Out-of-Culture Story of the Year

Since Melissa gave me a deadline for my paper, I was determined to get it done this morning before 11:34. As I often do when I have something due, I got up at 5 to work on it (I'm more productive in the morning, and I have to get my scripture reading and stuff done first). I thought about going next door to the (warm) school since I had to be there later to teach a class anyway, but I ended up finishing it at home in time to go teach my class.

I put the signs out, and then walked towards the door, key in hand. One unfortunate thing about the placement of the light in the hallway is that you can't see the keyhole. As I noisily missed it on the first try, I saw a shadow walk into the office through the door's blurred glass. It's not unusual for people to be there before me, but today I was earlier than usual. I had a split second before the key fit to think of two things: one, how I had seen the light on as I passed by yesterday evening around 10, and two, how I've thought a few times that it would be fun to sleep there just to say I'd done it, but which I would never actually do.

Boy am I glad I didn't go earlier and that I didn't get the key in on the first try. As I opened the door, I discovered all the lights out, a (male) co-worker of mine on the couch, and a pile of clothes on the floor. I don't know how I was able to think so quickly, but I said hello, stuttered out, "Did you work late?" and went straight into the classroom instead of into the office. There I busied myself with anything I could do to get the room ready as if I always went there first--erasing the chalkboard, turning up the heat, pulling some papers out of my bag, etc.

Awk.ward.

I knew someone else was also at the school, but I wasn't about to go out and meet her. After I heard some voices, someone left. A moment later, I looked out the window, and to my surprise, saw someone leaving who looked unbelievingly like one of my favorite (female) coworkers! I finally went into the office to retrieve the book and acted like nothing was up. But the office was in shambles (more than usual). There were wine bottles in the corner, a razor in a bag on the table, and, next to the razor, the keys of the second (female) coworker, which I knew were hers because of a conversation we'd had about keys just yesterday (I have to admit, I thought about hiding them).

Awk.ward.

After the first (male) coworker left, I answered the ringing phone three times and had someone hang up on me. I knew it had to be the second (female) coworker who had left her keys but didn't want me to know it was her who had spent the night. During class, the doorbell rang and I opened the door to find her. She said she had brought toilet paper for the bathroom and forgotten her keys. She even slipped in the word "yesterday." I could see that she had on the same clothes and that her hair wasn't clean.

Awk.ward.

I didn't say much then, and I didn't say much later when the first (male) coworker thanked me for waking him up and again talked about how he had worked until 2. (His being extra-polite can only be his kissing up to me in hopes I won't mention it to anyone.)

Awk.ward.

Part of me wants to let them know I can add 2+2 and that there's no reason for me to say anything about it (is there?), but another part of me just wants to act like nothing happened and hope it never happens again. What I don't understand is if people have such casual ways of life and don't feel bad about it, why do they hide it? Maybe it was just the fact that it was at the school . . .

What do you think? I'll tell you what I think.

Awk.ward.