My coworker Winston came back from China and brought me a good luck charm. It kind of looks like my necklace (sidenote: recently someone was looking at it and asked me if it was a microchip).
Later he came to my cube to explain the difference between two softwares. I was sitting in my chair and he was standing right next to me, and I was basically eye level with his crotch. And he had his hands in his pockets so it was definitely demanding a lot of attention. Jerry suddenly popped up from his wall to say goodbye, and saw our positioning. He grinned. I grinned. It must have looked really funny. It was like we were both in on some private joke, but not necessarily the same joke.
At the end of the day, I want it all.
*****
Do you think he’s gonna marry his girlfriend?, I asked one of the women in my office.
Definitely, the woman said. That girlfriend of his, he’ll never find a girl like her. She’s one of a kind.
I smiled. I’m one of a kind.
I give it a 70% chance, I said.
No way, she said. Why?
Because I’m putting in about 30% effort, I thought but didn’t say.
I won’t step in. But I won’t step out.