This Site Uses Cookies

by Jeff Baker

(November 23, 2022)

“Woah!” Danny said, shielding his eyes from the light from the bare bulb in the ceiling. “What is this, an interrogation?”

“Let me get that,” Mr. Fordyce said, reaching up to pull the cord turning the light off. The desk lamp lit the small room enough for both of them to see around the office. Fordyce owned the company but he rarely was in the office on the back loading dock used by the night crew.

“You work here long?” Fordyce asked Danny.

“First day was today,” Danny said.

“Well, don’t believe every story you hear about the night crew being a bunch of druggies. They couldn’t get the job done if they were. Hey, cookies!”

There was a large, holiday-themed platter of homemade cookies setting there on the desk.

“I guess we help ourselves,” Danny said.

The two men each reached for the platter, then froze in mid-reach.

“Do you remember that old episode of…” Danny started to say.

“…Barney Miller!” Mr. Fordyce finished.

“With the brownies!” Danny said.

The two men stared at the platter.

“What the hey!” Fordyce said as he grabbed a cookie. Danny did too.

“Gooood!” Danny said taking a bite.

They each grabbed one more for their respective drives home.

—end—

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This story was written for a Wednesday Words prompt from Paula Wyant: https://ptwyant.com/2022/11/23/wednesday-words-413-11-23-2022/ The first day at a new job or school. Cookies. And, a bright light. For the record, this actually happened to me, but not on my first day on the job! —–jeff