In Loving Memory of "The Pooter"
When I moved to this pasty green cubicle in the far recesses of the office, there was no one near me... Except one, Gary.
Gary, a middle aged balding man suffering from social anxiety and wasn't the type to "mingle." In fact, I sat at my cubicle for about 4 months talking to Gary before he finally broke down and responded. After that, Gary and me became office compodres. I'd say, "Hi Gary," and he'd respond in a tone resembling Eeyore, "Hello." We were practically long lost siblings. From time to time, I'd throw a tiny foam basketball into his office, to see if he was in the mood to toss around the old ball. He'd never throw it back, but I think it was just because he didn't want to distact me from my work. He was always considerate like that. Sometimes I'd even give him imaginary high fives. Although he never really resipricated my high five motion, which consisted of me pumping my hand in the air until I realized that he was ignoring me, I knew deep down he cared.
One day as I sat isolated in the corner of the building with Gary, a sound resonated from his office sounding like someone slowing letting the air out of a balloon. I turned around to give him that "I know what you just did face" but the look on his face told a tale of satisfation and release. From that moment on I knew Gary only as "the Pooter."
That was until Friday, when I saw Gary leaving a little early. I chastised him for leaving early and tried to hassle him and give him fake high fives. But Gary was in no mood and scurried out of the office. Although I knew I was going to be able to see "the Pooter" Monday. I still hated to see someone so close to me leave every week, with that same stale look on his face with powerbar crumbs around his mouth and on his shirt.
But when I returned Monday, Gary didn't come back. He had been "let go" the past Friday.
With all of the drawings I made him still taped to his wall and the memories of his flatulance still fresh in my mind. I shed a tear for "the Pooter." Only these cubicle walls know the bond that Gary and I shared. I will never forget your kindess, your compassion, or your comb-over.
You will be missed Gary... May we never forget... Never...
("The Pooter" is seated to the right. My only pictoral evidence of the moments we shared)
Gary, a middle aged balding man suffering from social anxiety and wasn't the type to "mingle." In fact, I sat at my cubicle for about 4 months talking to Gary before he finally broke down and responded. After that, Gary and me became office compodres. I'd say, "Hi Gary," and he'd respond in a tone resembling Eeyore, "Hello." We were practically long lost siblings. From time to time, I'd throw a tiny foam basketball into his office, to see if he was in the mood to toss around the old ball. He'd never throw it back, but I think it was just because he didn't want to distact me from my work. He was always considerate like that. Sometimes I'd even give him imaginary high fives. Although he never really resipricated my high five motion, which consisted of me pumping my hand in the air until I realized that he was ignoring me, I knew deep down he cared.
One day as I sat isolated in the corner of the building with Gary, a sound resonated from his office sounding like someone slowing letting the air out of a balloon. I turned around to give him that "I know what you just did face" but the look on his face told a tale of satisfation and release. From that moment on I knew Gary only as "the Pooter."
That was until Friday, when I saw Gary leaving a little early. I chastised him for leaving early and tried to hassle him and give him fake high fives. But Gary was in no mood and scurried out of the office. Although I knew I was going to be able to see "the Pooter" Monday. I still hated to see someone so close to me leave every week, with that same stale look on his face with powerbar crumbs around his mouth and on his shirt.
But when I returned Monday, Gary didn't come back. He had been "let go" the past Friday.
With all of the drawings I made him still taped to his wall and the memories of his flatulance still fresh in my mind. I shed a tear for "the Pooter." Only these cubicle walls know the bond that Gary and I shared. I will never forget your kindess, your compassion, or your comb-over.
You will be missed Gary... May we never forget... Never...
("The Pooter" is seated to the right. My only pictoral evidence of the moments we shared)
posted by officepit at 9:03 AM
1 Comments:
you have inspired me to blog.
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