Matilda and M&Ms

Mellissa stared at the crumbled staple half-buried in her proposal.  God! Doesn’t anything work around here? she thought while digging out the staple with her fingernails.  It was 5:50 and she was desperately trying to get her first big proposal out by overnight carrier before they closed at 6:00. 

“What’s the matter Mellissa?” a voice squealed.

Mellissa looked up and saw a goofy green snake with big red lips peering through her doorway.  A moment later, an old man wearing suspenders appeared, still waving the green hand puppet. 

“Hello Ted.”  Mellissa said, trying to hide her irritation.

Ted worked in the mailroom and always carried his hand puppet, Matilda, with him.  Everyone knew that he was odd, but he was always pleasant and did good work. 

“Would you like some M&Ms?” Matilda squeaked (Ted always kept a bowl of M&Ms on his mail cart).

“No thanks, Ted.”  Mellissa really wasn’t in the mood for this now.

Mellissa looked at the clock as she ran out the door, 5:54.  She dashed out into the rain, and attempted to dodge the rush hour traffic while crossing the street.  She stepped into a pothole and twisted her ankle.  Hobbling for the remaining two blocks, she arrived at the overnight carrier, 6:08.  She banged on the glass door but the attendant seemed to ignore her. 

Mellissa stood in the rain for a few minutes wondering what to do next.  Ted approached on his way home with Matilda holding the umbrella.  Upon hearing Mellissa’s plight, he knocked on the glass with Matilda smiling affably at his side.  The attendant grinned and opened the door.

“Hello Ted.”

“Hi Steve.  We have an emergency.  Could you help us get a package out?”

“Sure thing, Ted.  Got any M&Ms, Matilda?” 

Word count: 292