Each member of the Island positions herself differently in her cube – your Humble Narrator faces a corner so that I have a monitor on each side of my face, as well as ample work area. This setup is not without its downfalls however, because some of the Elders do not abide by certain personal space rules. Should anybody complete a textbook cubicle ambush, I can be mercilessly pinned into my little nook – without the ability to turn around and face the attacker head on.
It won’t be easy to tell this tale, as I’ve woke many a night drenched in sweat and shaking furiously, but I feel it would be irresponsible to keep it to myself.
It was the winter of 2008, the sky was very overcast, and the mood on the Island was dark. I had just finished closing for the month – or so I thought – when brittle old Bony Elder came tottering into my cube. She was returning some work for me to adjust to her liking, so she placed it in front of me and started to explain. That was when it happened. She leaned over my left shoulder (this is the rough part, hold me) and each of her skinny boobs came to rest on either side of my upper arm (holy water balloons Batman!) I couldn’t convince her fast enough that I knew exactly what I needed to do, and thanks for coming by! I think the incident lasted 15 seconds, but to me – an eternity!
I had barely forgotten that tragic day when it happened again last week. This time, it was <blinks back tears> – Cankles! I had a question about the fixed asset system, and had it pulled up on my screen to illustrate my issue, so she trundled over and I was pinned again. Instead of the “one on each side of my arm” maneuver, she opted for the “plop them on either shoulder” routine. Yes, my head actually divided her two girls for her, and my shoulders provided the reinforcement they no doubt yearned for. Again, I could not insist that I had obtained clarity on my asset issue fast enough!
I have to go now, as the shivering is making it hard to type….
April 8, 2010 at 9:52 pm
OH NO! Are you ok??
Um, this made ME shiver BTW!! Ewww, I don’t even want to go into what my over-active imagination imagined!
Ok, now I’m going to curl up in the fetal position…thanks.
April 8, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Yes, thanks for asking Arlene. It wasn’t anything that a scalding shower with brillo pads couldn’t fix
April 8, 2010 at 10:59 pm
OMG!!! Eeeewwww is right. The island is more dangerous than I thought! I hope you have a good therapist, Hawk Eye.
April 9, 2010 at 12:39 am
Oh no! I am tearing up-cant tell whether with laughter or with horror at the moment. You poor thing, I agree about the therapist-that is a must have!
April 9, 2010 at 4:04 pm
I’m finding it hard to breath… in my attempts to choke back both laughter and vom.
Make sure you don’t get bleach in your eyes if you’re still trying to scald of the remaining grossness.
April 9, 2010 at 7:07 pm
OMGawd! What’s up with old people & space issues?!?!
Did you know that there’s a boy version of this story? The example I have in my is of Old Man Bill. OMB is about four feet tall, & has absolutely no idea how to operate a computer. That being said, he’s constantly asking for the aid of one of us young “pups.”
But rather than articulating what he’s having trouble with, he just point at the screen while you’re sitting in front of his (or your) computer.
But due to his size, & the position any person (of average build) sits in front of a monitor, he ends up t-bagging your arm about two dozen times.
So believe me when I say, I feel your pain.
April 10, 2010 at 2:58 am
Wow, I laughed so hard when I read this, I cried a little. And then I thought about it more seriously and I totally felt your pain. There are most definitely space issues when it comes to older people for some reason and it can be one of the creepiest experiences ever.
April 10, 2010 at 8:44 am
Do you ever worry that maybe one day years and years from now, that we too will lose sense of personal space, and unknowingly commit a similar crime?
Such a horrifying thought…
Another great read!
April 11, 2010 at 1:35 am
I have been boobed by my supervisor on 3 very horrifying occasions. It really grosses me out beyond explanation. When I have a question I dread her coming over to my cubicle, leaning over my arm and pressing her girls firmly into my upper arm. EW!!! Such is the life of a cube dweller…..
April 14, 2010 at 2:42 am
Sometimes it’s good to keep the details to a minimum…I’ll never look at a boob again without wondering how it may kill me