Last of the Grunts

Fluorescent lights buzzed and flickered over an elongated meeting table. Six people sat spread out around the table, a store bought cherry pie placed in the middle with a short stack of paper plates and plastic utensils. Daniel smiled at Tameeka knowing she was the one who advised against a farewell cake: too many carbs, not enough fruit. It was the least she could do, thanking him for saving her sanity.

Roughly three years ago, they and two others in their mid-to-late twenties were hired to help GlamTrek improve their outreach campaign and social media strategies. The glamour of the new job wore off after a month, but there was comradery among the recent recruits. Of one of two black people hired, Tameeka felt an instant connection yet rivalry with Belinda that she would never admit. They fought desperately for Daniel’s attention, but only she realized he was a discreet bisexual leaning more towards homosexuality but acknowledging anyone could be fun.

Three months into their employment, Ronnie was fired for stealing office supplies and petty cash. Tameeka didn’t blame him; they made well over minimum wage, but that still wasn’t much considering the price of living. Realizing that not even a white boy could get away with theft, the rest of the crew tightened up. Being closer to thirty than the rest of them, Tameeka fell into a self-appointed sense of leadership; her additional real world experience and knack for organization didn’t hurt either. It was then that she realized Belinda never saw her as a rival but as a partner who could do the things she didn’t want to do. This worked in both of their favors, because Tameeka despised handling any work with the community or strangers.

Being a woman of connections, however, Belinda left in a year’s time to become a social media manager for a new startup with better pay and better hours. Around the same time, Daniel started grad school. With Belinda phasing herself out, he naturally stepped into the community liaison role, learning that he had a passion for therapy. Over the remaining two years, he and Tameeka traded jokes and 90s references whenever they were both in the office. He was there for her when she foolishly tried to pick up the new girl Patricia and failed. She was there for him whenever he needed to complain about homework or a professor. He was such a good work friend, Tameeka invited him to her apartment whenever they had an evening work event. They would pregame with hard seltzers and grenadine, trading stories they couldn’t share in the office before running down the block to make their call time.

It was a whirlwind of fun that made a boring job exciting, but as they sat in the conference room accompanied by their two bosses, a programming manager, and Patricia, Tameeka began to evaluate her life. She was stuck between leveling up and plateauing at a position now attracting Generation Zoomers. Her work was consistent and appreciated, but would she want to progress in a place she had no allies? Worrylines attacking her forehead, Daniel nudged her with a piece of pie. She refused but felt him slide a fork into her hand and mouth “relax” as their highest level boss congratulated him on his next step across the country.

Pulling him aside, Tameeka made him promise to stay in contact. As a sign of good faith, he offered her one last piece of office gossip: he slept with Patricia last week. Stunned by the news, she instinctively turned her head and saw Patricia walking towards them. Tameeka avoided eye contact as they exchanged goodbyes. Then she felt a feminine touch on her shoulder. “Well, it’s just us now. We might as well be besties.” She looked up with a puzzled look on her face, slowly transitioning into a slow nod. Tameeka may have been the last of her class, but Daniel was not the last of her likable peers.

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