101403I glanced at the clock in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. Time to head out. I logged off of WebMail, which I checked way too many times for my own good that day, and began gathering my things. Carl noticed I was tidying up. �You heading out?� he asked as he packed his leather over-the-shoulder bag. �5:00 is my quitting time �cause I�ve got homework to do,� I said back. As he walked by, a yellow streak whizzed past my face. I looked in the direction of the thud and saw a small dog toy. I shook my head. �You just wait, I�ll get you back on Friday,� I warned as I threw the toy taxi at him. Before I knew it, it came back at me and bounced off of my shoulder. His laugher faded as the door shut behind him. I spun around in my desk chair and grabbed my petite Coach purse � my work purse, as I like to call it. I wear it every day I go to my internship, so I�ve finally justified dropping $128 on it. Besides, it never hurts to show a little sophistication, even if it comes in the form of embroidered C�s. Looking at the stack of folders still on the desk, I quickly rifled through them. I wanted to take at least one home, but quickly disbanded the idea when I thought of better ways to spend my time, like scrapbooking. I slid my fingers through the crack between the desk and the filing cabinet. I blindly groped for the switch, sliding my thumb along the cord until I found the small compartment that turned the lamp off. I made one last visual sweep of the desk before standing up. I stopped for a moment and looked around the empty office. Through frosty glass panels meant to invoke privacy, I saw torn magazine pages covered in pen marks. On the wall above every desk, a two-page layout from one of Tiger Oak�s magazines hung in a double-matted frame. The yellow color of the walls played off the oak pillars, further complimenting the black furniture scattered throughout the office. I hope I work in a place like this someday, I thought to myself. This is what I want. This is how I want to make a living. This is where I am supposed to be. This is the life�even if I�m doing it for free.
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