Place: A newsroom
Actor: An innocent bystander
Object: A purple umbrella
Mood: Tense
Rapid keystrokes mixed with subdued murmurs while most eyes were glued to monitors filled with hoped-for headline stories. Occasional furtive glances were cast toward the editor’s office.
Bobby, the mailroom clerk, skipped his usual banter with the reporters as he delivered beige window envelopes to the three senior reporters. As he pushed his cart into the elevator, all murmurs ceased. Dale slid his envelope under the keyboard then chugged down the rest of his cold coffee. Jake stroked his silver beard and drummed his fingers rapidly on the envelope.
Kayla slid her envelope into her grey suit pocket. With neither a word or glance directed to her colleagues, she picked up her purple handbag and matching umbrella and strode out of the room. In the silence, all the reporters listened as her heels clattered down the stairs. Instead of gradually fading, the sound came to an abrupt halt.
After a few minutes, Matthew, the Graphic Artist glared at the heads bent over their laptops, slammed down his coffee and bolted down the stairs. The handbag, still snapped shut and the matching purple umbrella rested casually in the corner of the landing. The grey blazer cut in even strips were laid neatly over the fully open umbrella. Of Kayla, there was no sign.
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