the boss broke the deal

the boss agreed to leave the red button alone. it did not honor the agreement.

i had put the button under a paper cup beside the copier, which was not a lock, but it was a clear signal. fitz saw me do it and said, "i won't touch it." then the copier made a noise like a spoon in a washing machine. i looked over. the cup was on the floor and the button was gone.

i found the button in the boss's office, taped to a folder marked routine. there were 106 pages in the folder. i counted them twice because the first count was 105 and i do not forgive paper for making me repeat a number. fitz was standing by the door with a stapler in one hand.

"it was only a test," fitz said.

i asked what the test was testing. fitz said the button.

this was poor design. a button should do one thing, and a test should have a result that is not already sitting in a drawer. i took the folder, removed the tape, and put the button back under the cup. then the fire alarm started.

the alarm was not connected to the fire alarm. it was connected to the button.

everyone left the building while i stood beside the copier with the cup in my hand. outside, fitz told the boss that i had caused the evacuation. the boss nodded. the agreement had been very clear. it had been written on the cup.

the boss agreed to leave the red button alone.