(1150 words) Lawrence from IT had always seemed so quiet. We tried hard not to stare when he arrived one morning with two black eyes, a bandaged ear, and his hair dyed green. He avoided eye contact with us and sat at his desk, turning on his computer and staring at the display as if it were showing the latest Oscar winner. My phone rang. I answered. “Hello, Julie Dawson, accounts.” “Jules, where are the sales figures? They were supposed to be on my desk by nine!” I suddenly remembered there was a big sales meeting at twelve. My mouth went dry and my stomach felt hollow.
