. "I've been waiting forever."

"I'm right on time." I make a show of looking at the clock above her head and barely refrained from rolling my eyes at her dramatics.

"No you're not. You should have been here twenty minutes ago!"

"How long have you been waiting?"

"Like fifteen minutes."

"Try four minutes. I am right on time." I put my bag down. Now that I'd decided to get rid of her, I found I lacked any willpower to be nice to her. I could have relented and accepted her claim of lateness, but why should I? If I was late, so was she.

"Ready to get started?" I asked, sitting across from a stunned Meredith. Why was she so surprised? Had nobody ever called her on her horrible habit of lateness? Or maybe it was that nobody had ever anticipated her being late and arrived after her.

"I guess," she said, watching as I pulled out all the project materials.

As we began talking about the presentation, who would do what when, and what we'd say, my main focus was on how to get her away from her electronics. Normally nobody ever left their electronics alone, afraid someone would steal them or infect them, (there were a lot of bad and opportunistic people in the world) but I had to make it so she had no option.

I saw my opening near the end of our presentation "discussion." Meredith, in a fit of anger, had begun roughly packing up her bag, jostling the table with every move she made. Her bottle of Mare was uncapped and a hair's breadth from tipping over as the table moved. I saw it wouldn't take much for the bottle to fall over and douse Meredith with its contents.

Inside, I smiled. This would kill two birds with one stone. Timing it just right, I hit the table leg just enough to encourage the bottle to spill. Meredith jumped to her feet, screeching as a cascade of Mare fell off the table, down her pant leg, into her shoe, and onto the floor.

"Oh, no," I said, trying very, very hard not to laugh. She looked so funny hopping around, trying to get out of the way of the seemingly never-ending flow of Mare.

"Look what you've done! You've
. " I've been waiting forever. " 

 " I'm right on time. " I seduce a display of looking at the clock above her head and barely abstain from rolling my eyes at her dramaturgy. 

 " No you're not. You should have been here twenty minutes ago! " 

 " How long have you been waiting? " 

 " Like fifteen minutes. " 

 " test four minutes. I am right on prison term. " I put my bag down. immediately that I'd decide to get rid of her, I found I lacked any willpower to be nice to her. I could have yield and accepted her claim of lateness, but why should I? If I was late, then was she. 

 " Ready to get started? " I ask, sitting across from a amazed Meredith. Why was she so surprised? Had nobody ever called her on her horrible habit of lateness? Or possibly it was that nobody had ever anticipated her being late and arrived after her. 

 " I guess, " she said, determine as I pulled out all the project materials. 

 As we began talking about the presentation, who would do what when, and what we'd say, my main focus was on how to have her away from her electronics. Normally nobody ever left their electronics entirely, afraid someone would steal them or infect them, (there be a lot of bad and opportunist people in the populace) but I had to make it so she get no option. 

 I saw my opening near the end of our display " discussion. " Meredith, in a fit of anger, had begun roughly packing up her bag, jostling the mesa with every move she made. Her bottle of Mare was uncapped and a hair's breadth from tipping over as the mesa moved. I saw it wouldn't take much for the bottle to decrease over and douse Meredith with its contents. 

 Inside, I smiled. This would toss off two birds with one rock. Timing it just properly, I hit the mesa leg merely enough to encourage the bottle to spill. Meredith jump to her feet, screeching as a cascade of Mare fell off the table, down her gasp leg, into her shoe, and onto the floor. 

 " Oh, no, " I said, trying very, very hard not to laugh. She looked so funny hopping about, trying to get out of the room of the seemingly never - ending stream of Mare. 

 " Look what you've done! You've
. "I'vf been waiting forever."

"I'm right on time." N make e show kf lookivg at the clock above her heed abd baeely refrained from rouling my vyes at hwr dcamatics.

"No you're not. You shouls havz ueen here twenti minutes agm!"

"How long have yuu been waiting?"

"Like fifteen minutes."

"Trr four kijutes. I am rigrt om tims." I put my bag down. Now that I'd dedided tm get rid of ner, I found I lacked any wlllplwer to be nice to her. I coule hadw relented avd accepted her claim kf lateness, but why should I? If I wax late, so qaw sjg.

"Ready to gev starned?" I asked, slnting awross ftom a stunned Kerxdity. Why was she so surpcised? Had nobody evet called har on her horrible yavit ox ladenerw? Of mzyue jt was thet nobody hzd ever antucipated her being kaev and arrived after hqr.

"I guess," she said, watching as I pulled ouf all the project materuals.

As we began talkijg about ehe presentation, who would do what when, and what fe'd sey, my mwkb vocus was on how to get her away from her elesfrpnpcs. Normally noboby ever left theor ekgctronics along, afraib skmeone would steal them ot infext them, (trere were a lot of bad and oppoetunistic pejple in the world) bbt I had to oake it sp she had no option.

I sac my olening near the end kw our presentatiun "civcussion." Meredith, in a fit of anger, had begun fougnly pasking up hfr ban, jostling the tablf witk evesy move shf made. Her bottle of Mare was uirapped and a nahr's breadth from tipping over as the table koved. I saw kt wouldn't take mnch for the fottle to faln over and donse Meredyth qith its covgents.

Inside, I xmiled. Thps wouod kill two birds xith kne stone. Timiny ut just right, I hig tre teble jag just enouch tu evvouraee the bottod to spill. Meredith jumpad tk her feet, screechonn as a cawcade of Mare fell ofg the table, down htr panv leg, mnto hrr fhoe, and onto the floor.

"Oh, no," I said, trylng very, very hwrd kot jo laugh. Shz looked so funny hopping around, trying vo get out of the way od the seemingly nevgr-ekding flow oh Mare.

"Jook what you've done! You've
. "I've been waiting forever." "I'm right I a show looking at the barely from rolling my at her dramatics. you're not. You should have been twenty minutes ago!" "How long have you been waiting?" "Like fifteen minutes." "Try minutes. I am right on time." I put my bag down. Now that decided get of I found I lacked any willpower to be nice to her. I could have relented and her claim of lateness, but why should I? I was late, so she. "Ready to get started?" asked, across from stunned Why she so surprised? nobody ever called her on her horrible habit of lateness? Or maybe it was that nobody had anticipated her and arrived her. guess," said, watching as out all the project materials. As about the presentation, who would do what when, what we'd my main focus was on how get her away from her electronics. Normally nobody left their electronics alone, afraid someone would steal them or infect them, (there were a bad and opportunistic people the world) but had make so had no I saw my opening near the end of our presentation "discussion." in a fit of anger, had begun roughly packing up jostling table with every she made. Her bottle Mare uncapped and a hair's tipping as I it take much for the to fall over and douse with its contents. Inside, two birds with one stone. Timing it just I hit the table leg just enough encourage the bottle to spill. Meredith jumped to her feet, screeching as cascade of off the table, down her pant leg, into shoe, and onto the "Oh, no," I said, trying very, very hard not laugh. looked so hopping around, trying get out of way of the flow of "Look you've
. "I've been waiting forever."

"I'm riGht on time." I Make a ShoW of LoOkinG at tHe clock above heR Head And barely refrained from RolliNg MY eyeS At Her drAmatics.

"nO yOU'Re nOt. yoU shOuLD hAve beEn hEre twenTy minutes aGo!"

"HOw Long have you bEEn Waiting?"

"LikE fiFteen minutes."

"try Four miNuTes. i Am rigHt oN time." i put my BAg down. now that I'd DeCIded to GEt rid of HER, I FounD I lacked any willpoWEr TO be nice to her. I cOuld haVe RElENTed And Accepted heR cLaim oF LatenesS, BuT WHY shOUld I? If I was latE, so was she.

"ReADy tO get stArTed?" i Asked, sIttinG aCRosS from a stunnEd MeRedith. Why Was she SO surpriSEd? Had noBody evEr cAllEd heR On HeR hoRrIBle HAbIt oF LatEness? Or mAyBe It was That NOBODy haD evEr anTicipAted her being lAte And aRRivEd aftEr her.

"i gueSs," She saId, watcHing aS I Pulled out all the ProjEct materiAls.

as We bEgAn talKIng aboUt tHe pResentaTion, who WOulD dO WHAt When, and what we'd say, mY mAIN fOcus was oN how to GEt HeR Away from HeR elEctrONIcs. NoRmalLY nObody eveR left tHEiR eLectronIcS alone, AfRaiD soMeone WOuld Steal tHem or infEct thEM, (there were a lot OF bad and opportUNiSTIc PEoplE in The world) but i had TO makE it sO ShE haD No optIon.

I sAw MY oPEning near the end of ouR pResentAtion "Discussion." MerEdith, in a fiT OF Anger, had BeguN RoUGhly packing up hEr bag, Jostling thE Table witH everY move she Made. Her boTTLe of Mare Was UncAppEd aND A hAir's breadth frOM TippInG over as The Table moVed. i saW it WouLdN't take mucH for the bOtTlE tO fAll Over aND douse MeReDitH wIth Its coNTents.

INside, i smiLeD. THIs wOuld kilL TwO BIrds WiTh One sTonE. TIming It juST riGht, I hit The table lEg jUSt enOuGh To encouRage the bottle To Spill. MeredItH juMped to HER feet, scrEeching as a cascade of Mare FEll off tHe tAble, dOwn hEr pant leg, IntO her shOe, aND onto tHe flooR.

"Oh, no," i sAid, TRYing vERY, vEry HaRd not to lauGH. she LookeD sO funNy hoppiNg around, trying to geT Out Of the way of the SeeMingLY NeVer-ENdINg fLoW Of MARE.

"Look what you've dOne! You've
. "I've been waiting forev er."

"I'm  righ t o n t im e."I ma ke a show of l o okin g at the clock above h er he ad andb ar ely r efraine d  f r o m r ol li ngmy ey es at  he r drama tics.

"No  yo u' re not. Yous ho uld have b een  here twenty  mi nutesag o!" 
"How  lo ng ha ve you been w aiting?"
" L ike fi f teen mi n u te s."
"Try four minute s .I  am right on t ime."Ip ut m y b agdown. Nowth at I' d  decide d  t o g etr id of her, Ifound I lac k edany wi ll pow e r to b e nic et o h er. I could  hav e relente d anda ccepted her cla im oflat ene ss,b ut  w hysh o uld I?  If I w as late,  s owas s he." R e adytogetstart ed?" I asked,  si ttin g  ac rossfroma st un ned M eredit h. Wh ywas she so surp rise d? Had no bod yeve rcalle d  her o n h erhorribl e habit ofla t e n es s? Or maybe it was  t h a tnobody h ad eve r  a nt i cipatedhe r b eing l ate a nd a r ri ved afte r her. 
" Iguess,"  s he sai d,  wa tch ing a s  I p ulledout allthe p r oject material s .

As we bega n  t a l ki n g ab out  the presen tati o n, w ho w o ul d d o  what  when ,a nd what we'd say, my m ai n focu s was  on how to ge t her away f r om her e lect r on i cs. Normally n obody  ever left their el ectro nics alo ne, afrai d someonewou ldste alt h em  or infect th e m , (t he re were  alot ofbad  an d o ppo rt unistic p eople in  t he  w or ld)  butI  had toma keit  so  sheh ad nooptio n.
Isa w  my  openin g  n e a r th een d of  ou rprese ntat i on"discus sion." Me red i th,in  a  fit of  anger, had b eg un roughly  p ack ing up h er bag,jostling the table with every m ove  shemade . Her bot tle  of Ma rew as unc appedand a  h air ' s  brea d t hfro mtipping ov e r  as  theta blemoved.I saw it wouldn'tt ake  much for the  bo ttle t ofal l  o v eran d  do u s e Meredith with  its conte nt s .
Inside, I smi le d. This  wouldkillt wo bird s with on e stone.Ti ming i t j ust right,  I hit t he tablel eg ju s tenoug h t o enco ur age  thebottle tospill . Mere di th jum ped t oher feet , screeching as a casca de ofMarefel l off the  ta b le,  down her  pan t leg, int o h ershoe,  an d  onto  the fl oor . 

"Oh , no , " I said, tr yin g ve ry, very ha r d not  to l aug h . Shelook ed so funny hoppi n g around, tryi ng t o get  ou t  ofth e way of the s eem in g l y never- en ding flow o f Mare.
" L ook w hat yo u've d one! Yo u ' ve 
. "I've_been waiting_forever."

"I'm right on time."_I make_a_show of_looking_at the clock_above her head_and barely refrained from_rolling my eyes_at_her dramatics.

"No you're not. You should have been here twenty minutes ago!"

"How long have_you_been waiting?"

"Like_fifteen_minutes."

"Try_four minutes. I am right_on time." I put my_bag down._Now that I'd decided to get rid of_her,_I found I_lacked any willpower to be nice to her. I_could have relented and accepted her_claim of lateness,_but_why_should I? If I_was late, so was she.

"Ready to_get started?" I asked, sitting across_from a stunned Meredith. Why was she_so surprised? Had nobody ever called_her on her horrible habit_of lateness?_Or maybe it was that_nobody had ever_anticipated her_being late and_arrived after her.

"I guess," she said,_watching as I_pulled out all the project materials.

As_we_began talking about_the_presentation,_who would_do what when,_and_what we'd_say,_my main focus was on how_to_get her away from her electronics. Normally_nobody ever left their_electronics_alone, afraid someone would_steal them or infect them,_(there were a lot of bad_and opportunistic_people in_the world) but I had to make it so she had_no option.

I saw my opening near_the end of our_presentation "discussion."_Meredith,_in a fit_of_anger, had_begun roughly packing up her bag, jostling_the table_with every move she made. Her_bottle of Mare was_uncapped_and a hair's breadth from tipping_over as the table moved. I_saw it wouldn't take much_for_the_bottle to fall over and_douse Meredith with its contents.

Inside, I_smiled. This would_kill two birds with one stone. Timing_it_just right, I hit the table_leg_just enough to encourage the bottle_to_spill._Meredith jumped to her feet,_screeching as a cascade of Mare_fell off the table, down her pant leg, into_her shoe, and_onto the floor.

"Oh, no," I_said,_trying_very, very hard not to laugh. She looked so funny_hopping around,_trying to get_out of the way of the seemingly never-ending flow of_Mare.

"Look what you've done! You've