Man In the Green Suit

 Maggie arrived late for work, her purse and laptop bag dangling from her right arm. The elevator was empty as it dinged its way past the third, fourth and fifth floors where it paused to admit a small man wearing a sea green checked suit jacket with a green carnation in the button hole and solid sea green bell bottom pants. He nodded cordially as he entered the lift and stood facing her during the remainder of the ride to the 12th floor. When the door slid open he turned smartly and marched past Rita the receptionist's desk.

"Good morning Maggie," Rita chirped. "How was your weekend?"

"It was alright," Maggie replied. "Hey Rita, did you see the man who got off the elevator with me?"

"No honey. I thought it was just you."

Maggie took her messages from Rita's outstretched hand as she passed, curious where the green-clad man had gone. She peeked into each office as she strolled down the hallway but didn't see him.

She turned down the corridor to the left and there he was. He stood below the window at  the end of the hallway tapping a familiar rhythm on the wall. Her mouth fell open in surprise when a door opened and the man stepped in, winking at her over his shoulder as the door closed behind him. Maggie rushed to the end of the hallway and repeated the rhythm. The door opened and inside she could see a series of cubicles and further back a bank of busy machines. Faint whirs and buzzes wafted toward the door.

The buzzing grew louder and Maggie's eyes opened wide. The alarm clock beside her bed sounded to wake her for work. Another Monday. And another strange dream. Maggie sat up and swung her legs over the side of her bed.

She shuffled to the bathroom, never noticing the green carnation on the floor in the hall.