The Worm

On a rainy day, she went with a friend to view the Big Dig. It was like walking into a giant root canal, buttressed by cement and posts. She never knew the worm had entered her ear. When she returned to the office, the worm had already tripled in size. It took up residence near her navel where it could listen to conversations and plot revenge. Soon her skin turned green and she developed a twitch. Whiskers sprouted on her upper lip as the worm told her to write bad job reviews. It was very insistent! So she followed the boss though she was surprised at how much time she spent digging in her garden and how the other workers mattered less and less. At the celebration, the director called her a “rare gem” and gave her Mikimoto pearls but how can a worm wear jewelry? Five employees left that year after getting small raises. She grew segmented around the middle, wore a wide belt to hide the change. At home, she built a terrarium where worms mated and danced under glass.