“Do you really think we used to have tails?”

“Yes! Evolution proved this. Scientists have proved this. Look it up,” exclaimed Stacy, who was growing tired of this conversation. She didn’t have time for trivial office small talk. Maybe after work she’d be willing to discuss evolution and tails, but now was not the time. She was rushing to get the holiday newsletter out to her manager. It had to be approved in two hours, and while she felt like she finished it yesterday, there was no problem she couldn’t find or create for herself. So now was the time to make the decision, red or green colored font for the headline?

“That’s just so…strange,” Paul stated, “like, imagine if we had four arms, or a horn on our head? Then those things just went away? Or no ears! Just holes that we can hear out of. Like lizards!”

“What would be nice is if you didn’t have a mouth,” joked Stacy, “or wings. Would you stop shaking them so hard? You’re getting feathers everywhere! Sit down.”

Paul stares at her from a moment before he sits back at his desk across from Stacy. Her painted red nails typed away as she attempted to focus on the task in front of her. Paul wondered why she kept going undo, redo, undo, redo, when he took a glimpse of her desk.

“Sorry, it’s a habit,” Paul apologized while he moved his arm back and stroked one wing, trying to soothe it, “I’ve got a meeting in twenty minutes with the boss. I’m going to propose a commercial idea for the first time, and I admit I’m a little nervous.”

Stacy stopped the clicking of her keyboard, and looked over at Paul. She felt a tinge of guilt

and sympathy for him. Maybe she shouldn’t have been so sharp just now. They both looked down at their keyboards.

“Hey,” chirped Stacy, “you’re gonna do just fine. Oscar’s not as bad as you think. I know this job is new and he can be a little scary, but coming from someone who has been to the Christmas parties around here, Oscar is nothing to be worried about.”

“He’s got such a mean snarl though, Stace.”

“Yeah, but he also sings Mariah Carey like there’s no tomorrow,” argued Stacy, “he puts on this whole spunky outfit and everything. Trust me, he’s got good sides.”

Paul smiled up at his friend. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.

“You’re gonna fly up there and you’re gonna nail it. I’ve seen your work. I know your work.” Stacy looked at him with solid eyes. She tried her best to reassure Paul, but she understood how hard it is to keep a job in this business, in this economy.

“Thanks, Stacy,” Paul grinned, “what’re you working on?”

“Ugh.” Stacy moved her eyes away from Paul and back to her computer, “I can’t decide the colors and font for this newsletter I’m working on. I feel like my work is never complete. I don’t want it to look unplanned and messy. Like I threw it together”

Paul looked at his colleague in disbelief, “You’ve never been one to wing things. I’ve known you for too long to know that you’re the most precise creature I’ve ever met. Let me see.”

Paul got back up from his chair and joined Stacy at her desk, fairly close to her now. He watched as she went undo, redo, undo, redo.

“That one,” Paul finalized, “it’s got more uumph, more gusto, it stands out.”

“You know what, you’re right,” Stacy chimed. Such a silly little task that is so minuscule, she was overthinking it yet again. She looked to her side, at Paul. Her green eyes meeting his brown. It must’ve been too much eye contact because it ended abruptly with him clearing his throat, and his wings shook a tiny bit.

“I’m gonna go practice my presentation in the bathroom one more time. Wish me luck,” Paul said. Stacy didn’t get a chance to say he didn’t need it before Paul flew away to the restroom. She shook her head, looked back at her computer, prepared the document, and hit send.