Speak Over Me (2021)

"The boss doesn't exactly look thrilled," remarked Jeff.

"Well, we can't do much about that now. We'll have to cover his shift," replied Mark.

Jeff and his coworker, Mark, engaged in a conversation about their absent colleague, Travis. He had mysteriously not shown up for work.

"What could have possibly happened to him?" Mark wondered aloud. "He always says 'see you tomorrow' when he leaves."

"It's hard to say, but you know how young folks are," Jeff responded while reaching for a tissue. "All they care about is partying, drinking, and sleeping in. He's probably just being careless."

"I don't get that vibe from him," Mark contemplated.

Jeff blew his nose and then chuckled. "I remember what I was like at that age."

"True," Mark agreed, noticing that Jeff had a booger sticking out of his nose. "Um, you might want to..."

Suddenly, a commanding voice interrupted them from the upper level. They both looked up to see their boss staring down at them. "Am I paying you to chat or to work?"

“Apologies, boss,” Jeff quickly responded, preparing to leave.

“Hold on a moment,” Mark interjected. “You've got something in your nose.”

Jeff reached up, touched his nostril, and then wiped his nose with his sleeve.

"Thanks. Catch you later," Jeff said with a wave as he headed to his post.

—

Travis found himself in an unfortunate situation, far from the joys of his youthful days. Little did anyone know, as he bid his co-workers farewell the previous night, an inexplicable event occurred—causing him to shrink within the confines of the premises. Trapped within the building, he spent the night navigating the vast emptiness until morning arrived and his co-workers began their day.

Observing them from his diminutive vantage point, he called out for assistance, but his pleas went unnoticed amidst the hustle and bustle of their routines. His size made him almost invisible to them. Determined to make himself more noticeable, he scaled a Kleenex box to gain higher ground.

From this elevated position, he watched with amazement as his two co-workers stood right above him, engaging in conversation. Seizing the opportunity, Travis positioned himself on a white Kleenex to stand out.

“HEY!! JEFF!! MARK!! DOWN HERE!!” he shouted in earnest, but his tiny voice was drowned out by their engrossing discussion.

Suddenly, Jeff's gaze dropped down to him.

“JEFF! YES!! RIGHT HERE!” Travis exclaimed with elation. Jeff extended his hand downward, but Travis's excitement turned to chaos as Jeff merely picked up a tissue and brought it toward his face.

“JEFF!!” Travis screamed as he approached the looming nostril.

Unfazed by his cries, Jeff blew into the tissue, inadvertently subjecting Travis to a torrent of dried mucus. Travis was tossed backward, landing back in the Kleenex. In a split-second decision, he grabbed onto a piece of the mucus as the Kleenex slid away from him. Looking on, he witnessed Jeff crumpling the tissue within his colossal fist. And if he was still within that tissue...

Returning his gaze skyward, he was met with the sight of Jeff's expansive nostril above him, resembling a cavern of hair from his minute perspective.

Turning his attention to Mark, who was gazing in his direction, Travis attempted to extend a hand. However, his efforts were cut short as he heard chilling words escape Mark's lips. Horror engulfed him as a colossal finger approached, with Jeff conducting an inspection. The massive finger made contact, sending him tumbling through the air. He landed roughly on Jeff's lower lip before sliding further down toward his chin, a move that saved him from an otherwise certain demise.

“THANKS. CATCH YOU LATER.” The resounding voice reverberated around Travis, shaking his diminutive form as its potency threatened to overwhelm his senses.

NOTE: I am ecstatic to show some more mouths in my work. The detail in lips and facial hair? Incredible.