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better at hiding it.  
    The CEO continues. “This is an exciting time here at Nature’s Way. In the past year, we’ve doubled the number of distributors carrying our products and consumer demand for organics continues to grow. To capitalize on this increased demand, we’ll soon be making more than our traditional ready-to-eat cereals. In the coming year, we’ll be working on plans to expand our product line to hot cereals as well as cereal bars.”
    Kayla jabs my arm. “In the coming year? You know how much work that’s going to be? We’ll be in the lab 24/7!”
    “He said they’re working on plans, not launching the actual products next year. Now stop talking. I can’t hear.”
    “We’re expanding our operations faster than we anticipated,” the CEO says. “And because of that, we’re adding additional people to our team. In the next few weeks and months, you’ll start seeing a lot of new faces around. But even as we grow, I still want to maintain our small company environment where people actually know the names and faces of their coworkers. So throughout the year, we’ll be hosting several events to welcome the new employees and give all of you a chance to get to know them better. We’re also starting a new employee mentoring program. I’m going to let Janice explain that. Janice?”
    He hands her the microphone.  
    Kayla jabs me again. “Mentoring program? Now we have to babysit the new employees?”
    “Hello, everyone,” Janice says. “I’m so excited to announce this new program. The goal of this program is to help our new employees get to know the company by way of you, our current employees. Rather than just giving them a company handbook, we want you to be their handbook, helping them with everything from filling out their expense reports to applying for continuing ed.”
    “Shouldn’t their manager be doing that?” Kayla asks, annoyed.
    “In addition, many of our new employees are not from this area,” Janice says, “so we encourage you to show them around. Take them to lunch. Help them learn about all the great things our city has to offer.” She pauses to smile at the group of people standing next to her, who I’m guessing are the new employees. “Since this is a new program, we’ll be asking for feedback, so please share any suggestions along the way.”
    “How many of us are going to be mentors?” a guy up front asks.
    “It sure as hell isn’t gonna be me,” Kayla mutters. “I’ve got enough on my plate. And besides, I’ve got my own way of welcoming new employees. At least the male ones.” She nudges me.
    “Yeah, I’m sure HR would love to hear about that.”  
    Janice is still talking, but with Kayla’s interruption I’ve missed most of what she said. I try to listen again.
    “ . . . randomly assigned these first new hires to the following employees. As I call your name, please come up front and I’ll introduce you to your mentee. The rest of you are free to go. But please take a moment to welcome our new friends as you see them around the building.”
    “I’m leaving,” Kayla says. “I’ve got a million things to do.”
    “Me, too,” Paige says.  
    We start to head back, weaving our way through the crowd.  
    “Morgan Lippincott.”
    I freeze. “Did she just say my name?”  
    Paige and Kayla stop and turn around. Kayla is laughing too hard to answer.  
    “Yes.” Paige points to the front of the room. “Get up there.”
    “But I’ve only been here a year. I can’t be a mentor! Why would they pick me?”
    “It’s a random drawing,” Paige says. “Now go. We’ll see you back in the lab.”
    As everyone files out of the room, I make my way toward the podium area, where about fifteen of my fellow employees are clustered together. They look about as thrilled as I am about this new HR program.  
    Janice comes up to me. “Morgan? You’re one of the food scientists, right?”  
    “Yes, that’s right.”
    “Your mentee is a young man