At work, we have windows that connect us to other people in the office. They slide open and close (think drive thru window). The guy I share mine with has always kept ours closed since the day I started. One day I asked him why:
“Because you went to Kansas and I went to Kentucky. We can only talk to each other during the Summer when basketball isn’t in session.”
Fair enough. So began our war of post-its and emails of “I’m-better-than-you-because.” The stink eyes when we see each other out of the office walls and around the office hallways. The sarcastic, “What’s your rank this week?”
Then yesterday he says, “I’ve made a resolution to be nice to opposing basketball school alums.” And proceeds to crack our window open about 5 inches. Gone are the stink eyes and here are the “Why hello Hanna, that top looks lovely”s. We capped off our momentous day with a cupcake contest where I challenged him to stuff 5 cupcakes in his mouth. He did.
Today, I come in, window still cracked. Which means we’re still on the path for a verbal relationship. The only problem is, due to a swollen throat, I have no voice. So I do what any copywriter would do, write a post it.
“Mornin’! My throat hurts. Speaking in notes.”
He passes the note through the window where I find on the back he wrote:
“Hello” and a taped Halls cough drop.
It’s a brand new year folks. A Kentucky Wildcat and Kansas Jayhawk are getting along. Caring for one and other. We’ll see if birds-of-a-feather still flock-together through March Madness.