“Arthur Speaks His Mind”

Arthur sat at his desk in the front office of Colin’s Garage where he’d been working for a little over 2 years now. He’d made sure the coffee was fresh, tidied up the front and back office a bit and settled down in his chair to work on a bit of the accounting. Just as he began going over invoices from the day before, his boss, Colin, walked in the door with none other than Mrs. Kate Harbor! Colin’s ex and current wife of that big-to-do fancypants – Sidney Harbor!

Well, no good could come of this, Arthur thought to himself as Colin gave him a look that let him know he better not say anything about it or else. Arthur, not wishing to lose his job – or his life if Mr. Harbor found out about this – kept his mouth shut all the while the two ex-lovers where shut up in the back office together.

Arthur, not really meaning to eavesdrop, rolled his office chair a wee bit away from the desk – just to stretch his legs a bit, he assured himself – couldn’t help but overhear crying coming from the back office. Worried something terrible was wrong, he leaned in closer to the door, trying his best to make out anything that was being said. Unfortunately, what little bit he did decipher made little sense so he gave up and settled back at his desk.

Moments later, Kate came barging out of the office with her baby in tow and headed off down the road towards town before Arthur even had a chance to say his goodbyes. Curious, he thought to himself, standing and watching her head off towards the inn. Stopping in for a bit of lunch perhaps?

He leaned his head into the back office where Colin was still standing – dumbstruck.

“Everything alright in here?” he asked, cautiously.

“No, mate,” Colin replied, “everything is not fucking alright.”

“Oh,” Arthur said, clearing his throat. “Well, um, if you need anything, I’ll be, um, you know.” He pointed towards his desk and disappeared out of view.

Realizing Colin was still standing in the same place, Arthur walked back into room and awkwardly placed a hand on his boss’s shoulder. “If you want my opinion,” he began.

Colin looked down at it and Arthur quickly removed his hand and shoved it in his pocket.

“Well, not that you probably actually want my opinion,” he continued, fidgeting, “but, er, women are curious creatures. Never knowing what they want and never wanting what they have until its too late.” He looked Colin in the eye, “and Colin, its too late. She’s, well, she’s married! Its just not right! A sin, in fact!”

“That all?” Colin asked, crossing his arms and shifting his weight.

Arthur gulped, nodded, and hurried back to his desk.

Colin followed him out to his desk. “Know which direction she went?” he asked.

“Towards the inn,” Arthur replied, resigned to the fact that Colin would do what he wanted and there was no talking any sense to him. He let out a sigh as he watched his boss head out the door and walk down the street towards the inn.