Gone

Everybody in my pod, a cubicle of four, literally went off for a holiday. Jane's somewhere in Bali lounging - reading a book, soaking up the sun, Rayana's swimming about in Niue - probably hanging out with a different set of pods (a pod of dolphins for those of you who are thinking of something else), and Michelle - God knows where Michelle went for her break.

But as certain as taxes, the inevitable time for lunch loomed nearby like a dark little cloud.

Jared's out to get some shots for his upcoming holiday, so I sent Trace an email asking if she wants anything from the bakery round the block. To my surprise, she went for the personal touch, and came by inquiring if they sold any sort of fruits to go with her cornflakes.

"You know what? I don't think I've seen any fruits down there - not that I take notice."

She hesitates (probably thinking of getting a nice pie), but instead says "Well okay. I don't think I want anything."

She adds. "Let me know when you're back and I could join you in the lunch room. Not that you have to, but we certainly can eat at our desks."

So off I went, mulling over what she said before I left.

I thought about it (deeply), but my concern for her well being led me to decline her gracious offer (at the risk of further destabilising our fragile, ehermm, friendship). She doesn't realise it now, but I'm sure she'll thank me later on.

Here's a hypothetical. If I did agree to have lunch alone with Tracy:

"Hi Chris! What have you got?"

"Thai Green Curry and Chix." Chris says munching on his lunch.

"..."

(After 3 minutes...)

"So what did you do during the weekend?" Tracy asks again.

(This is where Chris just bores Tracy with the mechanics of pulling one grass stalk at a time.)

"..."

(8 minutes later...)

*Chris blinks back and just stares at Tracy

*Tracy blinks back.

*Chris re-crosses his legs and blinks again.

(a minutes later...)

*Tracy gives up, and just nods off on her fruit salad bowl. "Zzzzzz...."

*Chris scratches his head and was amazed that bland conversations still renders people unconscious.