The day of love. Everyone slacks off because they believe that Valentine’s Day is an actually holiday. I wondered, are people really celebrating Saint Valentine or were they rewarding themselves on being with a significant other? I think for Mary it was just another day in the office and another day to bake cupcakes for her employees.
Mary didn’t have any plans for the day—no special breakfast, lunch, or flower arrangement. Her plans were to sit in front of her computer and work endless hours for Rider.
“I am having dinner with my mother tonight,” Mary said. “I’m looking forward to that.”
Her words didn’t fool anyone in the room. Her tone and body language said she was lonely. Maybe she was just too busy to care. But deep down, she wanted to spend the day with someone that would buy her flowers and make her dinner.
Valentine’s Day plans were placed on hold when Kathryn whimpered like dog for a bone, about going to class.
“Do I have to go to class,” Kathryn said. “Someone seriously needs to tell me why I should go to class.”
The room ignored her. A few minutes of silence passed then the dog cried again.
“I really want a cupcake,” Kathryn said. “I guess I can eat it. It will be my reward for going to class.”
The room still ignored her.
It was inevitable that someone was going to bring up what people were doing for Valentine’s Day—if it wasn’t already brought up so many times.
“Well I’m ditching my boyfriend,” Kathryn said. “I want to go out to Kat-man-du with the girls. Steve is mad, but I don’t care.”
Mary. Still sitting at her desk with her pink shirt on trying to spread the Valentine’s Day cheer. And this is after listening to Kathryn rant and having unhappy co-workers walk in and out of her office. Where was her reward for being so wonderful and patient?
The office was a flurry of activity. Workers were putting labels on mailings. Phone calls were being made. People were eating then complaining about eating. Just a typical day in the admission tour guide office.
“Who would like to type something for me?” Mary said.
Surprisingly, the room was silent like when Kathryn was talking. Out of the seven student workers that were in the office, no one said that they could help Mary. The same person who baked cupcakes to put a smile on someone’s face that loved and always looked forward to her fluffy, moist little cakes.
“Whoever types what I need finished will get to leave early,” Mary said.
Everyone hooted and raised their hands like she was giving a million dollars away. After passing the job on, she continued to pass along more tasks that would send people home.
The office became empty — just Mary and me. We didn’t say a word. I packed up my things to leave. I looked back at Mary and wished her a happy Valentine’s Day. She reciprocated with a smile and went back to work. As I walked out of the office, I glanced around the empty office. Mary finally got a reward. Quiet time to finish her work and look forward to her fun evening with her mother.
