That DEFINITELY made my day. Even mentioning that name is surreal. But I’ll admit I love “cryptic sentences”. There is one very specific thing I keep coming back to when editing: Trust the readers more. So, I cut explanations, make things less certain, weird sometimes. But cryptic goes beyond that. And it’s just a lovely word. I’m gonna carry that with me. “Let my write a little bit more cryptic. Readers can figure it out themselves.” :-). Thank you Maya!!!
"She's the kindest soul in the building, an angel. That's not a compliment. It's a fact." That line is doing more work than Stefan's entire CV.
Because he didn't cut the line, but outsourced it. And the elegance of it is that she had to apologise. He got the coffee, she carried the shame. The kindest person in the building is always the cheapest to spend.
And that's the reason this small moment stayed with me for such a long time. It's wrong. In so many levels. Maria had helped my out so many times before. I needed anything, she would be there. Seeing this broke something. And your last line is so brutal but so real: "the kindest person is the cheapest to spend."
I am the guy from the note coming to help promote myself. 😂
When Maria just walked past everyone with Stefan’s cup, that was pretty funny because I knew exactly where this was going. And I actually agree with the ending. I probably would’ve let Stefan cut too. He’s the boss, he’s busy or whatever. But sending the nicest person in the building to do it for you somehow makes it even more annoying.
“If you’re king enough to cut the line, be king enough to fucking cut it yourself” was a pretty epic ending lol.
I’ll admit I didn’t really get your note at first. That’s how degraded my brain has become by now. But reading all the other comments and your responses made me laugh (out loud actually) a couple of times. Anyhow, somehow you still ended reading and commenting. So, Kudos. The promotion part was a success. But actually also the human interaction. Laughs, reads, epic endings. Thanks, Destin.
There’s a rhythm that you maintain with the way you craft your sentences that is very precise and build an atmosphere of disdain for authority, even when it masked by the office angel.
I feel for Maria. She is in no position to refuse Stefan due to both her rank, kindness and even gender. Sadly, there will always be Stefans out there to use others for their dirty work.
Thank you so much Andrea for taking the time to read and comment. I’m so happy about your comment. You mentioning the atmosphere I create, that is sincerely amazing to hear. I put so much thought and effort into capturing situations and specific moments, to make them come alive and feel beautifully vivid, it’s so genuinely nice to hear it resonates.
Funnily enough I started writing the article because I was so pissed of by Stefan’s cowardice. And then silently Maria became more and more the center of it. I never originally intended for it but somehow I realized that the sad part is not just Stefan. That it’s rather the consequences Maria has to carry. I didn’t feel that at all when it happened (quite some time ago). I was just so furious about Stefan. When writing it finally dawned on me…
Very well written. Enjoyed it. A good piece about how authority often tries to act over smart by applying these tactics but forget that people aren't stupid enough to not see through it. I think this is also an arrogance of a kind where people with authority assume others are not at their intellectual level forgetting that most of them may just be below them in hierarchy due to reasons beyond their own control.
I really like how you emphasize that people are not stupid. They notice. They know. That's extremely important to understand. You just cannot play people. Honesty is the only way.
Thank you so much for reading and engaging. Truly!
Hmm office politics. The rude dude employs the angel to cut the coffee line when staffs didn't make way for him. Damn, then some of the staffs will be fired... Wow. On my first read I couldn't get it. I had to read it again. Yeah, I'm slow. But the end is twisty. Cool. Dark.
Dark is good, right? I somehow dislike white or black stories. Grey is so much better. Like daaaaark grey. I started writing within the context of business. First, I know that stuff. Second, I’ve lived it. Third, I need to get that out of my brain. Maybe, eventually, if I get good enough with that writing thing, I may touch or try some fiction. I’m a tech person, long way to go :-). Thanks again Maya, very much appreciated that you really did take the time to go deep and understand <3.
Wow. Your language is cool and stylist. Like Hemingway's. Cryptic sentences.
That DEFINITELY made my day. Even mentioning that name is surreal. But I’ll admit I love “cryptic sentences”. There is one very specific thing I keep coming back to when editing: Trust the readers more. So, I cut explanations, make things less certain, weird sometimes. But cryptic goes beyond that. And it’s just a lovely word. I’m gonna carry that with me. “Let my write a little bit more cryptic. Readers can figure it out themselves.” :-). Thank you Maya!!!
No, what about dumb readers like me! 😅🤣😂
NO WAY that's you!!!
Yeah.. I'm dumb.
No no no no No no NOOOOO!
Maria stayed with me longer than Stefan did.
"She's the kindest soul in the building, an angel. That's not a compliment. It's a fact." That line is doing more work than Stefan's entire CV.
Because he didn't cut the line, but outsourced it. And the elegance of it is that she had to apologise. He got the coffee, she carried the shame. The kindest person in the building is always the cheapest to spend.
And that's the reason this small moment stayed with me for such a long time. It's wrong. In so many levels. Maria had helped my out so many times before. I needed anything, she would be there. Seeing this broke something. And your last line is so brutal but so real: "the kindest person is the cheapest to spend."
Thanks for reading Petra!
The office coffee machine scene felt so real. And that last line was so powerful! Loved reading this!
I am the guy from the note coming to help promote myself. 😂
When Maria just walked past everyone with Stefan’s cup, that was pretty funny because I knew exactly where this was going. And I actually agree with the ending. I probably would’ve let Stefan cut too. He’s the boss, he’s busy or whatever. But sending the nicest person in the building to do it for you somehow makes it even more annoying.
“If you’re king enough to cut the line, be king enough to fucking cut it yourself” was a pretty epic ending lol.
I’ll admit I didn’t really get your note at first. That’s how degraded my brain has become by now. But reading all the other comments and your responses made me laugh (out loud actually) a couple of times. Anyhow, somehow you still ended reading and commenting. So, Kudos. The promotion part was a success. But actually also the human interaction. Laughs, reads, epic endings. Thanks, Destin.
Hey man I am enjoying it. I found you so it worked out 😂.
There’s a rhythm that you maintain with the way you craft your sentences that is very precise and build an atmosphere of disdain for authority, even when it masked by the office angel.
I feel for Maria. She is in no position to refuse Stefan due to both her rank, kindness and even gender. Sadly, there will always be Stefans out there to use others for their dirty work.
Thank you so much Andrea for taking the time to read and comment. I’m so happy about your comment. You mentioning the atmosphere I create, that is sincerely amazing to hear. I put so much thought and effort into capturing situations and specific moments, to make them come alive and feel beautifully vivid, it’s so genuinely nice to hear it resonates.
Funnily enough I started writing the article because I was so pissed of by Stefan’s cowardice. And then silently Maria became more and more the center of it. I never originally intended for it but somehow I realized that the sad part is not just Stefan. That it’s rather the consequences Maria has to carry. I didn’t feel that at all when it happened (quite some time ago). I was just so furious about Stefan. When writing it finally dawned on me…
Very well written. Enjoyed it. A good piece about how authority often tries to act over smart by applying these tactics but forget that people aren't stupid enough to not see through it. I think this is also an arrogance of a kind where people with authority assume others are not at their intellectual level forgetting that most of them may just be below them in hierarchy due to reasons beyond their own control.
I really like how you emphasize that people are not stupid. They notice. They know. That's extremely important to understand. You just cannot play people. Honesty is the only way.
Thank you so much for reading and engaging. Truly!
It truly was my pleasure. Will go through your other essays too.
Hmm office politics. The rude dude employs the angel to cut the coffee line when staffs didn't make way for him. Damn, then some of the staffs will be fired... Wow. On my first read I couldn't get it. I had to read it again. Yeah, I'm slow. But the end is twisty. Cool. Dark.
Dark is good, right? I somehow dislike white or black stories. Grey is so much better. Like daaaaark grey. I started writing within the context of business. First, I know that stuff. Second, I’ve lived it. Third, I need to get that out of my brain. Maybe, eventually, if I get good enough with that writing thing, I may touch or try some fiction. I’m a tech person, long way to go :-). Thanks again Maya, very much appreciated that you really did take the time to go deep and understand <3.
Thanks. I learnt a bit of art of subtlety from it.
Great writing. Could smell the garlic and the coffee. Leaned in for the gut punch at the end. Dayum.