Office politics

Observed 11.10 pm

Parminder walks around Tim’s desk with a fresh cup of coffee. “Oh my God, Tim, what have you done to that plant?”

“It wasn’t me,” (Tim is on the defensive), “I didn’t do it.”

Observed 12.15 pm

Tony has his hands in his pockets and is frowning pensively at some plans. “Well, we have to get these desks moved today, or they’ll be after us for the spare space. We don’t want to end up with the photocopier down this end.”

Liz nods thoughtfully. “We just need a big strong man to do it for us.”

Observed 12.30 pm

Ian walks through the office. “That’s dead.”

Tim looks shifty. “No it’s not.”

Observed 1.40 pm

Tony is laughing. “It’s all brown, poor thing.”

Kirstie smiles dryly and gestures with her long fingernails. “Last week he was telling me he was Mr Greenthumb.”

“I thought Simon was going to re-pot that for you, Tim.”

“He did. He scared the life out of it.”

Observed 1.55 pm

Liz stands in front of Simon’s desk. “So what we could do, is put this desk around there, because that fills up that corner nicely, then we won’t have to worry about the copier.”

“Well I can move that no problem,” Simon agrees. “We’ll have to unplug the computers from the network though, I’m not sure about that part.”

Observed 2.05 pm

Parminder has another cup of coffee. “Look at what Tim’s done to his plant, Simon.”

Simon wanders over. “He’s watered it and watered it until it’s dead.”

Tim is most offended. “I did not. It was Simon. He re-potted it.”

Observed 3.40 pm

Lisa turns around at her desk. “So what’s this about you killing Tim’s plant, Simon.”

Simon looks hurt. “It wasn’t me! It was Tim. He’s over-watered it!”

Observed 3.45 pm

“He told me it needed re-potting.”

“It did. All it’s roots were squashed. That’s your fault that is.”

Observed 4.05 pm

Liz frowns. “Well that would work, wouldn’t it? If we bring that one round like that and fit that one there.”

“Will it budge? I don’t know whether I can drag it.” Simon struggles with the cabinet.

“Well, we’ll just have to get someone big and strong in.”

Observed 4.10 pm

Says Liz, “Tim’s quite good at lifting things, aren’t you Tim?”

Tim looks hunted.

Simon is under the desk unplugging his computer from the network. “Yeah Tim, come and help me out, I’m struggling over here.”

“I don’t know…” Tim shakes his head. “You killed my plant.”