The shadowing
“She’s leaving. She’s definitely leaving.” Daniel stood in the doorway of The Oddity newsroom, arms crossed watching Julia aggressively jab at the printer.
“She’s not leaving,” Lena whispered, nervously biting her nails.
“Look at her,” Daniel continued, gesturing with his coffee mug. “She’s training a replacement. That’s what a shadow editor does, they learn your job so they can take it.”
“Jesus Christ, you’re dramatic,” Theo muttered from his desk, not looking up from his laptop screen. “It’s March. Shadow programs happen every March. It’s not that deep.”
The shadow editor in question: a nervous-looking first-year named Madison, who sat in a folding chair next to Julia’s desk, clutching her notebook. She flinched every time Julia swore at the printer.
“She seems nice,” Jamie said, adjusting her camera strap. “Madison, I mean.”
“Too nice,” Daniel said darkly. “She’ll never survive here.”
“Okay, can we not be weird about this?” Lena pleaded, wringing her hands. “Julia’s just … mentoring. That’s all. Right?” Ollie wandered in holding a family-size bag of Doritos. “Are we talking about how Julia’s definitely quitting?”
“She’s NOT quitting!” Lena’s voice cracked.
“Bro, she’s literally teaching someone else how to do her job, that’s like … textbook quitting behaviour.”
“Or,” Theo said, finally glancing up, “Julia is just completing her academic requirements.”
“Since when do you defend Julia?” Daniel raised an eyebrow.
Theo scoffed. “I’m not defending her, that woman is going to die at that desk.” They all turned to look at Madison and Julia, “FUCK!” Julia’s voice echoed through the newsroom. “Why do you hate me?” She said, pleading with the printer.
“Do you … want me to try?” Madison offered timidly.
“Do you know how to fix a printer that’s possessed by Satan himself?”
“Um… maybe?”
“Then be my guest.” Madison approached the printer like it might explode. She pressed two buttons. It immediately started printing.
The newsroom fell silent.
“Witchcraft,” Jamie said. Julia stared at the printer, then at Madison, then back at the printer. “How the fuck —”
“You just had to reset the print queue,” Madison said softly.
“I’m going to be honest, if Julia leaves and Madison can actually fix our tech problems, I’m okay with this transition of power.”
“OLLIE!” Lena gasped.
“What? I’m just saying —”
“Julia’s not LEAVING!” Lena looked on the verge of tears.
Julia finally looked up from the printer, confused. “What? Who’s leaving?”
Everyone froze.
“You are,” Daniel said flatly. “Obviously.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“The shadow editor,” Jamie gestured at Madison. “You’re training your replacement.”
Julia blinked. Then she laughed. “You think I’m quitting?”
“…Yes?” The rest of The Oddity said in unison.
Julia waved a hand. “It’s mandatory. The university makes me take a shadow editor every spring.”
Lena’s face froze. Then her eyes filled. Then her lip trembled.
Then like a dam snapping Lena burst. “Oh my God —” Lena choked, and before anyone could stop her, she rushed forward and threw her arms around Julia. Lena was full-on sobbing into her shoulder. “I THOUGHT YOU WERE LEAVINGGGGG!”
“I’M NOT —” Julia gasped, trying to pry her off. “I CAN’T — BREATHE —” Lena clung tighter.
Ollie grinned and yelled, “GROUP HUG!”
Before Julia could react, everyone dove in. Jamie wrapped her arms around Julia. “I’m documenting this forever!” Theo begrudgingly stepped closer. “I’m so glad you’re staying, but you didn’t hear this from me.” Daniel groaned, but his arm snuck around Julia’s shoulder. “Don’t think this changes anything.”
“…You idiots,” she wheezed, voice cracking slightly, “I’m staying for another year!”
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