"Were you calling me?" she asked, through gritted teeth. She spat out a few pebbles and tried again: "Were you calling me?"
"Was I calling you what?" I returned, smarting at the accusation.
"Very well. I'll return to my desk."
She ambled back to a maple desk, covered with papers, candy wrappers, and coffee rings, which she removed from her dress before arriving at the desk, and got to work.
"Good morning, Mister…?" she queried, looking me up and down. I nodded in unison with her looking-me-up-and-down, enabling her to focus, at which point she completed the question with recognition: "Mr. Fargus."
"Hello Miss…" I began bobbing my head in similar fashion, but she refused to cooperate, instead shaking her head profusely. You can't win them all. But then, would you want them all?
"Mr. Lupino will see you shortly. Take a seat," she said, motioning invitingly to the waiting room behind me.
"Thank you, Miss…" I said, resolutely, deciding this to be her name.
I moseyed to the waiting area and looked around to see if I had company. Not a peep, so I reclined full length, making use of the entire bench.
Miss… coughed, eh-heghm, as if to correct my behaviour by way of expelling the contents of her lungs into her throat.
"Cough drop?" I offered.
"No, cough went up, actually."
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