August 1st

There are two dead fruit flies on the other side of my office window. The wind does not blow them off, and they have been there for several weeks.

At 12:00 today I informed that I had received a promotion.

This is confusing to me as I did not apply for a new job. I don’t believe I ever been promoted, as it is not the sort of thing I would like. According to the email, I have been awarded the position of I.T. Desktop Support Technician. It’s not in the same department. This would be a considerable change. The proposed job description leads me to believe I will be working with computers. This is a problem as I don’t know anything about computers, other than the fact that most of the ones I come into contact with malfunction on a consistent basis.

I felt as though there had been some error, so I requested a meeting with H.R.

I’m not altogether trusting of that department, mainly because it has the words ‘Resources’ and ‘Human’ in the title. It makes me think of being crushed to death whilst being trapped inside a soda can.

The meeting was granted, and I met with Mrs Flagrouche. She has not talked to me since last year when I broke her projector. During the meeting I felt as though she was squinting at me. I then remembered someone saying that they thought she had experienced a stroke and not realized it. Perhaps her husband had neglected to inform her of these things.

After interrupting me while I was trying to explain, she told me that ‘yes, there had been a clerical error in me being promoted’, and ‘yes, on behalf of H.R. she was permitted to apologize,’ however ‘unfortunately my original position had been filled within the last ninety minutes’. I was told I could either accept the position, or ‘look elsewhere’.

I reminded her that I would need to at least train a replacement as I felt my job was complicated and required experience and care. She made a strange snorting noise, and said it was completely unnecessary, and that they had replaced me with a sixteen year old summer worker.

I went on to tell her that I didn’t know anything about computers other than that the switch on the front glowed when it was switched on. She smiled and told me that I was a quick learner. Or at least she hoped I was. I do not know why she said that.

I went back to my desk and began packing up the items from my desk. I remember feeling extremely warm around my neck and back. I stared for a long time at my computer. The plastic casing looks complicated. Perhaps that is the most complicated part of the machine. I hope so.

Paula, the lady in the next cubicle, who I have worked with for the past eight and a half years, asked me what I was doing. I explained the situation. I told her I would no longer be working with her.

She replied: “Oh, well. That’s a shame.” and continued typing.

I noticed that there are now three dead fruit flies outside the window. Maybe they will let me come back and see them when I’m not busy. I will miss having a window.