‘That was a lovely dinner, Robert,’ Mr Williamson smiled. ‘Now, we’d better discuss what we are going to do about the postal service.’

‘Certainly, boss,’ Robert replied, standing up. ‘My fellow workers, I have invited you all here for a very important issue. Since the arrival of electronic mail, fewer and fewer people are using the older, analogue method of posting a letter. We arrive at the post-box only to find it half-empty. It has resulted in far too many tears for my liking, and we may have only one option.’

‘You mean,’ Mr Williamson gasped.

‘Yes,’ sighed Robert. ‘We may have to introduce free plumbing for every customer.’

‘Plumbing?’ his boss asked. ‘Are you suggesting that we offer free plumbing to everyone who uses the post-box? Do any of us even know how to plumb?’

There was unrest amongst the guests.

‘Well, does anyone have any better ideas?’ asked Robert.

Glen Davies, a fellow postman, put up his hand. ‘I’m not too bad at origami,’ he said helpfully.

‘I’m not sure,’ Mr Williamson pondered. ‘Can you make those funny stalks, with heads that bob up and down?’

‘Sure!’

Mr Williamson looked excited.

‘Then it’s settled,’ Robert smiled. ‘Free origami with every post! Mr Williamson, what do you think? Is this the beginning of a postal service revival?’

‘I think it is,’ his boss smiled. ‘We’ll implement it tomorrow. Glen, get folding!’

‘This is great,’ Robert sighed happily. ‘You know the postal service means a lot to me, and I – oh my lord, what the hell is that?’ he suddenly yelled, pointing to the kitchen light.

‘It’s just a moth, Robert,’ Mr Williamson told him. ‘Now, what’s for dessert?’

‘A….moth?’ Robert gasped, and jumped off his chair. ‘Someone give me the axe, quickly!’

‘Calm down, Robert!’ Glen pleaded. ‘We don’t even know where your axe is kept, anyway!’

‘Shut up and bring me my bloody axe!’ Robert shouted. ‘You’re in my house and you will do what I say!’

‘We are guests here,’ his boss told him sternly, ‘so stop acting like an idiot and act like a gentleman!’

‘I’m sorry, boss, but there is a moth in my house. It is on my light, for god’s sake!’

‘If you’re so worried about it, just turn this light off and turn on another one! It’ll go in there instead.

‘Really,’ asked Robert. ‘Okay, I’ll give it a shot!’ He jumped off his chair and turned off the kitchen light.

‘Hey, we can’t see!’ his guests complained. ‘Turn the light back on!’

‘I can’t find the switch!’ Robert yelled. A smash was heard.

‘What the hell was that?’ Mr Williamson asked angrily. ‘Robert, you idiot! You’ve ruined a perfectly good evening.’

‘Wait,’ a post-woman called out. ‘I’ve found the fridge!’ She opened the door and light shone out.

‘Everyone into the kitchen,’ ordered Mr Williamson.

‘No, don’t let the moth in the fridge!’ Robert panted. ‘Dessert is in there!’

‘Robert, perhaps I should explain something to you,’ said Mr Williamson. ‘It is only a moth! Perhaps we should all leave now so you can settle this alone.’

‘Good! Then get out!’ Robert cried. ‘All of you! Out!’

‘What are you doing?’ asked Glen. ‘We haven’t had dessert yet!’

‘Look, someone let a moth into my house, and I think it was you, Mr Williamson!’

‘Why would I purposely let a moth into your house?’

‘Because you are an idiot, that’s why! So get out!’

‘I am your boss, for god’s sake! How dare you speak to me like that!’

‘Shut up and get out! Everyone get out!’

‘Please,’ Glen pleaded. ‘Think about what you are doing, Robert!’

‘GET OUT!’ Robert screamed, and shoved his guests out of the door. Mr Williamson looked quite annoyed. When everyone had left, the agitated postman ran back to the kitchen. ‘Now, where is that bloody moth?’

The fridge door was still open and the moth was inside. ‘I wonder,’ Robert asked himself, ‘if I could shut the fridge door, I could freeze the little bugger to death!’ Before this plan could materialise, the moth flew out and onto his wrist.

Robert screamed and tried to brush it off. ‘Help! Someone, help!’ he cried. But it was no use. The moth wouldn’t budge.

The next morning, Robert was still shaking violently in the corner of his kitchen, his eyes looking down where the moth was perched on his wrist. ‘Get…off…me,’ he whispered. ‘I have to go to work! Just leave me be!’

Robert carefully ate his breakfast, showered, shaved and left for work. But the moth still hadn’t moved.

‘Sorry I’m late, boss,’ said Robert as he entered the post office. ‘I’ve had a few problems at home.

Mr Williamson glared at him. ‘I’m surprised you even bothered to show up, after that childish display last night,’ he frowned. He then looked at Robert’s wrist. ‘Oh, you still haven’t sorted out your little moth problem, I see.’

‘Let me handle this,’ Robert demanded, and flicked the moth away. It flew away and circled the office.

‘Good. Now that’s taken care of, perhaps we can start worrying about how the origami offer is going!’ Mr Williamson huffed.

But Robert was chasing after the moth with a stapler. ‘Don’t worry, boss! I’ll get the little bastard!’

‘For god’s sake, stop this nonsense at once! I’ve got a good mind to bring forward your retirement a few decades!’ fumed Mr Williamson.

Robert didn’t listen and instead, he began to climb up a shelf. ‘Just a second, boss!’ he called out.

‘Get down, Robert! That shelf is carefully sorted with letters!’

But it was too late. The shelf fell and letters were scattered all over the room. ‘Sorry, boss,’ Robert whimpered.

That was the last straw. Mr Williamson looked at Robert angrily. ‘How dare you! I have given you too many chances. I’m sorry, but we cannot have this sort of – oh god! The moth! It’s on my shirt!’

‘Don’t worry, sir!’ declared Robert. ‘I’ll save you!’ He took Mr Williamson by the shirt and squashed the moth with the stapler. It went into a tailspin and fell to the floor.

‘You saved my life, Robert!’ Mr Williamson smiled in gratitude. ‘How can I ever repay you?’

‘You could give me my job back,’ he suggested, taking a tissue and wiping the stapler clean.

‘I never actually fired you, Robert.’

‘Then could I borrow two dollars?" asked Robert. ‘I’ll pay you back tomorrow!’

‘Consider it done!’ his boss smiled, taking out his wallet.

Suddenly Glen ran inside. ‘Good news everyone! The origami has proved to be a huge success!’

‘Wow! Robert, what would we do without you?’ Mr Williamson asked, shaking his head in amazement.

‘You’d probably be dead, sir!’ laughed Robert.

‘I probably would be,’ Mr Williamson laughed back. ‘I probably would.’