How To Win Friends

“Of course it’s true. I read it in a book.”

Mary stared at me. Disbelief on her face.

“What book, pray tell. The book of ‘how-to-make-a-fool-of-yourself-in-ten-easy-lessons’?”

The nerve. “NO, I already read that one years ago.”

Again, the stare. Disbelief. “You absorbed it, word for word. That’s for sure.”

Mary annoyed me daily. I hated sharing a workspace with her..

“Very funny. But this one, I think it has value. It tells me how to win friends and influence enemies.” I showed her the cover.

“Don’t you mean "How to Win Friends and Influence People", written by Dale Carnegie? Perhaps you forgot the title.’

Will wandered by. “What’s up, you two. I see you’re back to talking to each other. Are you back to being frenemies?” He chuckled.

“Hugh is reading a book on how to win friends and influence enemies.”

Again a chuckle from Will. This time louder.

“Don’t you have a report to write? An email to send? Someone else to annoy?” I didn’t need another critic. I had work to do.

“Nope. I have all afternoon to wander and visit. You two are my favorites.”

Mary leaned over. “So, what does the book tell you to do when someone annoys you?”

“It tells me to open an onscreen book, pick up an ax, hit crl alt del several times until the enemy is destroyed.” I hid my book in a drawer.

Mary and Will howled with laughter. Once they stopped, Mary had to comment.

“Oh! You’re talking about that video game! You’re really serious.”

“You don’t mess with someone on their quest for the Death Knight!”

“I need a break from this. Coffee?” Mary walked with Will down the hall.

Hugh turned to page 95 where it told how to do away with enemies.

W/C 297