That Co-Worker You Can't Escape

Life repeats itself in unexpected ways. I’ve worked in the park service industry and finally landed a seasonal job at a sought-after park in a neighboring state. The experience and insight I’m gaining are rewarding. Initially, I felt I had a solid team. However, one individual’s behavior echoes past workplace drama I experienced with the airlines—people who thrive on creating chaos and making situations about themselves. That pattern still frustrates me.

I recently closed my Vocal account and considered quitting writing, but this coworker has become a constant source of irritation. I need an outlet, so I’m reopening my Vocal account to vent my thoughts and move forward. Sharing with friends or family isn’t effective, so this platform will serve as my personal journal. I also post my creative work on my personal site and Ko-Fi at www.ko-fi.com/thewriteshot.

Back to the co-worker. I often watch tarot readings online, hearing warnings about people trying to steal energy. After telling her about a permanent position interview, her response was full of negativity and passive aggression, ending with an insincere "Well, good luck." I should have recognized the signs and kept my news to myself.

But this is also what kills me: how easily these two facers can just flip the switch. Nice to the face and stab to the back, and how she talks about others - I should have known, but I want to give people the benefit of the doubt before I label them. So here we go. Now, we haven’t worked together for several days, or we’re on different schedules, until Sunday, when I was told by my manager that she would be with me on the North end, while I worked the Visitor Center. When she gets dropped off, I’m not rude or disrespectful, but I’m also not engaging in long conversations with her; they are just short and to the point answers. She’s also going on and on about her missing wallet, no money, and was almost late for work because she was looking for it. I’m also not good at hint-dropping; you have to say what you want, or it’ll go right over my head. She mentioned this a couple of times, then a few minutes after the last time, she says, “Can I ask you a question?”.

“I might have an answer.”

“Do you carry cash?”

“No, never.”

“Oh, okay, I was just wondering because I can’t find my billfold, and I don’t have any cash.”

It then hit me, she wants me to use my money to buy her something because all she has for lunch are mini-muffins from Walmart. First off, we haven’t known each other long enough for you to “assume” that I’m going to assist you with your finances. We don’t know each other well enough for me to trust that you will pay me back if I did. How do I know you won’t continue to use the excuse of a lost billfold as an excuse not to pay me back? If you need cash, go to your bank and make a withdrawal, or ask someone you’ve known longer to loan you some money. But above all of that, what a fucking lousy way to ask for assistance? Throw a bunch of comments around about a lost billfold, and then casually ask if I have cash? Like, we exchange money all the time?!?

Then the conversation turns to State Fairs, and her love for them, the food, and the booths that she enjoys visiting. Okay.?. Then asks what my favorite booths are, and I responded, “I’ve never been to the state fair.” The look and response of shock were not only annoying but also appalling. Then, for me to say I have no interest in any state fair, county fair, or any festivity, completely blew her mind. One should not assume they know anything about anyone, and yet here she is telling me what she thought I would be into. I’m getting more and more annoyed with this whole conversation, and shutting down even more because I just want it to end, and I want her to leave. But before she does, there is one more jab, “Are you super, super, unhappy here?”

“What?!? No. I’m not super, super unhappy here. I’m not super, super anything here.”

“Oh, it’s just you seem unhappy today.”

You think? (which, by the way, I HATE that line, but my mind thought it was appropriate) “I’m at the end of a very busy, long work week; it is my “Friday”, I’m tired, ready to go home, and enjoy my days off. Is that ok?”

“Yeah, yeah, no, I get it. I was just wondering.”

She wasn’t looking for conversation—she wanted something from me, be it sympathy or money. When I didn’t give her what she wanted, she tried to provoke a reaction. I’m frustrated that I always feel the need to justify myself to her or others like her. I wish I could stop this cycle.

I’m also doing a lot of Reiki work to calm the mind and body and release the toxicity that she has put on me. I will say this: I’m so very thankful that there are only two more weeks left of the season. However, on a final note, this coworker has mentioned a couple of times that we should get together for beer or coffee. I’m now even more hesitant, not just because of this interaction, but because of the missing billfold. Will this be pulled at a gathering, and then I’m stuck with the bill? It just makes you wonder.

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