Friday. 5:52

It’s Friday night. 5:29pm.

Work ended 29 minutes ago. But I’m still sitting at my desk, pretending to be busy at work like everyone else seems to be. I wonder how many of them are pretending too? Who is going to take one for the team and be the first to break for the weekend? (Not that anyone around here ever takes a full weekend. Or evening for that matter). I've been busy all week. Now my brain has checked out. It's Friday.

(Some things are the same no matter where in the world you are.)

I suppose it is going to have to be the Big Boss who is across from me. Here from Dublin, she is my boss’ boss’ boss. I bet she isn’t pretending.

As I type this, I’m thinking in whispers. Short, cautious whispers.

We eat dinner at the office and the food is here but no one else is going. I’ve been already of course, and packed up a little Tupperware so I can eat it later (who wants to eat at 5??). I wonder why they’re not going? Have I missed something? It’s a full 35 minutes after the point that we are contractually obligated to be here. No one seems to notice. The food is even good tonight  – meatballs, unlike the muddy fish and mushy peas we had for lunch. (For the record I really like mushy peas, my lack of enthusiasm was for the fish).

My eyes are darting around the room, trying to catch someone else thinking the same as me. But it seems that they are all actually working. Hmm. I can tell because I can see most people’s screens. They can’t see mine though. I rush into the office each morning to claim the best desk – under the AC unit, in line with the only fan in the room, and with my back to the far wall so that no one can tell how many times I check facebook in a day (not many, of course). I don’t even care if anyone realizes that this is the best desk and I have it: this is Africa. It's hot. I.Want.The.Good.Spot.

5:44.

I've managed a few more minutes of work.

For a moment my thoughts were at normal volume. A colleague just  stopped by my Good Desk to make a plan for the evening. We’ve got 7 hrs and 15 mins til curfew. We’re going to make the best of it.

Oh! Now is my chance! I’m going to make a mad dash to the car!

HQ-out

(sorry for the boring post)