I WAIT

Just a few days in and the collection of my stories make my experience sound like a lifetime. I wonder if I’ll still be writing about them 20 years into the work force. Then I’ll hopefully have 7 issues calling no yelling my name in need of attention and bills.

Wednesday afternoons are the slowest. Its midweek and being the end of the month I see that pay check coming already a few debts in. The rains are threatening, the boss is scathing and just when I think I can take no more Lawie! I hear my name, go serve these documents.

I really hate doing this. Walking around, documents at hand. Secretary! The touts call on me as I pass by. These people never ran out of names. To be effective, I have to be in character. Polite or demanding voice I think… depending on the situation I find myself in. A smile, a grin or just sign the damn papers face otherwise known as a scowl. I’ll figure it out in a bit.

Waiting.

Waiting.

This is how the day goes by out of office. At times I take an uber when I have been loaded with large or numerous files. If the Luggage is quite manageable or when I am in need of some coins I ride the bus. This lengthens the wait. I wait for the bus to get full, I wait for passengers to alight, I wait for the conductor to ask for fare, I wait for the conductor to return my change, I wait for that boring song to come to an end I WAIT.

The conductor engages me in the forget game. With everything going on in my mind I could easily forget my change. I pester him change! With my palm out He scowls ngojea. Just before the bus comes to a halt he runs off to confirm parking availability or whatever it is they run off to do. I am already planning my stops as I hold the rail down the stairs. Gudulululu my stomach rumbles. My change I remember. Its like my intestines put an arlam for that. They know if they don’t they’ll have more days to suffer.

I make my first stop then wait as they confirm the documents, wait as they consult whether to receive them or not, wait as they look for the received stamp, wait as they get another pen that actually writes, wait as they flip through the pages as if they had not done that before and still wait for them to give back my received copy.

I know…this wait business is canvassed everywhere but wait, its leading somewhere.

At my last stop I walk in disheveled. I’m done queuing! I’m done waiting for the guards to take my information in every building I go in. I’m done!! I AM DONE!

I am going to the office of the O.R I tell the guard at the entrance. Huyo ni nani ? The official receiver I repeat. Using these short forms make me feel like i’m in a knit circle. One that I have invented or does exist. Unlike the cool kids one back in the day membership in this one is only brains. I get to the office of the O.R and stupidly I ask where is the O.R ? Some gentleman behind huge files replies this is the office of the O.R any of us can attend to you.

This was just not any gentleman in an office. This was HIM!!! The cute guy I have been eyeing in my friend’s snaps yes!! We have two things in common now. Our taste in selection of friends and our career path so we can tango!

I really hope you got the joke if not just wait like those still waiting for this story to lead somewhere.