“No reason. He seems competent. Good presentation. Clear communicator.” Berger tilts his head at the projector. “Unlike whoever set up this display. The aspect ratio is wrong. Everything is slightly stretched.”
“Berger, I don’t think anyone else in this room is looking at the aspect ratio.”
“Then everyone else in this room is wrong.”
The coach wraps up. Players stand. Chairs scrape.
I pick up my water bottle. Roll my right shoulder. Head for the hallway.
Brooks is by the far wall, talking to Miller. Small precise gestures while he talks, his posture squared, professional. He’s afew feet away and I don’t have a plan, not even the outline of one. I walk out with Thompson on one side and Berger on the other.
“So we need to talk about the coffee,” Berger says, like he’s been waiting for the meeting to end so he could begin his real agenda.
“The coffee is fine,” Thompson says.
“The coffee is not fine, Thompson. The coffee is an institutional failure. I’ve had gas station coffee with better roasting notes.”
“It’s free coffee in a hockey facility. It doesn’t need notes.”
Berger stops walking. “Coffee always needs notes. That is a non-negotiable position.”
“He’s right,” I say. “I found a pour-over place on Piedmont. Barista named Tasha. She does this thing with the water temperature. I’ve been here five days and it’s the best thing that’s happened to me in Atlanta.”
“A pour-over place.” Thompson looks at both of us. “You guys need better priorities.”
“I need this pour-over place,” Berger says. “I need the address. I need it today.”
“I’ll send it to the chat.”
“Send it to me directly. I don’t trust the chat with something this important.”
I’m whistling the hook from the last song on the playlist as I walk out to my car. Just the melody, not the words. The day went sideways in the best way but everything is looking up.
Burn It Down #1
Marchetti
who played metal over Janelle Monáe in the locker room this morning. i need a name. i’m not mad. we just need to have a conversation
Jensen
it’s the first day Marchetti
Marchetti
AND ALREADY THE MUSIC IS LAWLESS
Berger
i’m not weighing in on the music yet because i’m still processing the coffee. which is a war crime
Jensen
the coffee is fine
Berger
Jensen you have never been more wrong about anything in your life and i say that with three cups of evidence
