Bucket of Distaste

If people wanted you to write better of them, they should have behaved better.

"The first two hours of work always go by too quickly", Aaron thought to himself as he watched the clock turn minutes into seconds. In the past four years since he started working at Water Works, he had had little problems getting his work done. He had a good report with the customers, and the other employees admired his work ethic. But nothing is ever perfect, and in a few minutes, his imperfection would trample into the office and inhale anything positive within 100 yards. Her name was Marianne and she was a swine on the outside, but an ugly beast on the inside. She was disgustingly cynical and for the past four years, she had enjoyed denying Aaron of any joy. At work, Marianne was a gargoyle perched at her desk, ready to reprimand or condemn anyone elses' good job done. She was quick to castigate especially if she hadn't had a chance to say ten negative things before breakfast. 

   In the mornings, the office Aaron shared with Marianne was a tranquil hideout. He would confirm and schedule appointments, file invoices, and in his downtime he liked to read poetry. But the peace was disrupted every mid morning when the barbarian arrived. There was no mistaking her violent tread, it could be heard from the parking lot. Aaron braced himself. This wasn't a game. It wouldn't be easy. His once youthful soul would be excruciatingly violated for the next five hours as a victim of Marianne's extreme pessimism. She never shared a kind word or a smile, in fact, her presence caused grown men to cry. As Marianne entered the office and took her usual perch, the temperature dropped giving Aaron icy chills. What had been a bright potential day, now turned gray and hopeless. For the rest of the day she would sit at her desk spewing a life's worth of distaste into the air.

**TO BE CONTINUED** (Notice the time...)