Chapter Two

Zhang

Weekends are the best.

While aware that many people thought so, pandas had a reputation for enjoying our leisure time, and I was the poster boy for that. My entire life focused around those precious two days where I had few commitments and could engage in my hobbies of sitting around the house, sitting by the nearby lake, lying on a floatie on the lake, and my very favorite, the backyard hammock. I picked this house specifically because it had two perfect trees for hanging the hammock.

Not that pandas were lazy…not completely. When at the office, I did my fair share and completed all tasks assigned to me. My supervisors never had to micromanage me, nor would I have tolerated it if they did. The last one left a couple of months ago and had not been replaced. The best way to maintain my serene and happy life was to avoid annoyance, and this situation was perfect.

I also avoided exercise. Perish the thought. Our company health plan included a health club membership. Which I loved because it had a sauna and hot tub, even if I did have to walk past a lot of machines, I had no interest in touching to get to them. But, to each their own, and I did not mind watching those who made use of them. If they were happy, I was happy to appreciate their muscle tone.

Unfortunately, they were not interested in someone who would not sit down on one of those seat thingies and lift up heavy weights alongside them. Or so it seemed anyway. It was like I didn't exist.

My job in the insurance industry paid well enough for me to own my home and enjoy my time off, but I'd never get rich doing it. Not that I cared. As long as I could replace the hammock from time to time, all was good.

This afternoon, I was on my way to the gym, feeling the need to unwind after a particularly rough day at work. In general, it only occupied half my mind at best, but we'd had a meeting where we were informed that one of the supervisors was leaving, and they wanted to congratulate the person who was being promoted to replace him.

Sitting at the big oval table in the conference room, I looked around at the others from my department. As the employee who'd been there the longest, I had seen a lot of supervisors come and go, but it rarely made a difference in my well-ordered life. The best thing about my job was that I didn't have to take it home with me. At the end of each day, I climbed into my car and left, shutting off the "work" portion of my brain until the next time I sat down in my desk chair.

Everyone stood up to help themselves to the catered food set out on the sideboard. Lots of panda shifters were vegetarian or close to it, but I had never wanted to restrict my diet that much. Sure, on my own, I might eat salads or fruits and veggies most often. Along with desserts. But if the powers that be wanted to put out trays of hoagies, sign me up.

I waited patiently in line then filled my plate with an Italian Delight sandwich, scoops of potato salad and cole slaw, and eyed the multitude of brownies. I'll be back, I promised them while passing the huge platter set at the end of the table. Usually we didn't get anything this good for a meeting. Whoever they were promoting must either be one of those who kissed up to management or someone who would need encouragement to accept the position. A bunch of stuffed and happy coworkers clapping when your name was announced made it really hard to say no. Or so my friend Angelica told me when they put her in charge of accounts receivable, probably the worst position in the worst department in the company.

Yeah, whoever they had in mind was going to have to accept or look like a real jerk. Also, once someone turned something down, they were basically regarded as not a company person and might as well be on their way out.

I sat down with my plate and can of fizzy water, ready to enjoy my lunch. Most people wanted promotions, didn't they? My lack of ambition was nothing to be proud of. But I loved my life. The only thing that would make it better was a mate, but none of those gym rats would give me a second glance. Not that I wanted them to. Much.

"If everyone has their lunch, it's time to get the meeting going." The manager over our department and two others were running the show because we were here to replace the supervisor who would have normally handled things. Technically, according to federal and state regulations, we should have gotten time to eat before they began. A meeting was not a qualified lunch break. Someone who used to work here took that matter to HR once. Did I mention they no longer worked here?

A rustle of sandwich wrappings being set aside showed how much nobody wanted to attract attention. I'd already unwrapped mine, knowing how this worked.

"As the email inviting you to this little party mentioned, we are here to celebrate a promotion. It's someone who has worked long and hard here and deserves the step up." A party or celebration did count as a break…looked like HR had reacted.

We all looked at each other. Who would it be? Did the person already know, or was it a surprise? I didn't see any expressions that indicated someone being celebrated. A prickling at the base of my spine began when Glen Collins, the manager, walked around the table. In my direction.

He arrived at my side and held out his hand. "Everyone, a round of applause for Zhang, your new supervisor." He shook my hand and pulled me to my feet, ushering me to the head of the table. Without my plate. That probably shouldn't have been in my mind. Panda thoughts.

No thank you. I am not worthy of this honor. I can't possibly…

I got a standing ovation.

Changing my speech plans. "Thank you, Mr. Collins. I don't know what to say."

"It's Glen for supervisors, Zhang. Just say you'll continue to be the excellent employee you always have been in this new role."

"You know I always put the company first." Whose words were these? "And my door will always be open to anyone who needs my help." Not that the supervisor had a real door. It was an office off the main shared space with an archway sort of thing.