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Andthesubjecthadindeedcomeup.Jessicahad,however,convincedherselfthatRichard’strollcollectionwasamarkofendearingeccentricity,comparabletoMr.Stockton’scollectionofangels.JessicawasintheprocessoforganizingatravelingexhibitionofMr.Stockton’sangelcollection,andshehadcometotheconclusionthatgreatmenalwayscollectedsomething.InactualityRicharddidnotreallycollecttrolls.Hehadfoundatrollonthesidewalkoutsidetheoffice,and,inavainattemptatinjectingalittlepersonalityintohisworkingworld,hehadplaceditonhiscomputermonitor.Theothershadfollowedoverthenextfewmonths,giftsfromcolleagueswhohadnoticedthatRichardhadapenchantfortheuglylittlecreatures.Hehadtakenthegiftsandpositionedthem,strategically,aroundhisdesk,besidethetelephonesandtheframedphotographofJessica.
ThephotographhadayellowPost-itnotestucktoit.
ItwasaFridayafternoon.Richardhadnoticedthateventswerecowards:theydidn’toccursingly,butinsteadtheywouldruninpacksandleapoutathimallatonce.TakethisparticularFriday,forexample.Itwas,asJessicahadpointedouttohimatleastadozentimesinthelastmonth,themostimportantdayofhislife.Soitwasunfortunatethat,despitethePost-itnoteRichardhadleftonhisfridgedoorathome,andtheotherPost-itnotehehadplacedonthephotographofJessicaonhisdesk,hehadforgottenaboutitcompletelyandutterly.
Also,therewastheWandsworthreport,whichwasoverdueandtakingupmostofhishead.Richardcheckedanotherrowoffigures;thenhenoticedthatpage17hadvanished,andhesetituptoprintoutagain;andanotherpagedown,andheknewthatifhewereonlyleftalonetofinishit...if,miracleofmiracles,thephonedidnotring...Itrang.Hethumbedthespeakerphone.
