he stares
out the window
at the birds
flying free
swooping merrily
through
the bright azure skies
a chubby squirrel
stares at him
with its head cocked
possibly wondering
why the hairless
is trapped in a box

the conference call
had been going
for roughly two hours
longer
than was positively
possibly
necessary
yet no one had
anything better
to do
so they drone on
and
on
and
on
and
on
and
on
and
on
and
on
and
on

he flips
the fucking squirrel
off
closing the blinds
gulping coffee
going insane

he looks at the clock

it has been ten minutes

this does not bode well

he just
lets it rattle on
he has his best
braincells
listening
for his name.