I’m so happy you enjoyed it. It’s really so funny, I was so close to removing final sentence. Somehow I wasn’t happy with the overall ending. But it felt very true to what happened and what I felt about it, so I just kept it as is. Thank you Alexandra!!!
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."
The coffee cup is such a good way of showing something much bigger about power. I especially liked the distinction that you wouldn’t actually have minded Stefan cutting the line himself. It’s the possibility of having someone else do it for him while he gets to remain the approachable guy who politely walked away that changes the whole thing. If we’re going to accept the privileges that come with a position, we should probably be willing to own them too.
You nailed it. That’s exactly what triggered me that hard. Not going to lie, that guy lost all the respect I ever had in that moment. Thanks Teresa for reading. I’m so happy you got to the depth of the article, that means the world. Not just reading but thinking, understanding it from your point of view (which could have been very well different to mine) and taking something from it. That’s the whole reason I started writing these little things in the first place <3.
If bad news were a person, its arrival would look something like this: it would pull up outside a luxurious restaurant in an equally luxurious car that announced itself with an outrageously loud roar. It would come to a smooth stop directly in front of a crowd that had gathered for the sole purpose of watching bad news arrive. It would slowly get out of the car, flash a few dazzling smiles, casually beckon several of the most attractive onlookers to follow, and stroll into the restaurant with a sense of profound superiority over the rest of the world. Meanwhile, the good news would be freezing at the bus stop...
...The bad news was eating its soup, completely unaware that someone had spat in it. Being evil has a price.
Nice punchy story Stefan. Love the way you describe the way that power underlies human interaction in a way that is understood quietly by all, but a risk to vocalise.
Thank you James! That part was really worrying. Seeing how everyone just made space and quietly accepted it. No one complained, not even a joke or something, people just took it. Me included. Looking back that still hurts.
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…
Ahhhh! I love that ending! Great writing. It kept me enriguied and engaged along the way, right up until that hilarious ending.
I’m so happy you enjoyed it. It’s really so funny, I was so close to removing final sentence. Somehow I wasn’t happy with the overall ending. But it felt very true to what happened and what I felt about it, so I just kept it as is. Thank you Alexandra!!!
The last sentence makes the story! So glad you kept it.
This is gorgeous writing. Blunt and forceful and full of imagery.
Thank you, truly. I love your comment. Blunt, forcefully and imagery is exactly what I would love my writing to be. I'm so happy 😊.
You should be! Lean into that and keep going!
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 coffee cup is such a good way of showing something much bigger about power. I especially liked the distinction that you wouldn’t actually have minded Stefan cutting the line himself. It’s the possibility of having someone else do it for him while he gets to remain the approachable guy who politely walked away that changes the whole thing. If we’re going to accept the privileges that come with a position, we should probably be willing to own them too.
You nailed it. That’s exactly what triggered me that hard. Not going to lie, that guy lost all the respect I ever had in that moment. Thanks Teresa for reading. I’m so happy you got to the depth of the article, that means the world. Not just reading but thinking, understanding it from your point of view (which could have been very well different to mine) and taking something from it. That’s the whole reason I started writing these little things in the first place <3.
I loved your writing language, so sensitive but impressive! And great article.
Thank you, truly. I’m having so much fun right now finding my personal voice, it’s amazing to hear that the language I used resonated <3.
Great work
Very interesting read! I enjoyed it a lot, feels like a teaser for a book. You write very well!
Thank you again, Serena. That's so kind and so nice to hear! Maybe I should really put some more time into my book ideas.
Thank you for sharing this! It flowed a bit jerkily at times, but overall I enjoyed the read!!!
That’s too kind! Finally someone being fully honest. Very much appreciated <3.
Brilliantly put. There's a strange kind of exposure when false dignity finally slips.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment <3.
Love the way you capture that 'one of us, but not really' kind of power. It becomes visible without ever having to announce itself.
Thank you for reading and commenting. I'm so happy I managed to convey that feeling without having to explicitly name it 😀.
Wow, well, this guy definitely deserved to have someone spit in his coffee))
That sounds like an extremely reasonable reaction. I should have thought of that back then. Damn 😕.
I’ll share a quote from my book:
If bad news were a person, its arrival would look something like this: it would pull up outside a luxurious restaurant in an equally luxurious car that announced itself with an outrageously loud roar. It would come to a smooth stop directly in front of a crowd that had gathered for the sole purpose of watching bad news arrive. It would slowly get out of the car, flash a few dazzling smiles, casually beckon several of the most attractive onlookers to follow, and stroll into the restaurant with a sense of profound superiority over the rest of the world. Meanwhile, the good news would be freezing at the bus stop...
...The bad news was eating its soup, completely unaware that someone had spat in it. Being evil has a price.
Being evil has a price. I need to remember that. I like. Very well delivered Yaroslav.
Thank you)
Nice punchy story Stefan. Love the way you describe the way that power underlies human interaction in a way that is understood quietly by all, but a risk to vocalise.
Thank you James! That part was really worrying. Seeing how everyone just made space and quietly accepted it. No one complained, not even a joke or something, people just took it. Me included. Looking back that still hurts.
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…