Because I only come in once a week they always make like it's a big occasion, especially Tom, the Southern gentleman, who still thinks he's supposed to offer to take your coat and doesn't mean anything by it, if you know what I mean.Because I only come in once a week they always make like it's a big occasion, especially Tom, the Southern gentleman, who still thinks he's supposed to offer to take your coat and doesn't mean anything by it, if you know what I mean. But the interesting thing is the way Bud and Walt act. They find a huge amount of work that needs to be done in our section, even though their desks are halfway across the building. I saw boys act this way about girls in high school, but I wasn't one of the girls this happened to. Frankly, I can see why they put up with it! It's flattering to receive attention, the more so if you grew up thinking of yourself as a fencepost. So now, about my life and the day it changed. I came in on a Tuesday (my usual) about a month ago and found a little crystal vase with a fresh rosebud in it on my desk. I love red roses, they go with whatever I'm wearing usually, like red on black or white on red. But I wasn't sure how to take the "secret admirer" bit or the ribbing I got from the pool. At noon, Laurie invited me out to lunch to discuss the upcoming convention in the Big City, and surprised me by saying she'd selected me to go this year. "But, I'm only a part-timer. Less than one-quarter time right now, even." "Yes," she replied, "but you've been a steady and gracious worker for eight years, and you have had some of the best ideas for office efficiency-- in fact, every thing you've suggested has been tried and worked out beautifully. You plan to go back to full time when the girls go to college, right?" "So?" "So, Chrissie, I want you to have the same opportunity to upgrade professionally as the rest of us. We've all been there, one at a time from our section, but you--and, besides, each of us has had a lovely time!" "I've never even _been_ to the Big City!" "All the more reason. And you'll have a fine gentleman watching out for you--Walt, from the other section, is going this year, and he knows the Big City very well." When we got back to the office I sat at my desk feeling numb and confused. It took awhile to understand what the sensation was, because I took it to be just nervousness about travel. But then I realized the feeling was like the one when, at home, I know it's time to play with myself. |