Amiga

Bob stared at it, “You can always tell it’s the day after Halloween.”

Warren peeked at the different bags. He pulled out one of those small boxes of raisins. “What kind of sick person gives these out for Halloween?”

Chris poured his cup of coffee. “In our neighborhood, one person always gives out religious tracts. I think he got egged once or twice.”

Warren turned to me. “How many trick-or-treaters did you get, Laura?”

“We went through three bags. The kids were so cute this year. Almost all the boys and girls dressed like superheroes.”

“Same with us.” Chris stirred his non-dairy creamer and Splenda. “We also got a whole family dressed in Star Wars costumes. They dressed their dog like BB-8.”

“One kid was dressed in a Trump costume.” Warren went to the vending machine to get his Diet Coke. “And his family are big Clinton supporters.”

“I just turn off all the lights and go out for the evening,” Bob grumbled. “By the way, have you seen Tammy?”

Warren and I shook our heads.

Chris turned his wrist until the Mickey Mouse face appeared on his Apple Watch. “Did anyone talk to her about core hours?”

Bob leaned closer to us. “I think something is going on.”

We all leaned in closer to him.

“You know Dean, the VP of Engineering? He’s retiring.”

“Retiring?” Warren stood up straight. “He’s around our age.”

Bob spoke lower. “You know what retiring really means.”

I blinked. “He’s being forced out?”

Bob nodded. “I heard they’re bringing in this new person. Some industry hotshot.”

Chris huffed. “Probably another millennial.”

Bob grumbled. “Just what we need. Another kid who grew up watching Rugrats.”

“Hey, guys.” Tammy had the exhausted voice and walk of someone hungover on fun-sized Snickers bars.

I gazed at her. “Are you all right?”

She held a coffee mug with a teal ribbon design. She put it under the coffee dispenser and pushed the regular button as hard as she could.

“Just drove back from Irvine. You won’t believe how horrible traffic is in LA.”

I blinked. “You drove all the way here from Irvine?”

“My boyfriend and I, we had a Halloween party at our apartment. He dressed as Pikachu, and I dressed as Nurse Joy. I slept over and…” She looked at all our faces and blushed. “TMI?”

I folded my arms. “Very.”