“What made the rising star of college politics give it all up to work with us?”

“Don’t be so theatrical Ollie!” Mel grinned.

“It’s name’s Teri, with an I,” Quentin mocked.

“Be careful!” Terry frowned and grinned at the same time.  

“Ollie, you can’t say that!” Mel frowned more meaningfully.

“Quentin said it! And why not?” Ollie took an unusual stance.

“He’s got a point,” Quentin grinned.  

“Who calls someone an it, then?” Mel demanded.

“I’m not sure, but it will soon become a problem!” teased Ollie.

“Teri with an I, and my pronouns are…” Quentin went further.

“…Any way,” sniggered Mel, you can’t…”

“…Think about it!” Ollie looked suddenly serious, “If Teri is to be called a them, they, their, blah blah, then when I’m talking about them, I call them an it? Make sense?” Ollie rested his case.

“What?” Terry looked lost.

“Makes sense,” grinned Quentin.

“Any way,” Mel shook her head, “Teri will be working from 10am to 2pm for three days a…”

“…Three days!” snapped Terry while rising to make and proceeded to the fridge.

“…But we need help, not…” Ollie began to plead.

“…I know…!” barked Mel.

“…then why didn’t…?”

“…Listen,” Mel closed her eyes in concentration, “listen…”

“…We need more help on the counter and the warehouse, and Teri can’t be trained…”

“…Quentin!” Mel impatiently barked.

“But, it’s true,” pleaded Ollie, “we need people who can be trained and he…”

“…They,” interrupted a mischievous Quentin.

“And now we have to look after it,” sighed Terry, pouring the milk slowly.  

“…Hmmm,” sighed Mel in recognition as she watched the spoon go round.  

“…And…” Ollie remembered another point.

“…Stop!” demanded Mel, looking up from the cup.

“He has a…”

“…Not now Quentin…!” Mel commanded.

“…Someone, one of us, will have to be with them…” Terry groaned, falling back to his seat.

“…Look,” Mel’s voice quietly whispered and silence fell upon the group.

Terry re-stirred tea but watched Quentin, who quietly sniggered at Ollie, but Ollie grinned out the window.

“Look,” sighed Mel, “we have to do what we can to help Teri and, yes, Teri will need some extra time to know things, but…”

“… HQ want to fill their quota…!” concluded Quentin.

“…But we will make it work and give Teri a chance…”

“…To fuck it up…” Ollie whispered.