Strange Coworkers: The Woman Who Blows In Everyone's Ear In The Workplace
In a bizarre office encounter, I experienced a coworker, Alice, unexpectedly blowing air in my ear, leaving me startled and confused. Despite initially thinking it was a prank, the mystery deepened as others also faced her peculiar antics of Alice.
On a particularly productive day, feeling satisfied with my accomplishments, I was enjoying a coffee and appreciating the park view outside my window, smiling contentedly. Suddenly, an unexpected burst of air in my ear startled me, nearly causing me to tumble from my chair. When I managed to collect myself, I caught a glimpse of a female coworker striding away, a grin on her face.
Initially, I was bewildered, especially since my office mates, preoccupied with calls or deeply focused on their tasks, hadn't noticed the incident. By the time I thought to address it, the woman had already exited the open office space. Not recognizing her, I presumed she was an employee of the company.
This incident left me unsettled, struggling to categorize the experience. It didn't seem like sexual harassment or bullying, given that I didn't even know her. I speculated that perhaps it was a prank orchestrated by an upstairs colleague, knowing that one of my friends in Sales had a penchant for such antics. Yet, the boldness of her action towards someone she didn't know struck me as odd.
Determined to unravel this mystery, I inquired with the Sales department, only to be met with confusion; they had no clue who she was. This deepened my concern, yet my persistence eventually paid off when a colleague from customer care identified her as Alice, a recent hire.
In the days that followed, engrossed in meetings and catching up on emails, I briefly forgot about the incident. That is until during a virtual meeting, when Alice reappeared, repeating her peculiar gesture, leaving me bewildered and disturbed again.
Resolved to confront Alice the next day, I encountered her in the Sales area, about to repeat her act on another unsuspecting coworker. Witnessing this confirmed the oddity of her behaviour. Discussing it with the affected coworker, we shared our confusion and concern.
Upon further investigation, I learned that many others had experienced Alice's ear-blowing. Taking the matter to HR, I discovered that Alice, a temp, had already left the company the previous day.
Years later, I still ponder over Alice's actions, wondering if they stemmed from psychological issues or a penchant for pranking strangers. The possibility that she might have been an alien studying human behaviour amusingly crosses my mind. I'm left curious whether Alice continues her peculiar habits or if she's since adopted a more conventional lifestyle.
True Story
James Mason
