Howie was late for work.

I was getting coffee at the coffee machine when Howie finally showed up. I looked at my watch and saw that it was almost eleven. I'm not Howie's boss and I don't care in the least that he was nearly two and a half hours late, but I do like to joke around with Howie everyonce in a while.

"A little late, huh Howie?"

"Yeah, I fell in a snow bank on the way in. HEE HEE HEE"

"Woah you ok?"

"I don't know. HEE HEE HEE"

Howie is old. He is real old. He might not be that old, but he's not in the best of shape so I assume that he is real old. Visually, I would compare him to a post-fall humpty dumpty. While I don't know exactly how old he is, I am pretty sure that he should find an easier way to get into work. Currently he walks a few blocks to catch the bus. The bus takes him to the subway. The subway takes him near work. Then he has to walk a few more blocks. He doesn't complain about that. While he is great at public transportation, he is not so great at fashion. "I have never worn a pair of jeans." He is also not so good at fast food. "I have never eaten a slice of pizza."

"Why not, Howie?"

"Why would I?"

There really isn't a way to win that argument. Why would he? So after I decided that an ambulance wasn't needed, Howie then decided to tell me more news. What kind of news? Well, death news.

"I buried a mouse this weekend."

"A mouse? Was it a pet."

"No. It was Christian burial. HEE HEE HEE"

"Ok well sorry about your loss, but I have to go do some work now."

Howie would then go to his cubicle to go to sleep for a few hours. I'd walk by every once in a while. I used to wake him up because I was afraid he would get in trouble, but after working here for a few years I have come to realize that no one cares what Howie does. In fact the less work Howie does the better. He is a good guy though. Well-liked and always good for a story. Even if it's the same story every other day.