The Art of Constructive Criticism (According to Barry)

Barry watched Brenda intently as she attempted to staple two pieces of paper together, not with the stapler designed for the task, but with a complex contraption involving a paperclip, a rubber band, and a half-eaten granola bar. “Bold,” Barry deadpanned, leaning back in his chair. “Truly, a revolutionary approach to document fastening. I haven't seen such ingenuity since I tried to 'improve' a toaster by adding a remote control.”

Brenda beamed. “Right? Why use a simple staple when you can engineer a multi-component solution? It's about thinking outside the box, Barry!” She then accidentally slingshotted the granola bar across the office, narrowly missing the CEO.

“Oh, absolutely,” Barry murmured, retrieving the actual stapler from his desk drawer. “And the trajectory control on that granola bar was simply *chef’s kiss*. Such precision. Are you sure you're not secretly training for the office Olympics? Perhaps the javelin?”

Brenda giggled. “You're always so funny, Barry! You really appreciate my unconventional methods.” She then turned her attention to the coffee machine, muttering about 'optimizing the brew cycle' with a screwdriver.

Barry sighed, taking a long sip of his own perfectly stapled report. “Indeed, Brenda. My appreciation knows no bounds. In fact, I'm almost certain your 'improvements' will lead to a promotion. Possibly to a very, very quiet office far, far away from all vital machinery.” He smiled sweetly. Brenda, naturally, took it as a compliment.