The Cupboard

Management took charge of the stationery cupboard.

The key was on a small brass ring.

“Ask us if you need anything,” we said.

A woman asked for tape.

We unlocked the cupboard, gave her a roll and locked it again.

A man needed an envelope. We gave him a large one and locked the cupboard while he held it against his folded letter.

“Smaller,” he said.

We opened it again.

By eleven, we had brought our chair into the passage.

A colleague asked for the thin string.

“You could leave the key in it.”

“Then anyone could take things.”

We found two balls. Neither was particularly thick.

“Let me,” she said.

We moved our chair back. She knelt in front of the bottom shelf.

Someone behind her asked for a pencil.

We held up the key.

“It’s open,” he said.

We laid the key across the arm of our chair.