Excerpt || Fixing the Glitch Mitch?3, Hacks to the Max, Mitch?, ed. Mitch, pub. 2002 Books picked up his cup of tea and leant into its tepid glow. He blew across the beige surface and looked up, over the rim of the cup. His desk was the last one by the door, which gave him a perfect view of the little office. "More orders for the SD-190," said Mr Arbor to the wall above Books's head. "I'll get right on it," said Books, straightening up. Arbor swept his gaze to the door and nodded, collecting his hat on the way out. Books shrugged. He was kind of used to it. He smiled brightly as the tea lady, Miss Bird, shuffled up to the door. "Quitting time," she called, head down over her tray. "So, it'll be a lamington for you tomorrow then, Books old boy. Sorry about the mix-up." "No fear," said Books, addressing the same empty saucer as Miss Bird. "Never know, tomorrow I might not be in." "Yeeeesss," said Miss Bird, as she did every day. "Wouldn't know the place without you, of course," she told the teapot. The trolley leapt through the door and she was dragged out of sight. Books smiled as the door swung shut. "Bye," he called, but she was gone. "Pick up those papers from you tomorrow then, Books," said Shoosie, inspecting the sleeve of her coat. "All right," said Books, leaning to his left to try and meet Shoosie's eye. "Never know, though-," "Yes, tomorrow you might not be in," said Shoosie. She was already outside and down the stairs. Books looked back at his teacup and sighed. "You and me, then," he told it. The teacup made no response.
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