THE MOMENT
"We'll put you in this cubicle until we see where you stand after three months," Marie presented the small white space with a red chair with a sweeping motion of her arm and a smile. "But, if I can give you some advice, it's something of a concern on our end if you're still in this tiny square for three months. Sharp Development encourages you to take initiative and prove your worth to the company with little oversight. Most of the employees we start in a cubicle make a space for themselves quite quickly within the first couple of weeks."
"I'm so ready," Patricia nodded with a broad smile of her own. Sharp Development was her dream company, and she found it completely by accident. She was at a low point, unemployed and alone, when a stray flyer floating on the breeze smacked her straight in the face. She'd never heard of the company and had no skills training to speak of, but she was desperate. Her world was opened in previously unimaginable ways, and she wasn't going to take it for granted. As Patricia wandered into the cubicle and sat down ready to work, a tall, muscular, handsome man wandered by.
"Oh, perfect! Dave!" Marie immediately waved him closer, and encouraged Patricia to stand up again. "Patricia, this is Dave. If you ever have any questions, he's not the guy you want to ask," she giggled. "But, if you ever need help, he'll have your back."
"Hi, Dave," Patricia extended her hand. He looked at her hand, then up to her eyes. He nodded, then turned and walked away.
"Did I say something wrong?" Patricia asked instantly while Marie giggled.
"Dave's got his quirks," Marie said. "One of the hardest workers you'll find, and he's smart as a whip. But, He's a man of very, very few words," she added. "He's reliable on the job, a great team player; but useless when it comes to trying to converse."
"Wow," it was one thing going through the onboarding and being told how the company worked. But, Dave was living proof of the respect that came with good work. In her mind, it was pretty impossible to get anything done in an office environment without engaging with coworkers, and yet, Dave had been introduced to her as essentially nonverbal and still a great employee. "So.. he doesn't talk at all?" she asked out of pure curiosity.
"I haven't heard him utter a word in all the years he's been here," Marie answered. "In fact, the only time I've ever heard him make a noise was when he brutally killed the shadow monster trying to drag me away," she giggled. "To be fair, it was a big one."
"Shadow monster?" Patricia asked. She'd learned a lot about the company, and she knew there was still more. She wasn't immediately concerned, but it was important to get that clarification as soon as possible.
"Oh, right," Marie giggled. "We haven't talked about Casual Friday yet. You're gonna want to make some friends," she gestured at the floor beyond Patricia's cubicle. "You'll need them."