The story begins with a recent house move—not their own, but their parents’. Still living at home, they can’t help but wonder if their parents were trying to drop a subtle hint that it might be time to fly the nest. While no one explicitly said as much, their choice of one-bedroom properties during the house hunt seemed to speak volumes. Eventually, they settled on a mid-terrace house with a small box room that now serves as both the protagonist's bedroom and, theoretically, a home office—though working from home is something they vow to avoid.
Why mention all this? Because the move marked a new chapter: the protagonist officially became a commuter. While they’d always travelled to work, this was different. The daily walk to work was replaced by a train ride, joining the ranks of suited professionals—though, as they noted, suits and ties seem to have largely disappeared from the modern workplace. It’s a relief their commute runs against the rush, sparing them the packed platforms and crowded carriages heading into London. Most days, they can even snag a table to set up their laptop and start working early—except on days when the older, clunkier trains are in service, forcing them to awkwardly balance their laptop on their knees.
Train rides, however, come with their quirks. Like the time an unfortunate typo in an email to their boss nearly derailed their day. A review of an article praised as “witty” took a turn when a couple of misplaced letters made it... less complimentary. Unsurprisingly, they’ve not been asked to review anything since.
Commuting also provides a fresh perspective on office culture. A conversation with Kevin from accounts led to a humorous misunderstanding about being a "TWaT"—a term for those who only come into the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Despite countless explanations of the acronym, Kevin remained convinced. They couldn’t help but wonder how someone so stubborn had landed a job in accounts.
Efficiency hasn’t suffered, though. If anything, the commute has made them more productive. Train time is now dedicated to clearing emails, planning the day, and drafting stationery orders for the office. Yet, no matter how often they remind colleagues to send in their requests by 5 p.m. the day before, there’s always a last-minute request. Most often, it’s Lucy from Marketing.
Lucy, with her charm and fluttering eyelids, has a knack for needing urgent supplies, like post-it notes or heavy-duty A3 paper for a last-minute presentation. Despite initial protests, they always end up helping her out. After all, who wants to be the person that halts marketing operations? Besides, they know full well their local supplier—reliable and accommodating—can fulfil the order with time to spare.
One time, Lucy’s "urgent" request for Our Earth copier paper led to a same-day delivery. It wasn’t truly desperate, but the they couldn’t resist showcasing their efficiency. Lucy was impressed, and that alone made the effort worthwhile.
