I was a paper pushed for a large corporation.
"Benjamin Joshua Martin."
The voice came from the next cube over.
"Who told you my middle name?" I asked.
"H.R."
Lisa was in the next cube over. She was older than me by a couple years, kind of chubby but cute. We were friendly in a brother-sister sort of way.
"I wish they wouldn't have."
"Its cute, " Lisa said.
"I've never really liked it."
I got up from my cube and walked the long hall to the file room. It was a quiet morning. The walls were lined with starving artist paintings and motivational posters. I took a right into the file room. The room was dark and cool, with long halls of shelving units. After picking up my files, I walked back to my cube. Jane from accounting stood talking to Lisa.
"Well if it isn't B.J.," Lisa said.
"Don't call me that."
Lisa laughed. Jane smiled at me. Jane was tall, too skinny and blonde. She had a habit of standing straight legged wit her elbows on her supervisors desk, planting her tiny butt straight in the air, giving any one lucky enough to pass by plenty to occupy their mind for the afternoon.
"You don't want a nickname?"
"Not that nickname," I said.
Jane was smiling more now. "Oh Ben," Jane said. "Its cute."
"I don't like what it implies."
Jane was wearing gray slacks and a light blue blouse. Her lips were full and red.
"It doesn't imply anything," Jane said.
"Jane, for him it would," Lisa said and laughed.
"Listen Lisa," I said "Maybe I'll ask John down in the mailroom what nicknames might fit you."
Jane laughed, Lisa turned red. "Oh, go back to work," Lisa said. "I have work to do. Get some work done Ben."
Jane and I laughed. Jane smiled and walked away.
After lunch I was walking through accounting, and there leaning over her supervisors desk was Jane. She didn't see me, but I got a look long enough to tell she was wearing cute little boy-shorts under those skin tight slacks.
