Check out  Thursday_Prompt for more weekly writing exercises like this prompt. "New Beginnings", limited to 365 words.

*************************************

It wasn't the first time someone had left for their fresh start elsewhere, but the way everyone acted, it may as well have been. There was laughter, but there were many more tears. Mary Jo even brought in a cake. "Frank: our thoughts are with you in this new chapter in your life," it proclaimed in pink frosting.

"I wish I'd known that old witch was bringing in a cake," Bob said as he munched on his fifth donut. "I would have saved my appetite!"

"I wish you were the one with the new job," said Mr. Whisk. "Then we could save ourselves at least half an hour per day of you stuffing your face and complaining, and get some work done around here."

I hurriedly finished my donut and coffee and started work on adding, checking and rechecking the columns of numbers that had to sum just right to keep us all from having hell to pay. "I get that he's been here a while. I've seen the gals get all weepy when someone leaves, but this? Buddy and even old Karl are moved. I saw them pawing at Frank this morning, before they hit the phones.

Bob started on donut six, and slapped my paw away when I reached for an attractive long john. "Get some more from the break room if you're hungry, these are all spoken for."

"Yes, by all means: hurry and get your fill." Mr. Whisk was never a nice guy, but he had a peculiar mix of sadism and glee in his voice. "This is the last day they're complimentary. Didn't you know? Frank's brother in law owns the donut shop. Today is the last day we get our ample supply of free donuts. Starting tomorrow, it's pay as you go."

Bob looked like he'd been slapped across the muzzle with a newspaper. "Pay? As we go?" And the sadness at Frank's departure finally reached our department.