Another terribly boring day at another terribly boring executive meeting.

Thomas Fletcher is an executive advertisement producer. At the young age of 27, he has climbed the ranks of business rather quickly. Although Tom, as we shall call him, has financially stabilized himself, and although he has a job that most people would kill for, he suffers from a potent and undeniable boredom. Tom finds himself staring out of the small window of his cubicle on most days, unable to concentrate on the computer screen before him. He likes to watch the birds twitter delightfully through the trees and the clear blue air, and envy them. After hours of procrastination, Tom sighs and buckles under loads of digital work. At heart, Tom is a romantic and an idealist, but he often finds himself burdened with life's pressures.

Yalinda Evans is a product image consultant. At the age of 30, she is a true go getter. Yalinda, many people call her Lindy, keeps herself constantly busy. She prides herself on being one of the few African American women in such a prestigious position. She never lacks on her work and has no tolerance for what she considers to be laziness. Although she is often called the raging bitch of the office by those whom she manages, Lindy is truly a nice person. Lindy was once a dreamer, but now a progressivist. Although drive for success often clouds Lindy's vision, she still has a love for the arts and has a delightful sense of humor. She has a book of quotes which she likes to read often, stealing little peaks during meeting hours.

Speaking of meetings, Today is another terribly boring day at another terribly boring executive meeting.

There are perhaps twenty men and women clad in crisp business suits of dark blue and black. They sit in a long boardroom, along a long, glossy table, staring at the white board at the head of the room. A few people hold quiet conversations, waiting for the next movement. Some of them fidget through their black brief cases and tap their sharpened pencils.

Lindy sighs. She loves her job, but not these meetings. They last for hours and hours and In her professional opinion, get hardly anything accomplished within the time allotted for them. Lindy sits on the east side of the table, smack dab in the middle. She surveys the others in attendance. Sitting at the very end of the table is Tom. She shakes her head in slight disdain. Tom's suit is neat and pressed, but his hair is terribly disheveled. If she hadn't known any better she'd think he'd just rolled out of bed.

As a matter of fact, Tom had just rolled out of bed. He woke up with a grand fifteen minutes in which he leaped, panicking, out of his covers, zipped in and out of the shower, shoved on his clothes and sped like a demon down the freeway to get to work on time. He felt rather proud of himself, for in fact, Tom was a whole 30 seconds early. Fate must have been smiling upon him. He looks over at Yalinda, who is scowling at him with those sparkling brown eyes. Her hair is well put together and her handsome dress suit fits her like a glove.

Now, in this day and age, every member has an assortment of laptops, palm pilots, cell phones, you name it they have it. And as such items are used often, people like Thomas and Yalinda have the ability to type at lightning speed or send a text message with the efficiency of an oiled gear. Thus the story at hand takes place.

As the meeting begins, Tom stares at the presenter's forehead. The man has the largest mole he'd ever seen in his life. Suddenly tickled at the advent of the mole, Tom has the unconquerable urge to share this amusement. Stealthily he pulls his cell phone out of his pocket and commences in a text message

Tom: Hey Check it out!

Lindy felt her lap vibrate. Thankfully, her phone is on silent. Who could be calling me right now? She wonders, vexed. Lindy is a curious woman and she can't help but check her phone. Not a call but a text message! From that scamp Tom... during the meeting?!

Lindy: What are you doing?

Tom: Check out the size of that mole

Lindy: Don't be ridiculous

Lindy: Well, I guess it is pretty large

Tom: Do you dare me to flick my pencil?

Lindy: What? no!

Tom: Come on, do it!

Lindy: Stop this nonsense, we are adults

Tom: You know you want me to

Lindy: You are going to get me into trouble

Tom: It won't be the first time (a winking face was included on the screen )

Indignant at what this may possibly refer to and a bit flustered, Lindy let out a quick gasp, and her hand landed on her heart.

the presenter cleared his throat at Lindy. May I help you?

Embarrassed, Lindy laughed nervously and replied, Oh no no. I'm quite fine thank you. Then she lowered her head and pretended to scribble notes furiously. The presenter continued with his incredibly monotone speech.

Lindy: I hate u

Tom: Oh don't be so bitter. You like it

(Tom was smiling like a fool.)

Lindy: How dare you!

Tom: What? so turn it off

Lindy: What off?

Tom: Your phone. I'm sure you're wasting money

Lindy: Aren't you on the company phone plan?

Tom: Yeah why?

Lindy: We all get free txt messaging for one month

Tom: Oh yeah

Lindy: Don't you have something to do? (Lindy scowls at him again)

Tom: I love it when you look at me like that ... (it sounds snide, although he means it)

Lindy: You are absolutely terrible! I'm turning it off

Tom: Oh, so you dare me to?

Lindy: To what?

Tom: Fling the pencil, what else?

Lindy: No, don't do that

Tom: If you turn off your phone, I'll fling it, I swear

Lindy: Fine get yourself in trouble. I am not your keeper

Tom: You get that from your dandy book of quotes?

Lindy: Yes. now leave me alone.

Tom: Your phone's still on.

Promptly, Lindy switches her cell phone off and looks attentively at the presenter. Suddenly a pencil goes spiraling through the air, smacks deftly on the presenter's back, and rolls on the floor.

The room goes deathly silent. Tom laughs quietly as the presenter slowly turns from the white board to look at them. He can barely repress his impish smile. As the presenter scans the members he indicates in Lindy's direction.

Miss Evans, the stuffy old man crows. May I help you?

Lindy's face flushes brightly and she shakes her head vigorously in protest.

In that case, I will continue. And the presenter commences.

Lindy, red with fury, turns her phone back on.

Lindy: Mr. Fletcher! I hate you. (She glowers hatefully at him.)

Tom: I warned you

Lindy: You could at least have fessed up!

Tom: Now what's the fun in that?

Lindy: To commit the least possible sin is the law for man - Victor Hugo (1802-1885)

Tom: That another quote? I got one for ya. Procrastination isn't the problem, it's the solution. So procrastinate now, don't put it off. - Ellen DeGeneres

Lindy: You are vile

Tom looks at her in amusement. She looks so beautiful when she is angry, he thinks. He admires her dark eyes, her long curly hair, and sassy fine legs.

Tom: What are you doing after the meeting?

Lindy: Nothing that involves you!

Thus they text each other, alleviating the executive boredom. Soon the board is dismissed for a fifteen minute break.

Hey Lindy, Tom approaches her after stretching.

I have nothing to say to you, she replies.

Really? That's not what you said five minutes ago! Tom winks with mischief in his eyes.

I have to check my next job team. Lindy studies the chart on the wall. Her job team includes Gary Frank, John Kim, Sara Mae, and Thomas Fletcher. What's wrong? Are we on the same team? Tom chuckles mockingly.

I really hate , don't say that. Tom stands several inches above her. He looks down at her sparkling, hate filled eyes. He decides at that moment that he loves those beautiful vixen eyes. Come here. Let me show you what I got. Now Lindy doesn't actually hate Tom, although she often tells him that. Yes, she finds him unbearably annoying, but something about him keeps her from ever writing nasty reports about him. He does have (dare she think it) a certain cuteness to him. Though it offends her, she finds a certain comeliness to his slovenly hair and aloof nature. And he is tall, young and successful. No, Yalinda (she chides herself). I am being so silly. Alright, then. Show me your work.

Tom leads her to his cubicle, where he flips through a few few papers. Oh, here it is. Take a look at this. He shows her his latest project proposal.

I'm surprised you've done anything at all. Yalinda smiles. Nice work, but I'm afraid you'll have to do away with that before your presentation. She points to several pencil drawn hearts lining the bottom of the third page. Even though they are sweet. She laughs.

I've never seen you laugh before... Tom looks at her in wonder. She looks even more beautiful when she is smiling. (rather than scowling)

Oh stop it, we only have ten minutes.. She is interrupted as Tom gently places a hand gently on her cheek. Wha, wha.. she stutters but cannot speak over her fluttering heart. Tom smells so delightful.

Tom has never felt so excited in all his life. Here he is, face to face with the raging bitch of the office, his object of distant affection for months. Of course he is acting unprofessional, but since when did professionalism ever stop Thomas Fletcher? He leans in and kisses Lindy, directly upon her sweet cherry red lips.

And she kisses him back.

Back in the board room, the meeting has already started. The presenter scans the members, noticing two empty chairs. Where the hell are they? This is absolutely unacceptable. His anger is assuaged when he sees them quickly slip back into their places. All the members present, the presenter continues his boring speech.

Lindy fixes her hair and checks her makeup. She fans her flushed face and pulls out a notebook, furiously scribbling notes.

Tom sits back in his chair and puts his hands over his head and thinks to himself, I AM the man!

Ten years later, Tom receives a text message:

Lindy: Tom, honey can you pick the kids up after school? I have an important appointment.

Tom: I thought that's what the wife was supposed to do. Ok fine!

Tom sighs with affection. That's what you get when you marry the raging bitch of the office.

The end.

ed Moncur, Michael. Random Quotations. . 1994-2005