"I've been working here for 9 years, and I have dreamt of this day for so long. I never actually thought it was possible. A couple of people came into the kitchen, but I can only assume they had laryngitis or something. Neither of them made any sort of inquiry."
Evan Simpkins (42) is an architect, working for KLM Partners, a large firm in the city. According to Evan, nothing too exciting ever happens at work. People just tend to go about their normal business. That is, until yesterday, when something miraculous happened.
Evan was heating up some leftover spaghetti bolognese in the office's small kitchen. He had mentally prepared himself for the inquiries that would come from his colleagues as to what he was heating up, and their advice as to whether it smelled good. This is because, in his nine years at the firm, he had never heated something up without those comments. Even if he was heating up the most boring thing ever, and even if he only needed to use the microwave for 30 seconds, it wouldn't matter. He had resigned himself to the fact that those discussions were unavoidable.
But yesterday something absolutely incredible happened. He heated up his food, and no one asked. The Coastal Tribune caught up with a jubilant Evan, moments after the miraculous event.
"I just waited for someone to ask, and they never did. Lindsay and Robert both came in, saw what I was doing and didn't say a word. I seriously reckon they must be unwell or something."
Evan's voice was quivering with excitement, and he found it hard to express just what it meant to him.
"You know when they interview people who've just won the footy grand final, and they say ' It hasn't sunk in yet'? Well now I know exactly what they are talking about. It's just a surreal feeling. It's wonderful but also quite strange. You dream about something for so long and it finally arrives. I just took a few photos of the meal as a bit of a souvenir/reminder. I can't actually bring myself to eat it at this stage."
Knowing that it will probably be another 9 years or more before the feat is achieved again, Evan is intent on soaking it up a little longer.
"Yeah I just called the missus and told her I'm going to take the afternoon off. I'm going to grab a bottle of shampers on the way home to celebrate. Maybe we can share the spagbol at home!"
The vast majority of office workers will go their whole career without ever experiencing the moment that Evan has come face to face with today. He is a very lucky boy.