Like the dog who thinking he is going to get tutored

I saw this guy on his way out of the cafeteria as I was on my way in. Not to eat, of course, just to reach the outdoors to take Claren out. I eat at my desk.

He said "Matt!" and started talking. I knew we knew each other, but I was blanking on who it was. And as usual I couldn't hear what he was saying. I think I smiled and said something like "yeah" or "wow."

He said thanks and then said he had a book coming out in August and his teaching gig, so he said he had a lot of irons in the fire.

I suddenly realized he was telling me he had been laid off and I was smiling at him like a moron.

As I was leaving work, I saw the desk of one of my co-workers was empty. Cleaned out empty, no pennant or other personal effects. He told me he was worried.

Layoffs just seem like such a horrendous proposition. Now the people who are left feel maybe lucky, maybe guilty for being lucky, definitely overworked.

And those of us who can't hear well live in dread: Did you say we're inspired or fired?