He is looking at me earnestly across the desk, and I can see in his face that he truly doesn’t realize how ridiculous he sounds when he tells me, “Just think of this as an opportunity! You get to come in and save the day!” He grins stupidly and waits for my reaction.

Save the day, he says. So that’s what we’re calling it now, when a coworker fucks up royally and I have to clean up her mess, on top of all my usual responsibilities. I force a thin lipped smile and nod, because if I open my mouth I am certain that these words will fly out of it:

“Save the day? Of course! But I’m not sure I can, because, you know, I didn’t bring my cape today.

But I am so glad you gave our colleague a second chance — wait, it was probably more like her fourth or fifth chance, right? But it was really so kind of you, to let her off the hook this time. I’m happy to pick up the slack for her. 50, 60 hour work weeks? Piece of cake!

I’m just glad to have this opportunity to make a real difference around here."