Different Kind of Smart
Chalk this up to my different kind of smart…
I went on my last elementary school field trip this past week. It was an end-of-year bowling party in one of those newfangled, computerized bowling spaces. Loud music. Flashing lights. A lot of fun and bittersweet. They all looked so tweenish.
When we got back to school, I ducked into the main office to make copies of the graduation program. I estimated that I had about an hour to accomplish this task. This sounds like a lot of time for making copies, but the copier hates me and often breaks down mid-job. Plus the program ran a little long. Like 24 pages long… (Don’t judge me!)
But the copier behaved, and I got all the copies made and tucked away for graduation. Success! I still had 20 minutes to burn until the end of school, so I settled down in a chair in the main office and started reading a comic book. I was completely lost in a side story about Black Spectre. (The one that is hunting the Omega Drive, not the Moon Knight/Carson Knowles Black Spectre.)
But then I started noticing that many parents were coming through the office, stating they were there to help out with class parties. That’s odd. Why would so many parents show up under 20 minutes until the end of school if they wanted to help with parties? Shouldn’t they have come an hour before school got out? Do the younger classes hold their parties in the last 20 minutes of the day?
Finally I asked about it, and the school secretary smiled at me and said, “Well, Melissa, they’re arriving because there is still over an hour left on the school day.”
I looked up at the clock and realized that there was no reason why I was sitting in the office.
“Oh.”
“Yeah, I wondered why you were sitting here,” she admitted.
I sheepishly collected my things and murmured that I would be back in an hour. The secretary nodded and said, “Well, at least you got to look at your pictures.”
Yeah.
I like to end on a high note.
9 comments
What is it with copiers? The one we have at work that I need to use most hates me (as in, if the document feeder guide is off by a millimeter, the stupid thing can’t figure out what size paper to choose). I used one in college that worked much better. That was 25 years ago.
I had a coworker who was notorious for jamming every single copy machine within a 10 minute hike radius around finals time. We all learned to either get our final exams printed for copying at least 2 days before his exam time or to hike out to copy machines on the other side of campus. He was awesome as an individual, so we all forgave him (and provided the secretaries with lots of chocolate so they would forgive him for this too).
So boo to copy machines.
But at least you got in some reading time!
We all do it! I turned up for an appointment over half an hour early a week or so ago. I was ever so indignant that I had to wait, though I enjoyed browsing a magazine I normally wouldn’t get to read. Felt a bit foolish when I realised I’d been early, not that the physio was ignoring me. Though it would have helped if the receptionist had told me I was that early! At least you found out eventually, and got to go.
PS. Followed your link, and finally found the “forgot to pack pants” post! Yay.
You just subconsciously wanted some extra time at school. 😉 And I hear you on the copier! I ALWAYS allow for extra time …
The paper (in one of the 4 trays) seems to run out when I’m printing. Often. 🙂
No harm, no foul.
I don’t use the copier much at work, but the printers are my nemesis. Whether it is accidentally printing a 200-page document which I somehow cannot stop, jamming the printer, not being able to print or not being able to find more paper, I cross my fingers every time I kick off a job.
Better too early than too late!
You found an extra hour in the day?! MAGIC!