Would you like blood on your copies?

Frank handed me two large packets of paper. “Make three copies of these.” I didn’t want to botch my first official task so I asked, “three copies?” “Three copies,” Frank replied. I went to the copy room most unsure how to operate the machine. “Hey could you show me how to use this?” I asked another intern. Already doling out your responsibilities to others, nice work. Samantha instructed me how to use the copier, and I began fiddling with the staple of one of the packets. These need to come off. I picked at the underside of the packet where the staple teeth sank into the last page. It was really in there. The packets were twenty or thirty pages thick and there wasn’t much staple left to pick at. How long is it taking me to do this? Frank might be timing me. My fingernail managed to remove one side of the staple, so I tried to wiggle the other out. The remaining staple broke off inside the massive document. I released ten or fifteen pages, then plucked the broken staple out of its hiding place. In my haste, I pressed too hard on one end of the staple and punctured the skin of my pointer finger. That might bleed. Sure enough, as I placed the stack of papers in the copy tray, I noticed a pin prick of blood on the reverse side of a page. Oops. The copies beginning to print, I looked at the second packet with disdain. Then Brent the staff assistant entered the room. “How’s everything going in here?” he inquired. “Fine, uh, just getting these staples out.” I replied. “Oh, use this.” He reached on a nearby shelf and handed me a staple remover. “Oh, yeah. Of course.” I had forgotten that staple removers existed. Before I could begin on the second packet, I had to secure the copies of the first. “Is this the only stapler we have?” I asked, holding up a small Swingline. “Yeah I think so,” said Brent, “but if that won’t work, you can use those clips in closet.” To the closet I went and back I came with the clips. Three packets, copied and clipped. Armed with the angry teeth of the staple remover, I had immediate success with the second packet. Printing went smoothly, and I held up the final products. On the reverse side of the original first page was writing. I didn’t print double-sided. Off went the clips and in went the first page to the copy tray. After three more copies and re-clippings, I proudly completed my task by delivering the blood stained copies to their intended readers.