Morgan* and I sat across from each
other in the office.
We had the same job, and came into
the company right around the same time.
I had reason to believe that she was better at our job, since she took
half the time to do the computer test than I did. But we worked together at the small,
fast-paced office, and we became friends.
She was from New York, like most
of our office mates. Living in the
South, that was unusual, I thought, until I realized that most of our friends
were transplants from somewhere else – mainly the north. Northern people love Southern winters, and
when you’re in your twenties, a young city in a warm climate is where you think
you’ll live forever.
We shared stories about our lives
with our significant others: her husband, my fiancé. She told me about New York, her family members that
still lived there, the job she left to come here. I learned about life in a city from her, and
I shared my rural upbringing with her. I
was square; she was cool. I was naïve;
she knew better. We cussed like sailors
and laughed and rolled our eyes at office drama and difficult coworkers, told
dirty jokes and raised eyebrows surreptitiously at each other over our
screens.
We were different, had different
friends and spent our free time doing different things, but we bought tickets for
a concert and made plans to go together.
The concert was cancelled and we got our money back. We never made any more plans together after
that.
Time went on and I settled into my
job and advanced my competency – my learning curve was steep. The job got
easier – speed and accuracy were the most important skills to hone, and
relationships and flexibility were key, two things at which I excelled. I took on more work and worked myself up to a
pay raise, part of the package I was told to expect when I was hired.
Sitting across from my boss in his
smoky office, he said he was pleased with my performance and that I’d be
rewarded, and because of the timing of the raise, I’d even get a little back
pay for work I had already done. I was
proud that my hard work paid off, and giddily looked forward to having more
money in my bank account.
I was never a game player, never
one who understood shrewdness or the weight of words beyond their immediate
meaning. I never expected that sharing my
good news with my desk mate would come back to me a week later.
“Andrea, can I talk to you?” The words came unbidden. I was doing great at my current task. I had been in a good mood lately, buoyed by my
boss’s confidence in my abilities and the possibility of new opportunities.
Facing my boss again in the smoky
office, this time I sat with trepidation.
An uneasy feeling in my gut took over when I saw the vague look of
disappointment on his normally smiling face.
“It is none of anyone’s business in this office what or how you are
paid,” he said. “I didn’t…” I started
lamely.
But I did. I had.
“I’m sorry,” I replied. “I shouldn’t have.”
“All right,” he said, simply. It was my cue to leave. Nothing more needed to be said.
I returned to my desk,
tight-lipped. Morgan asked what
happened. “I messed up on something and
he’s mad.” Trying to explain something
without explaining it is hard. I was
ashamed and I couldn’t find the words to express it, so I didn’t even try.
Months later I got my own office
and a new workload to manage, and eventually negotiated a work-from-home
position when my husband and I moved back up North for his job and to start a
family. Eventually I lost touch with
Morgan; the dynamics of the office were changing, and I think I remember hearing that
she quit not long after I left.
Despite our friendship, we were also co-workers. It is a lesson that I will never
forget.
*not her real name
*******
This post inspired by:
Prompt #5: A memorable day at work.
A great story! I left the work place 4 years ago to be home with my children, but I miss my coworkers. Heck, I worked with them for 7 years...a small, bilingual school...we were like family...drifting in and out of each others lives each day. Some of those friendships are still going even though I moved about 6 hours away, but some have faded. It is amazing how much life can shift and change so rapidly. However, I don't regret where I am at one bit.
ReplyDeleteHoping continued blessing for you.
Thank you, Dionne. I missed my coworkers for a long time after I left the company, too. It was such a small firm and we were all pretty close. I never worked in an office again.
DeleteFantastic writing Andrea. I love the way you shared this hard lesson.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jennifer. I appreciate it so much. I got that sinking feeling in my gut again when I wrote this. That was not a fun time in my life.
DeleteVery, very good. The writing is good, as is the lesson. And that sounds like something I would have done, but not like something I would have betrayed.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jennie. I was terrible in a business setting - always said the wrong thing. I learned to keep my mouth shut, but I hated keeping my distance from people.
DeleteI feel your pain! Ugh, not a week (a day?) goes by that I don't stick my foot in my mouth. I also trust people more quickly than I probably should, and overshare... Some of us just wear our hearts and emotions like clothing instead of tucking them away safely!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I like getting to know people on a deeper level, so of course that's what I share - all my nitty gritty details. It doesn't always work out for me.
DeleteOh reading this reminds me of my working days - which I don't miss.
ReplyDeleteLove your story telling.
Thanks Alison! I don't miss working, either. I mean, you know what I mean. :)
DeleteI'm such an open book about that kind of stuff too. I've definitely made that mistake (recently actually) and while I do regret opening my big mouth...I can't entirely blame myself for being honest. A little shame needs to go to the coworker who made it a bigger deal and also to the employer who wasn't upfront about the conversation needing to stay confidential. I'm an open book, but when someone says 'this is between us'...I don't blab. Well maybe to my husband still, but...what I'm trying to say is YES...a difficult lesson to learn! (whispers: but it's not all your fault).
ReplyDeleteThank you! I definitely wasn't savvy back then - and I'm still not, but you're right. Some things should be clarified for those of us who don't see a big deal in sharing... well, most things. I am also a good secret-keeper, but you have to tell me to keep it to myself.
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