It wasn’t long after that that Jason began to smell.

At first, nobody noticed.

Susan and Joseph had been enjoying their new-found peace and hoped that whatever was making Jason happy would

last awhile, but as the stink grew it occurred to them that unless he bathed soon the peace would be shattered.

“I think you should tell him,” said Susan.

“You’ve worked with him the longest,” said Joseph.

“But you’re a guy.”

“What does that have to do with it?”

But Joseph tried. He entered Jason’s cubicle. He got within three feet when Susan saw his face turn green, coincidentally the same color as Jason’s now. He ran out of the cubicle, gagging. Jason did not move, apparently focused on his screensaver.

When Joseph came out of the bathroom Susan stopped him. “Do you think we should mention this to Mr. Wallace?”