Crazy Town

To the outside observer, it very much appeared to be a normal office setting.  Office machines running, phone calls ringing at desks, computer keys being tapped, and copy machines spewing forth productive yet seemingly important documents all noticed by visitors stopping by.    

To those entrenched in the environment, they knew the truth.  They knew what dangers lurked beneath the surface of this façade of normalcy.  Any moment all that seemed sane, all that looked normal would erupt into wild erratic behavior emitted from the unpredictable actions of those who labored at this place and the fear of the unknown would take over without warning.  This place that has come to be known as …

                                                        CRAZY TOWN…….

Jillian pulled up in the parking lot of her employer, Zara Corporation.   She secured her badge around her neck, grabbed her coffee, lunch and purse.  She took a deep breath as she hesitantly exited her car.  She punched her remote and locked her car, the headlight eyes flashed and sputtered briefly, almost as if to wink at her when she longingly looked back at her car.    

Walking across the parking lot of the company, she glanced at her watch.  7:40 am.  Monday morning 10/21/24.  She mentally tried to shift her brain as to what was on the agenda today.  She had an email she needed to send to the supervisor of an employee that was caught sleeping on the job. She remembered there was a donation check she needed to decide where to allocate this money to.  She had deadlines to complete for a tax report, payroll and some accounts for the building.  She had a staff meeting to attend.  This was indeed all before 9 am.

    Sighing, Jillian approached the main doors.  She grabbed her badge, swiped it at the security outlet, then waited for the glass doors to click then swoosh open.  Today, however, she heard the click, but the doors did not swoosh.  They groaned and moved at a snails’ pace and creaked open.  

Hmmm.  Jillian thought.  Maybe I’ll mention that to maintenance today.  Doors may need attention.  She waited to hear “Welcome to Zara Corporation” belting out in the lobby.  Instead, she heard the soundtrack to Jaws playing over and over. Good grief.  Someone in maintenance or the electricians had a sense of humor.  Afterall, it is almost Halloween.  

Approaching the front lobby desk, she smiled and hoped to scoot past Dorlean, the chatty front-end receptionist. Bright red hair teased and impressively stacked up high she really was a bright and cheery person. Bigger than life actually.  Known for her bright, bizarre outfits that matched her cheery personality, Jillian wasn’t sure she could handle a 20-minute conversation about the weather or traffic before she’d even made a slight dip in her coffee.  She scooted in front of Dorlean who was chatting on the telephone, nonstop talking so fast the words were hard to decipher.  Jillian glanced at Dorlean, nodded and smiled at her.  Jillian had to do a double-take.  Dorlean’s outfit was unusual for her. Grey checked blouse and pants.  Or maybe shorts??   Gone were the retro 70’s loud blouses.  Her hair was tied back with a silver scarf.  None of the wild tropical fruit ties or birds or alligators or whatever she liked to wear.  There used to be a contest to see what Dorlean would wear next.  Jillian actually envied her boldness.  Dorlean knew who she was and actually didn’t care.  Power to her!  This is odd…  Jillian pondered.  Never, in the years she’s been at Zara Corporation had she seen Dorlean in understated colors or simplified dress.  Very weird.

Deciding it wasn’t worth spending too much time thinking about, Jillian walked towards the elevator. 

 She braced herself as she knew any moment Kevin would come rushing up behind her as he did every Monday morning.  Kevin…her work pest.  Oh, he didn’t know that.  He thought he was the best thing since sliced bread ... .and God's gift to all women. In his eyes.  He loudly proclaimed for all to hear about a “hot date” he had over the weekend. Or the very expensive restaurant he had eaten at. Or the tickets he bought for the game. Box office suite of course. He often leaned into Jillian. Stood a bit too close not caring about personal space. He liked to talk with his eyes roving up and down. Jillian didn’t know which was more irritating, that or the overpowering cologne he wore. Jillian chided herself.  She usually smelled his cologne long before she heard his rushed footsteps approaching from behind.  

He didn’t run up behind her today. Jillian glanced at her watch to confirm it indeed was Monday.  Kevin had meetings outside of the building often the rest of the week, but like clockwork every Monday she shared the elevator with him.  Very odd.  She entered the elevator and out of habit, backed up to the rear of the elevator against the rail knowing she would be the last to get off on the 7th floor.  Just as she was getting settled and waiting for the door to close all the way, a very sweaty? or wet? arm stopped the door and in walked Kevin.  Gone was the usual slicked back perfectly coiffed hair.  No overpowering cologne.  In fact, Jillian couldn’t quite put her finger on the smell.  He smelled.  But it was odd. More like old perhaps... Musty?  Like maybe he slept in his clothes.  He normally looked put together.  Clothes pressed, etc.  His shirt was untucked.  Clothes are a bit wrinkled.  Shoes were scuffed and actually dusty. Hair all messed up. What is going on?

Kevin entered the elevator and stared down at his phone with angry eyes. 

“Good morning, Kevin!”  Jillian said.  Thinking she may regret this, but she at least wanted something to be normal.  Even if it was irritatingly so, she was used to her normal Mondays.

Kevin glanced up from his phone, said humph…and went back to looking at his phone.

Kevin strode out of the elevator when the 2nd floor bell announced it had stopped there.  He was gone literally in a flash.  His angry stomps echoing down the hall as the elevator doors pinged shut again.

Leaning back against the elevator wall, Jillian rode the rest of the way.  She thought about pinching herself to see if she was dreaming.  The elevator music was getting a bit louder.  Either that or it was the drumming in her head.  She needed more coffee.  Sipping it again, she willed it to work on her pounding head echoing in her ears.  This day is very strange, and it’s only just begun.

The elevator pinged and she stepped out on the 7th floor where she worked.  She could almost visualize and predict who she would encounter next.  At 3 tiles past the water fountain, with his cart, she knew she would see Carl the janitor. Carl was often singing or whistling even on Mondays as he truly seemed to enjoy his work. He’d often ask her about his family, and she’d do the same.   We need more like him, Jillian thought.   

She rounded the corner to her office to see if she was right.  Sure enough.  There was Carl.  Cart parked in his usual spot just past the water fountain.  As she drew nearer, she realized it was Carl, but it really wasn’t.  He was dressed like Carl.  Looked like Carl.  He was shaking.  Hard.  He had sweat beaded up on his forehead.  He was attempting to sip his coffee too.  His eyes were darting back and forth quite visible as his eyes were wide open.  He set his coffee down and spilled some.  Grabbing his rag from his pocket he attempted to wipe up the spill.  She stopped in front of Carl.  Something is off.  Jillian thought.

Carl shook his finger at her when she said, “Good morning, Carl!”

“You must be careful, Miss Jillian!”  Carl said.

Just as she was about to ask him what he meant, he ran.  Like the fastest she’d seen him move in a long time.  Pushing his cart and all.  He turned the corner, cart flipped up on a dime, dropping his work rag.

Shaking her head, and staring with her mouth open, Jillian retrieved her keys from her purse.  She grabbed the doorknob for her office and used the key.  She tried to turn the doorknob when she heard it click open.  She pulled back her hand.  It was greasy. Oily even.  What in the world was all over her doorknob?  It almost felt like egg whites. Finally, she was able to turn the doorknob.  She entered her office.  At least she thinks it’s her office….

Her window had black lace hanging haphazardly from it.  The panes were all smudged.  She may have to ask about that.  Is that a bullet hole in the glass?  What in the world?

Setting her purse in her desk drawer she sees crumbs everywhere inside.  That is not good.  She needs to clean that up.  It could attract pests.  Jillian didn’t remember eating at her desk at all yesterday.  She doesn’t usually do that.  Also, there are red paint smudges across the furniture.  

Grasping her coffee…thankfully it’s still warm, she goes to her closet to put her jacket away.  

“AAAK!” Jillian screams.  

There inside her closet, dressed in cowboy attire, (why)??? is her boss, Stan.  Stan has always had a smile that looks plastered on.  Everything is always cool…cool.   Calamities?  Emergencies?  Sickness?  Cool.  We can handle it here!  

Stan exits her closet.  All smiles again.  Just about the time Jillian was to ask him why on earth he’s dressed like that, or what he was doing in her closet, he launches into questions.  

“Are you ready for the staff meeting? I’d like you to prep the staff on what is expected this year as we are getting ready to close out our fiscal year, Stan states.  All smiles of course.  “We at Zara Corporation love love our people!”  Stan keeps yammering on and on, smiling away as he leaves Jillian's office.  

Shaking her head and watching Stan leave, Jillian settles in at her desk and opens up her laptop to get to work.  She types furiously answering emails, including sending one to maintenance about the smudges and hole in her window.  She works non-stop as well as prepares items for the staff meeting later.

Taking a break, she stretches and thinks she’ll go to the lunch table to get some more coffee.  Hers has become cold. Just as she goes to stand, she notices a dripping on her desk.  It’s more of the clear, slimy liquid that was on her doorknob!  Yet another thing to ask maintenance about.

Heading to the lunch table, she spots Dorlean in there.  This time Dorlean has on her normal bright attire.  Seated at a table and talking animatedly, Dorlean is chattering on non-stop rapid fire about things that are almost too fast to understand.  She’s actually talking to herself!  Jillian decides she just wants coffee besides she has too much work to do to stop and sit, so she just refills her coffee.

She is headed to leave, when she notices a rather buff guy seated in the room with fatigues on.  He is just staring at everyone.  Not speaking, just looking straight ahead and observing.  Never seen him before. Jillian thinks.  Again, Jillian decides she has too much work to do to question him or to get involved.

Leaving with her refilled coffee, she heads back to her office.  There she spots Carl and his cart again.  He’s smiling and singing this time.  Almost as if he never remembers his erratic behavior from before.  This time he has some of the red paint on his cart that was similar to what was in Jillian’s office from earlier.

Can this day get any weirder?  Jillian wonders. 

Headed back into her office, she settles back at her desk and tries to finish work and send out emails.  She’s thankful that so far there hasn’t been a black out here at the company.  She hated those.  She believes they save the company money. All work ceases.  Power goes out and it makes you feel like you are in a void.  You can’t see anything.  Very draining.  

She works up until it’s time for the staff meeting.  Stretching, she goes to leave again. Just as she heads for the door, she hears that weird jaws music louder this time.  She also sees a fresh swipe of red paint on one of her walls that she didn’t think was there before.  But Jillian decides who knows?  She’s starting to believe she’s crazy.  Maybe some of my co-workers will know what’s up.  Because I sure do not!  Jillian ponders.

Grasping the doorknob slick and slimy on this side too with whatever it is..she opens the door.  Just as she leaves her office, she notices the music stops. There is also Carl running down the hall with his cart, that is now wobbly and has lost a wheel.  Back is the erratic crazed behavior.  He’s looking wild eyed and scared again and moving quite fast.  He stops suddenly.  He bends over.  Drooping.  Then he falls down.  Jillian goes over to him to assist.  

Suddenly, the most awful loud noise fills her ears.  Screeching.  Yelling.  Booming sound.  Like thunder with words.  What is that?  Jillian panics.  She looks back and forth.  She also notices that one of her shoes is gone. Didn’t I have both shoes on when I arrived?  I truly am going crazy!   Jill questions and tries to think.

   Then for no reason at all and without warning...black out!  Jillian falls flat on her face.  She can’t move or see.

This is life at Crazy Town…aka Zara Corporation. Aka Zara’s doll house with office furniture. Zara made a mental note to clean up for supper.  Her Mom was yelling…

            Things Zara thought of:

           Put more lightbulbs in her doll car.  The headlights are weird.

Fix the dollhouse door.  It squeaks.

Don’t leave one of your male dolls out on the rug, the dog will get it again and get the clothes and hair all dirty and make it smell. Put back the aftershave lotion you took off Dad’s dresser. 

Maybe ask next time I use black lace from Mom’s sewing kit for one of the windows.

Glad I didn’t play outside with this again, last time a window got cracked.  Hard to put back in.

Maybe not let your little brother pick out a cowboy outfit for the smiling male doll or at least not let him shove him inside the office closet.

Don’t eat animal crackers while playing.  It gets everywhere and on the furniture.

Have Dad fix the motorized male worker doll with a cart he has a short or something he keeps pausing and starting or powering down.

Shouldn’t use my wind-up chatty doll again for my office setting.  I don’t have office clothes for her that fit, plus she looks better up on my bed. 

Don’t use my brother’s GI Joe doll again he’ll probably miss it and get mad. 

Shouldn’t have let my best friend pick the music.  She likes the Jaws theme.  

I need to put Mom’s red nail polish and glitter gel back that I painted the walls, doorknobs and cart with…I may get in trouble for that!

Find the other heeled shoe for the girl office doll.

Until next time Crazy Town…aka Zara Corporation.  

Lights Out!