I found a dime on the floor of my cubicle about a month ago. I put it on my desk phone, nestled between the "Spkr" and "Mute" buttons. I think I was in the middle of something at the time, I'm not sure. I just didn't put it in my pocket, and now it has become part of my rather spartan decorating scheme.
The funny thing is, there is a guy at work who I think is bugged by it. For the first few weeks whenever he would come by my desk to ask something, I would see his eyes dart to the dime and back, repeatedly. Eventually, about a week ago, he finally asked, a little annoyed, why there was dime on my phone, was there something special about it or something. I said, "No, I just like the idea of having Roosevelt watching over me as I work." He sort of smiled, not sure whether I was joking or not, and told me I might have to move it if I ever want to use the "Mute" button.
I had since forgotten the encounter. So today, when the gentleman in question sidled up to my desk and asked, "So, uh, you like teddy bears?" I was understandably disturbed.
But I came to understand, after a lengthy recounting of that old chestnut about how stuffed bears came to be named "teddy," that he was referring to Roosevelt (the one not on the dime), and assumed I was a big fan. Because, you know, only an obsessive Roosevelt freak would openly display dimes.
I didn't disabuse him of the idea, though. He inadvertently gave me a way to justify my enormous collection of Care Bears paraphernalia. Perhaps now I can display my rare "Bashful Heart Bear" openly. I may even bring it to work. You know, to show my Roosevelt pride.
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