Rubber Band

 

A Crowd Hoot Story

 

By Thelma Mary Caroline

 

 

 

 

 

Hannah laid an unfinished report on Charley's desk.  "I'm too busy to help you with this."

 

"But these need to be finished today," the woman answered.  "There's already fifteen of them, I still have another six to go."

 

"Well, I've got stuff that I've got to get done, too.  You don't see me asking for help."

 

Kyle stayed silently at her desk.  She, too, was helping with Charley's reports. 

 

She wished that Charley would tell L J what Hannah was doing.  L J had said that the reports were very importaint to the Center, second only to the hunts themselves.  But she knew why the woman just furiously hurried to get them done.  Hannah would never change.

 

 

L J came down at noon.  "Where's the reports?"

 

"We're working on it," Charley said.

 

Cassandra explained, "It's been really busy."

 

Neither mentioned Hannah.

 

L J picked up one of the thick files and scanned it.  "Petty.  All of it.  It should have been done by nine.  I want them before you go to lunch."

 

"Yes, ma'am," Charley said.  She had the first lunch break.

 

L J grabbed a few of the reports and took them over to the far table that she called her own.

 

The reports had to be finished; Kyle knew that for a fact.  L J had to turn them into the Center before the end of their shift.  And there were still things that she needed to do to them before they were handed in.  With so many, it would take her a long time.

 

Hannah sat at her desk, hurridly scribbling.  But Kyle knew that she wasn't working on reports.

 

She didn't think it was fair.  Charley was missing her lunch because of Hannah.  But the others wouldn't say anything because nothing L J said or did ever made her change.

 

It still wasn't fair.

 

Kyle shot a runner band towards L J.

 

The captain looked up, but before she could say anything, Kyle nodded in Hannah's direction.  L J looked, but then looked back quizically.

 

Kyle nodded again.

 

This time L J stood up and silently walked over to Hannah's workstation.

 

The woman stayed very calm.  Most times when she was upset, she would turn red and whack you out of your chair faster than you even knew she was angry.

 

She walked over to Charley's desk and picked up the stack of reports.  "Go to lunch."

 

And L J took the reports, and put them on Hannah's desk.  "I expect these done before one," she said.  "Or you won't be going to lunch."

 

Nothing was said the remainder of the hour.  Hardly anyone looked up from their work.

 

Kyle looked up just once, glancing in L J's direction.  The woman was sitting, her head in her hands.  The reports wouldn't get done fast enough for her to complete them all.