James, the geologist, had to walk through my office upstairs to his. That day, he came in after lunch with a new black leather folder that held a pad of A4 paper, and fastened shut with what purported to be a brass clasp.

I greeted him and asked how the interview for the new job had gone. He was somewhat astonished at the question, since he had not mentioned anything about looking for another job to me.

“How did you know?”

I smiled, and took out of my desk drawer my own new folder, identical to his.

“Don’t say anything,” he said.

“I won’t if you won’t,” said I.

©2019 Allison Wright
[119 words.]