C'est la fin, je vuoil amer;

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Collette arrived at work that morning to find the heater still out and a tube of yellow silk on her desk. She could never quite predict what would land on her desk during the week before her arrival.

Back in the conference room, Rose’s message to the session and the deacons still lay in full view marked on the white board, misspelled words included:

“To the Session, Deacons, and Elders:

A new committee has been formed called the “Folding Committee”. Our purpose is to end the destruction of trees for all the inserts added weekly to the bullitin. We believe that this is wastful and must be stopped. All announcments requiring notice should be put on the “Grace News” page. This will benefit the Treasury and in additian the aching arms of the wonderful selfless volunteers that contribute so much time and energy into helping the church. We the committee do not wish to have to take drastic measures. But if forced too, we will. Please take our requests into account.

Signed

The Committeess

P.S. We would also like some cookies and hot chocolate.“

Collette figured that it must have had a minor impact, at least. Ivy had left a note in the bulletin folder that week reading:

“No flyers in the bulletin.”

Collette received a call from Rose later in the morning to let her know that she had passed another CLEP exam, bringing her total to 21 credits. Collette wondered if Rose would really complete her bachelors by the beginning of her senior year in high school. After all, Rose wanted to be able to march right into another bachelors degree in advertising as soon as she received her high school diploma. What would it be like for Rose in a never-ending artistic environment? Collette wasn’t too certain.

Meanwhile it was becoming Joe’s turn to graduate and his cap and gown were to be black with a gold stole. Collette still had her silver stole from three years before and Carrie her red.

Back at the office that afternoon, there was a toasted tuna sandwich for lunch and a small bag of M&M’s which OLeif had brought home for her the night before after teaching junior high and getting his hair cut.

And Ivy cozied up in her chair next to the heater she had brought from home (which worked much better than the ones at the office) and tucked her chenille blanket around her legs. Eventually, with the new and improved heater, Collette was able to remove her winter coat and leather gloves. The morning looked brighter from there on out. Though Jimmy seemed to be recovering from bronchitis. They all began to wonder why he still came in to work that day.