“Our trash can seems to be filling up quicker lately,” Beatrice says, emerging in the doorway to the back storage area. “I don’t understand it.”

I’m unaffected.

“Oh yeah? I haven’t noticed.”

“Yeah,” she responds, pushing. This is a moment of epiphany for her. “And it’s weird because we’ve all been out of the office a lot lately. Like, more than usual.”

I let her words linger for a second. Things have been busy around the office lately and I’ve got a series of meetings to prepare for. Centers requesting donation charts, strategy planning meetings to structure. As thrilling as it sounds, I’m on a roll finishing it.

“Huh,” I offer politely. “I wonder why that is…”

Beatrice is staring out the front door glass, shaking her head. She’s flummoxed. My phone buzzes. It’s Shani. I haven’t heard back from her in days.

“Yeah,” Beatrice says. “We have more garbage than ever!”

Shani’s message is brief. Two words of recognition of my previous text. I wonder why she even bothered.

“Hey,” I say, looking up at Beatrice. “Speaking of trash, do you mind taking it out this time? I did it the last two times.” I put down my phone and turn my head back to the computer. “Thanks.”

It was admittedly a little terse.

Maybe my dad was right. Maybe I’ve lost my edge.

–TOH