Ding!

9:23AM: Team, I have to cancel today’s discussion. Something’s come up. Will reschedule.

Window offices empty, a hush falling over the entire building as work grinds to a halt.
Questions unanswered, direction absent, meetings cancelled.
Manager level and above, conspicuously missing all at once.

Rushed into a room, doors closed.

Ding!

11:15AM: Meeting Invite: All Employee Meeting, Conference Room, 11:30AM

Hallways fill, a buzz enveloping any nook left unoccupied by wondering wanderers.
Theories whispered, factoids gossipped, postulations best left unsaid, said.
Last to emerge, the managers, exiting the room they’ll soon reenter.

After a short bio break, of course.

I heard they’ve been trying to pull sales orders into this quarter to meet the targets.
What if someone died? Didn’t —- have a heart attack last year? Is he in today?
It’s gotta be layoffs, right? I’ve already been looking, I’m ready. I’m not.
Check the news, did another typhoon hit the Philippines plant?

Chairs squeak, a chorus of anxious movements composing the room’s thoughts.
Curtains drawn, jokes deflated, spouses updated.
Forty-seven careers flash before ninety-four eyes.

The clock strikes, lunch time. No one’s hungry.

11:30AM: Well team, I’ll come right out with it…

We never did reschedule that meeting.