A Comedy of Terrors

No, this is not a script from the NBC comedy "The Office." It really happened to Boyce, who worked for this boss in Richmond several years ago. She has since moved on, thank goodness, but now religiously watches the show that started as a British comedy. The U.S. version of the show -- with comic god Steve Carell ("The 40-Year-Old Virgin") as boss of the Scranton, Pa., paper company Dunder Mifflin -- has just wrapped its second season. The show is a docudrama-style comedy that follows workers at the small office as they live out their dull days under the screwed-up management practices of Michael Scott, Carell's character.

"Now when I'm watching Steve Carell, I'm like, 'Ohmigod, that's my life,' " Boyce said recently.

"The Office": a sitcom that might as well be a reality show.

The uncomfortable silences. The constant awkward moments. Practical jokes, the office kiss-up, the bored office manager, the secret crush and the thermostat wars. Sound familiar?

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HEATHER'S WORLD, TAKE TWO :

Scene: A local Mexican restaurant.

Boyce joins a group of employees and the boss at lunch to welcome a new co-worker.

Lunch is almost finished and it's time to pay the bill.

Boyce takes a few tortilla chips.

Boss watches. He reaches over and moves the basket of chips away from her.

Workers freeze in place, incredulous -- afraid to hear what is about to happen, but too entranced by his next move to look away.