The Very Nice Box

by Laura Blackett

He was the type of man who could accidentally drop a baby and immediately be forgiven.

The walls were flanked with half-erased notes from the Manager Training that had taken place before the party. KEY TAKEAWAYS Be aware of Defensive Pessimism. Climb the Ladder of Perception. Practice Radical Compassion. Am I in a cult? Ava wondered vaguely.

blue. Analytical.

green—empathetic—and

The results packet she received after taking the test included a series of backhanded compliments: You compensate for your social deficit by demonstrating a raw talent with numbers. Although your colleagues do not enjoy your company, they trust your work. Your time-management skills surpass, and therefore irritate, those around you.

red (direct) and yellow (outgoing)