AN: Thank you for all the recognition (the main word in this story) I love it when people enjoy and are entertained by what I've written. I've decided that this story is going to be shorter than my previous one, being only 6 chapters if I've worked it out properly (I probably haven't) , but the next story is already in the works, so no worries.

Receptionist Day

Chapter 3

Goldenrod


"Dwight and I officially make an awesome team. We're like Batman and Robin, mixed with the Harlem Globetrotter's on crack," Andy held up a piece of paper allowing the camera to zoom in on the number of reams sold. "That's right ladies and gentleboys," Andy now had a sinister smile on his face, "we sold half-a-hundred reams in one sitting. It's a miracle like when people are cured of tennis elbow."


"Subordinated office staff," Andy announced with the order form rolled in a conical shape and using it as a loudspeaker, "except Tuna," he added in a hushed tone that Jim squinted at, "I would like to announce how much Dwight has rocked my world today."

"Really?" Jim asked amusedly as he swiveled to watch Dwight walk in behind Andy.

"Yes, we sold fifty reams of paper today after one meeting, it was all Dwight's doing, I just provided vehicular transportation," Andy added, his voice loud and distorted.

Dwight grinded his teeth with irritation as he pushed passed Andy, "That was a small sale compared to what we could've had, if you hadn't tried to press the goldenrod color on them. We could've had more."

Andy dropped his arm to his side and stared at Dwight, "Goldenrod is a manly color. It's the manliest color out there. If I had to pick a color to describe man, it would be goldenrod."

"Whatever," Dwight turned his back to Andy and focused on Pam, "I need twenty-five copies of each sale I've made in the last month for record and review purposes."

"I know," Pam nodded and held up a piece of paper, "I got the post-it you left on my desk, your note that you taped to my computer, your email, your phone message on my voice mail, your message on my cell phone, your message on my answering machine and the one on Jim's answering machine and the reminder call at five this morning," she sighed and handed him a pile of envelopes, "There's twenty-five different copies in twenty-five slightly different colored envelopes. Like you asked for," she paused and looked away from the camera, "every time."

Dwight was slightly taken back by the efficient work, "Thank you," he replied as he took the pile, still skeptical of sabotage. Eyeing the envelopes one final time he started for his desk, but before he got there added, "Happy R.A.P.I.S.T day, Pam."

"We're actually not calling it that anymore," She informed with a weak smile.

Angela looked over the partition between accounting and reception, with a noxious glare on her face.


"The fact that certain people are going along with this holiday is sickening to me," Angela sat back with her arms crossed, "It's just some random day that they picked to force us to celebrate," her demeanor calmed as she added, "All the real holidays are chosen by the Lord."


"Oh my God," Andy exclaimed moving closer to Pam, "It's Receptionist Day already, it seems like the last one was just yesterday."

"It probably was," Phyllis huffed from her desk.

"We never had one, actually," Pam clarified as she shrugged away from the attention, "I don't like them."

Andy looked shocked at the remark, "But M'lady," slamming his hands down hard on her desk, he began, "This is a day in honor of you. For your faxing prowess--I think I know what you need," he stopped in midsentence and walked around the large reception desk, "You need a hug."

"I really don't," she replied pushing her chair away from him.

Andy held out his arms wide with a large glowing grin on his face, "Embrace the recognition, Pam."

"Phone," she called as she dived for the ringing handset, then quickly dodged Andy who was approaching her like a zombie with his arms up and walking unbalanced, "Dunder-Mifflin, this is Pam. Oh, hi Ryan. Twenty minutes? Alright, see you soon."

She hung up the phone and turned back to Andy who was now clenching his teeth, "I know you're not feeling very social right now," he told her as he moved around the reception desk once again and back to his, "So I will give your hug to Tuna, and he will transfer it to you later."

At the end of his sentence Andy wrapped his arms around Jim, who was sitting typing at his desk. Jim sighed and glanced at Pam who was having a hard time trying to reserve her smile.

Michael exited his office, laughing at the embrace, "Oh gay, that is so—" he stopped in midsentence as he saw Oscar look at him in disbelief, they had gone over this already, "It's gay, like a G.A.I, a guys afternoon in."


"Yeah," Michael nodded in sincerity, "You can totally have a G.A.I on R.A.P.I.S.T Day, but I am very open-minded."


"Alright everyone, you have exactly twenty minutes to think of as many mind blowing changes you can before Ryan gets her and starts the meeting," Michael announced to the office, "Oh, except the party planning committee," he added with a gesture to the conference room, "Start getting Pam's surprise party ready in the conference room."

"Michael," Pam tried to plead for the final time, "I really don't want a party."

"Yeah, well, I don't want Ryan to come here and tell me that I wasn't prepared and stare at me with those icy eyes, but it's going to happen Pam, so deal," Michael spoke quickly and then retreated back into his office.


"My idea for optimized office working conditions, are to eliminate all of the outside factors. Lunch breaks can only be taken once a specified amount of work is completed," Dwight pulled out a large folder that was almost bursting full of ideas and continued to read some off, "Beverages will have to be bought before entering the workplace, to eliminate those pesky bathroom breaks. And of course the classic work optimizer, downsizing. There are too many sales personnel as of now. Andy could be easily be sacrificed. "


"My idea," Andy began tapping his lip, "Is that we agree with whatever Dwight suggests because he's a freaking genius."


"My idea," Jim leaned back in his chair, "Is that we don't celebrate made up company holidays."


The party planning committee was in the conference room. Angela was at the head of the table with a notebook and a pencil. Oscar and Kelly sat along one side, and Pam and Phyllis were on the other. Phyllis however was spaced out from Pam.

There was an awkward silence in the room, everyone either glaring at Pam, or ignoring her completely as she shifted uncomfortably.

"Just tell us what you want and go away," Angela demanded as she readied her pencil.

Pam sighed and shook her head, "I didn't ask for this."

"Of course you didn't," Angela replied with a sarcastic tone.

Pam bit her lip, and nodded several times before she spoke again, "I want soft pretzels, M&M's, and beets," she rose from her chair and started for the door, "I want a cappella music of recent pop hits to play, ice skating on the TV, the cake to be in the shape of a cat, and the guys from Vance Refrigeration to be invited," she sighed just before leaving the room, "Kelly what do you like?"

"I like Brad Pitt," Kelly replied without a thought.

"And pictures of Brad Pitt on the walls," Pam finished with a smile and exited the room.

She knocked on Michael's door, and made sure to wait for him to give her an answer before opening it, "Is Ryan here?" Michael questioned, "Because I have an awesome idea that is going to change the way we work."

"No, he's not yet," Pam marveled at Michael's immediate disappointment, "But I wanted to ask you a favor."

"Pam," Michael sighed in frustration, "We cannot skip the party because you don't want to have it."

"No," she shook her head, a smile almost playing on her lips, "I was wondering if you would do magic tricks at my party?"

He stared at her for a beat, "Are you serious?"

She nodded while pursing her lips, "Yeah, it would mean a lot to me."

Michael beamed, "Of course I will," he stood up from his desk with excitement, "you're just lucky I keep a reserve of my magician tools in my desk for events like this."


Coming up - The staff meeting take place, and a not so professional proposal is made.