“So I don’t forget the lesson.”
“That’s disturbing.”
“He’s very committed to personal growth.”
I pointed at the speech bubble.
“He’s also still demanding admiration.”
“That’s disturbing.”
Greg studied it.
Then he turned Mini Greg around so the cardboard figure faced the wall.
Brittany laughed.
“Leave him like that.”
Greg looked at the cardboard figure facing the wall.
“For how long?”
“Leave him like that.”
“Let’s review his behavior next quarter.”
“Fair.”
He left Mini Greg on the counter and went upstairs.
The next morning, I found the little standee in the same spot, except someone had made one improvement.
A strip of paper had been taped across his chest like a tiny T-shirt.
He left Mini Greg on the counter.
In Greg’s handwriting, it said:
UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT.
I was still laughing when he came into the kitchen dressed for the gym.
He followed my eyes to his cardboard twin.
“Too much?”
“Maybe a little.”
He came into the kitchen dressed for the gym.
Greg reached for his water bottle.
Then he reconsidered, peeled off the paper shirt, turned Mini Greg back toward the wall, and headed for the door.
“Where are you going?”
“Gym.”
“Where are you going?”
