As I stepped out of my boss Ted Carnegy's car, I took a deep breath in and pasted a large cheshire cat smile on my face. This was the day that I had been dreading all week. Dead Ted as we all call him behind his back, had managed to corner me last Tuesday in the back hallway. I generally try to avoid him because he has a faint odor of sour cabbace, so you can imagine my surprise when Dead Ted asked me to accompany him to a local dinner and silent auction fundraiser. No way did I want to sit next to that man for an entire dinner; but what could I do he's my boss? I wondered if there was a way that I could nonchalantly plug my nose with one hand while eating with the other to keep from vomiting. Having no choice I smiled a sugary smile and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear while avoiding eye contact.


"I guess I could go if I can find a sitter on such short notice." I told him hoping that would be my easy out.


"Hey no problem, my sister is a great babysitter and she'll do it for free."


Damn, now what was I going to do? I couldn't reject him and his sister all at once so I just said, "Okay."

As we approached the building I felt Dead Ted's plump fingers grab my elbow seeming to claim me as his. An involuntary shudder of disgust swept through me.

"Are you cold?" Ted asked.

I nodded, "I'll be alright."

I felt a plastic smile creep across my face....

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