The Boys

I work as a legal administrative assistant at a finance company, but I sit near the financial analysts rather than the other admins because one of them talks to herself, the other one talks to her husband on the phone all day and the third one talks to her kids on the phone all day. I can’t concentrate with all of that B.S. going on. Thus, I chose to sit near the financial analysts – 3 cute, fresh-faced guys in their early 20’s. Actually, one of them I don’t know very well as he recently transferred here from L.A. As for the other 2, we’re always teasing each other and occasionally going out for drinks together. We also share tea and ethnic foods frequently. They’re sort of like my brothers, although I think both of those 2 have a little crush on me. So this morning, after my flight landed and I was feeling sad, then grumpy, one of the guys was trying to joke with me. I snapped at him and he was really taken aback. I almost apologized, but he apologized first. He said that he could tell I wasn’t in a good mood (I’m not one to hide that, as anyone who REALLY knows me, knows!). The rest of the afternoon went by in silence. As I packed up my things to leave, the one I’d initially yelled at said quietly as I walked by “I hope you feel better; go home and get some rest.” I thanked him, but decided to call those 2 out on something. “By the way, who keeps messing with my phone every time I’m on vacation – changing my ring tone and lowering the volume? Also, who put that ridiculous chair in my cubicle blocking the entrance?” It was deathly quiet. I was standing right where both of their cubicles meet and witnessed their eyes get a little big as they tried to exchange furtive glances over the cubicle wall, which was too high, anyway. “What’s with the silence, guys?!” They sort of smirked and accused my boss of doing it. Let me assure you, my main boss has no idea how to change the ring tone on his own phone, much less mine! I explained to the guys that my phone rarely rings, anyway (since everyone knows I don’t answer), so it couldn’t possibly be that annoying when I’m out of the office. Their rationale was… if a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?! So… if I’m not in the office and I’m not around to know how much my phone rings, does it ring off the wall? Apparently yes!