Perpendicular

A mistake undoubtedly,
should have known better, should have known it didn’t matter –
didn’t matter what the manager of 41
would think of the opinion of a part timer of one
as incongruous as centre stage actress
seeking advice from a stagehand.
Perhaps it was flattery
or desire to help
or just plain ego
or just timing –
the afternoon quiet between shifts and less frenetic.

Did I think she did a good job?
And,
did I know how she was perceived?
For the first,
everything was accomplished on time
to an acceptable standard and within budget
so the answer had to be, “ yes.”
The second
ummmmm
“spit it out,”
water cooler, tea room consensus
was someone with the manner of an owner
and output of an employee.

My opinion is never again sought
nor am I spoken to
unless unavoidably necessary and
always with rigid brittle courtesy.