Her lower abdomen was like a tight balloon. Standing up now might cause an explosion. The meeting had lasted two hours longer than expected. All the while, faces pushed at her, hands thumped table and sweat stuck in the air. This is why she hated meetings. She had wanted to excuse herself. But each time she tried, someone yanked her down. "You need to hear this part!" they would say.

Now she couldn't stand up at all. On top of the pee that was ready to burst was an alarming amount of gas. Her childish holding had caused this. If someone suddenly tugged on her, she wasn't sure what might come out first.

The freckle-faced man pushed back his chair. Laughter rolled around. Promises fluttered and notebooks slapped shut. The meeting was finally over. She stayed seated until the chairs emptied out. Her next feat would be the hardest: getting to the bathroom remaining dry.

She rose to a bent position; it was as far up as she could go. She pressed her hands into her lower belly, like she had been kicked down there. Gingerly, she took small steps until she made it through the first door. The bathroom was about 30 feet away.

"Hey Sammy! Do you have another minute?"

She froze in her tracks the way a scared cat would. Then, in an awkward swivel, she turned and sunk her back into the wall. She slid down and jammed her fists into her knees; a position she knew she could not hold for long.

"What is it Rich?"

"I know the meeting was crazy long. But I haven't even gotten started with you yet. We really want to hire you—"

A burst of rapid sounds exploded from her. It was like a herd of mules flatulent at once. In tears of humiliation and long last relief, she glanced up at Rich. Not a single crack crossed his lips.