[ WP ] It 's a standard day at the office until you receive a phonecall from your future self who is 60 seconds ahead of you .

4:15:23 pm. 
 
 I stared at the digital clock in my cubicle in utter, abject boredom as the seconds ticked away. It was less than 15 minutes before I could leave for the day. Less than 15 minutes until I could leave and meet Steph for dinner. 
 
 My eyes flitted back to my clock. 4:15:41 pm. *Jesus, the day after the fiscal year deadlines is slow, * I thought to myself. Not that I minded. I have n't had to listen to Richard's inane commentary all day. Being stuck in the cubicle right next to his means I have to hear him chime in to any of my business calls. Today, all I've heard from his cube is the tapping sound of his typing on the keyboard. I'd prefer to keep it that way. 
 
 RIIING! 
 
 I jerked involuntarily in surprise as my office phone intruded on my thoughts. *Not now, I'm so close to leaving for the day! * The click-click of Richard's typing stopped. He was definitely eavesdropping. I sigh quietly enough that he wo n't hear, and pick up the phone. 
 
 `` Supply chain management, Powell speaking,'' I said automatically. 
 
 The line is silent. I listened for a couple of seconds. Still nothing. 
 
 `` Supply chain management,'' I repeated. `` Can I help you?'' 
 
 `` Um... hi, Kevin.'' The voice on the other end of the line sounded familiar, but I could n't put my finger on it. 
 
 `` Yes, this is Kevin Powell. Can I help you?'' 
 
 `` Hi, Kevin... ummm.. this is...'' the voice trailed off for a second. I still could n't tell where I've heard that nasal-sounding voice before, but I could n't *stand* the sound of it. *Is this guy retarded or something? * 
 
 `` Yes?'' I urged, trying to keep my professional composure. 
 
 `` This is Kevin Powell. It's... me... I guess I'm you.'' 
 
 `` I'm sorry?'' I had no idea what to say to that. Was someone pranking me? 
 
 `` I know you do n't believe me,'' the voice on the other end of the line sounded hesitant. `` Your dinner reservations are for 7:30, but you really just want to go home and build your castle in Minecraft.'' I suddenly felt cold. The reservation was booked online. I never told anyone about my secret Minecraft addiction. Someone must be tracking my home internet behavior. Was I talking to an NSA goon? 
 
 `` Dad used to call me... call *you* his'bedwetting midget' when you were a kid,'' the voice on the other line continued, more urgently now. Through the phone, I heard a sharp guffaw that sounded just like Richard. I pulled the phone away from my ear for a second, but Richard was silent. Probably still listening to me on the phone. I put the phone back to my ear. No one knew about that name besides my parents, and they're both gone now. Was this guy for real? Do I really sound like that over the phone? 
 
 `` Do n't say anything, we do n't have much time. Right now, I'm talking to you from the future. It's 4:17, so I'm probably only a minute ahead. But listen, we have the chance to violate causality! This could be huge!'' The voice was getting excited now. `` Listen, just whatever you do, do n't bump the phone. I just --'' 
 
 The phone went silent, and I looked up. I had been trembling so hard that I yanked the cord right out of our receiver. I sighed and leaned back in my chair, glancing at the clock. 4:16:46 pm. I looked down at my desk again, and heard a noise from my disconnected phone: 
 
 `` Supply chain management, can I help you?'' 
 
 `` Um... hi, Kevin,'' I murmered. This was really happening? 
 
 `` Yes, this is Kevin Powell. Can I help you?'' 
 
 `` Hi, Kevin... ummm.. this is...'' I trailed off. *Oh my god, I sound like a retard on the phone! * I realized. 
 
 `` Yes?'' 
 
 `` This is Kevin Powell. It's... me... I guess I'm you,'' I stammered lamely. 
 
 `` I'm sorry?'' my past self said. My mind raced for a way to move this conversation faster. I had to convince my past self that this was real. 
 
 `` I know you do n't believe me. Your reservations are for 7:30, but you really just want to go home and build your castle in Minecraft,'' I said. *Shit, is that what I heard future-me say? * 
 
 `` Dad used to call me,'' I continued, momentarily forgetting where I was. ``... call *you* his'bedwetting midget' when you were a kid,'' I blurted. 
 
 I heard Richard burst out laughing with a loud guffawing noise. *Shit. Did I really have to repeat that just the way I heard it? * I could feel my cheeks growing warm. *Keep it together, Kevin. You're talking to yourself from the past. You can get him to fix this. * I looked at the clock. 4:17:15. 
 
 `` Do n't say anything, we do n't have much time. Right now, I'm talking to you from the future. It's 4:17, so I'm probably only a minute ahead. But listen, we have the chance to violate causality! This could be huge! Listen, just whatever you do, do n't bump the phone. I just need you to make sure to stay on the line until 4:17 and not say anything!'' 
 
 I realized that I was talking to a silent phone, while Richard was roaring with laughter. I knew as soon as he heard me put down the phone, he'd get up and walk over to the entry to my cubicle to mock me mercilessly. I must have sounded crazy. I would be lucky if I only got the nickname `` bedwetting midget'' around the office. I sat motionless in my seat, phone in hand. My eyes glanced towards the clock, dutifully counting the seconds until I could leave work. 
 
 4:17:59 pm. 
 
 It was going to be a long twelve minutes.
