One morning, I found myself bringing a stray puppy to workquite by accident. I stumbled upon him just moments before the workday began. He was filthy, scruffy, the unremarkable offspring of a mongrel. Hoping to keep him hidden, I tucked him away in the corner of my office, but he kept crawling out, whimpering insistently.
Inevitably, everyone in the office saw him.
Suddenly, the social masks people wore around me began to peel away.
First came Rebecca, our friendly and ever-so-chatty secretary. Young, with laughter in her voice and expertly applied makeup. Her face contorted oddly at the sight of the grubby pup: Oh, Richard! Arent you the least bit squeamish? Youll be tracking muck in here next Her usual bright, kindly manner shattered not far from the puppys cheerfully wagging, mud-streaked tail.
Next was Mrs. Agnes Porter, our cleanera grumpy and perpetually tired older woman, always muttering about something. This morning, however, deep lines relaxed into a smile: Oh, and who have we here with the waggy tail? Richard, is this one visiting on business, or is he for you? At my feet, the crumpled mask of her usual grouching lay abandoned, and I saw only her exquisite warmth and gentleness.
Then there was my colleague, Henry Simmons. Ever helpful, always quick with a jokeor a smile for someone elses. Yet, he wouldnt step beyond my office threshold that day. Cringing, he announced, Stray animals are all dirt and disease, Richard The brittle mask of cheerful politeness sat discarded by my office door.
But it was our manager, Mr. Arthur Bradley, who surprised me the most. He was always stern, unapproachable, and brisknever one for idle chat. Without a word, he walked in, regarded the puppy, and declared, Well, Richard, perhaps you ought to take the day off. Take this young fellow home with you. Some things are just more important than work. But see heredont go abandoning the little chap. He is a living soul after all. He awkwardly dropped his hard exterior, offered a shy smile at me and the puppy, and slipped out of the room.
Around me, lying scattered at my feet, were the masks of people Id worked alongside for years. Yet suddenly, I realised just how little I truly knew them.
