just now

a man wearing a yellow tie*, red sweater, and green slacks
stopped at my open office door
put his hands on the opposing casings
leaned in
sighed a little and said, to no one in particular**,
this is what they pay us for
emphatic -- part question -- certainly rhetorical
fucking hell, he exclaimed in my general direction
would you like some coffee, then? i remarked in hopes of discovering some panacea
fucking hell, he repeated, then turned on one heel and shook his head as he scattered away

* no relation to this guy
** even though i was the only person in the room