimed. I wasn’t really fond of him because of his smug face, and smug clothes, and smug mouth. The guy was just smug all around. I went to great lengths to avoid him whenever possible, today was unfortunately not going to be one of those days. Prichard spotted me as soon as I walked in the door.” Morning lovely lady. How are you today?” “Fine, I’m fine.” I said in a higher than normal pitch with a fake smile plastered on my face that mimicked his. Through all of the disheveled computer parts I scanned the area for a working computer, but the only one available was, of course right beside the smug prick, I mean Prichard.

I reluctantly put my bag down and sat next to him. My approach to the computer was that of a cat dipping its paws in water. I was extremely weary and uncomfortable. With fervid paste, I started the computer logged in and began doing the morning paperwork. As the minutes went on, I found myself relaxing a hair and felt hopeful for the chance to not interact with Prichard for the rest of the day; Boy was I wrong. Prichard turned to me halfway through my work and said, “ You do realize there is a shortcut to that, right?”He said, referring to my choice in checking the team members' schedules. What? Had he been staring at my computer, over my shoulders? I silently held in a much needed grunt at the prospect of talking to him. “Is that so?” I said, without looking at him. “Yep. Would you like me to show ya, beautiful?” He asked, leaning closer to me.

As he attempted to place his hands over my own, I stood up, removed my hands swiftly from the mouse and keyboard, grabbed my bag, and stormed out. “I am in no mood to deal with you today, you dildo!” I screeched at him before leaving the back door of the office. There was no way I would get my morning paperwork done before the cast would arrive. With that realization in mind, I came to a brief halt, and then began pacing outside the door. “I don’t want to, but I have to. I don’t want to, but I need to.“ I said to myself over and over again. After saying this enough times that it calmed my mind, I walked back into the office. And to my surprise, Prichard had left. “Thank the heavens.” I said exaggeratedly to the room. “Now to finish up this paperwork and run over to the other side of the court, and start the top of the day procedures.” I reminded myself.