Vera was in the middle of writing a report when her computer screen went black. “What the - “ The office was strangely dim, the overhead fan powered only by its inertia.
“We’re all going to freeze to death!” Tracy banged out of his office, his blue eyes wide with panic. He tripped over Vera’s chair legs, grabbing the wheeled base as he sprawled.
Vera swiveled, raising her feet to avoid kicking her boss, “Is it still snowing out there?”
“Yes, and we’ll have to dig our way out like moles,” Tracy sat up, “Did you know moles have poisonous spit?”
Vera stood, groundhogging over her cubicle wall. The snow still fell, big puffy flakes accumulating on the window ledges. She didn’t even want to think about what the streets looked like. “We’re on the third floor, Tracy, the snow isn’t that deep.”
“Hey Vera, if two moles kiss do they both die?” Tracy sat with his legs splayed, cupping his kneecaps in his palms, “It’d be like Romeo and Juliet with giant burrowing rodents.”
Lynn leaned over the side of Vera’s cube, his mouth drawn into a straight line, “Mom said we should send everyone home.”
“And how are they supposed to do that? I plan to ride on Vera’s back while she tunnels, but what about everyone else?” Tracy grinned up at his brother.
“Are you calling me a mole?” Vera was indignant.
“No, I would never call you a mole, you might go to HR.”
Lynn rapped his fist on the cubicle, his cheeks bright red, “Tracy, start telling your employees to leave.”
Vera watched him turn and yanking on the neck of his polo shirt, he strode back towards his office. “Why does he seem so embarrass-“ it hit her before she even finished her sentence, “Tracy!”
“Lo, it is I.”
“Stop that, this is serious. When you said you were going to r - you were going to ride, r -,” she couldn’t say it. Heat spread across the back of her neck. What must Lynn think of her?
“Ride you like a giant rodent that is not a mole? Yes?” Tracy widened his eyes, innocence glimmering in them like sunlight on ice.
“Never mind. I’m going home,” Vera sat in her chair, squeaking the bottom drawer of her cabinet open. Behind her she could see Tracy’s reflection in her blank computer screen. He was so childish sometimes, that she genuinely worried about him, “You do have a way to get home, right?”
Tracy nodded, “Yeah. See you tomorrow, if we’re both not human popsicles.”