Day 6

Day 6

Matthew

I arrive Monday for my second week to find message on my phone and an e-mail, both from Ms. Barry, asking me (though it smacked more of a demand than a request) to report to her office immediately upon my arrival.

Wonder what I did.

I do as told, and make my way down the eerily noiseless halls to Ms. Barry’s office. She gives me a stern look and asks (orders?) me to take a seat.

“Matthew. We have a matter to discuss. A matter of some gravity,” she begins.

What the hell is she talking about? A chill runs up my spine. I’ve only been here a week. What could I have done? It’s the pot I smoked in college; they’re uptight and they’ve found out about the weed.

Ms. Barry clears her throat and proceeds. “Matthew, in the short time you’ve been here it seems that you have already begun to disrupt your office neighbors.”

I look at her blankly.

She arches her brow, apparently not amused by my catatonic stare. “It appears that you have brought in an entertainment device from your home for use on company property. I have numerous complaints about your radio and the loud rock and roll music emanating from it.”

Jack Johnson? Loud?

“A number of people have approached me about this, and after a meeting last Friday evening where this was discussed, I have been forced to write a policy.”

They convened a meeting about this?

“This policy presented a particular challenge, as you can imagine, because the situation is subjective, dependent not upon the opinion of the person playing the music but on those who hear the music.”

Uh huh.

“What’s quiet for one person may not be for another. And, of course, there is the issue of musical taste. Therefore, creating policy that is fair to all is quite complex. After much deliberation into the night, we have decided upon the following:”

Miss Barry picks up a piece of paper and begins to read. ”Music may be accessed through online computer sources only, which we will provide, and listened to through the use of an appropriate listening device. The appropriate listening device is a set of headphones, not earbuds, which can allow music to escape and infect surrounding cubicles. As a benefit to employees who must use music as a means for productivity, we will also provide the headphones, so that our music-dependent employees may retain uniformity in technology. Any person who misuses their listening device, that is, any person who disrupts the office environment with foreign sound, will be placed on probation.”

Miss Barry looks up proudly from her paper. “I believe that is quite clear, Matthew. I shouldn’t expect you to have any questions. Here are your headphones.”

She passes me the set. I have to admit, they were quality, but huge. Like the kind helicopter pilots wear. No sound escaping from these things.

But why can’t I help but wonder if they really play music…or something more sinister?