Friday, March 20, 2009

What would you do?

So, I am at work right now, and I am soaked. I accidentally knocked over my nearly full 32 oz Nalgene bottle which spilled all over my desk and my pants.

My first concern was for the water on my desk. I jumped up, and mopped up the mess with tissues from a tissue box I acquired while I had my terrible cold earlier this year. My tissue box is now empty, but I saved my laptop, mouse and keyboard.

After making sure no damage was done, my attention turned to myself. Yeah, it TOTALLY looks like I peed my pants....maybe not totally since I don't know how my peeing my pants could reach my outer thighs, but it's enough to raise an eyebrow. I slipped out to the bathroom and managed to only run into my boss on the way, who had a good laugh at the situation and said that this was the exact reason his wife is not allowed to use water bottles when she's pregnant. I was able to get some of the water out of my pants, but it's still pretty noticeable. I couldn't believe I missed my belly entirely until I looked down and noticed that half of my white shirt was soaked as well. You just can’t tell. Of course today I choose to wear the shirt that will least show spilt water.

So now I am sitting at my desk, still feeling quite wet, with only 20 min until I go home. I figure I'm pretty safe because my desk gets very little traffic, and if anyone does come I can just stay seated with my lap out of view beneath my desk...But I REALLY want to go home.

I am frequently able to make it from my desk to my car without anyone seeing me, but in 20 min many people will be going to lunch and my risk of running into someone increases significantly. In addition, the someones I usually run into are high level people that know who I am, but don't really know me. It would be slightly awkward to explain what happened if I see them looking at my “accident”, but if I don't, I know every time they see me they'll remember and wonder what happened. (Te he he, I know, a bit arrogant of me to think I would take up so much of their pondering time, but still!)

AND it’s Friday, so I want to leave and I’m having a hard time concentrating on things as it is (which you have probably guessed considering I am at work and posting this)!

So, here's my question for you all. What would you do? Would you just slip out now or wait another...15 min so you could get paid for that last 15 min you were here?

Update: I stayed the last 15 min. By then my pants were dry enough for it to not be too terribly noticeable. I did run into more people than I ever have before though...oh the irony. I just made sure to make and keep eye contact with a pleasant question or comment on the weather outside...they never even had a chance to look down. :)

7 comments:

Nicole Fryer said...

I would leave early if it was me! Just cause 15 minutes isn't that long.

Tabitha said...

I'd leave early. Unless I had a lot of work to day then I'd wait until most people are gone to lunch and leave then.

A. Pearce said...

I would have left early to avoid the lunch rush (a reputation can be created so fast). Let us know what you decided.

Teresa Beth Brower Timms said...

Is this a Bart or Rebecca writing? If it's Rebecca you should have said, "OH my, my water broke" - they would have helped you to your car and gone back and checked you out - of course you should have walked slowly to the car so by the time they got back to check you out 15 minutes would have passed.

If it was Bart - grab an art smock or apron and cover up the water, or just fill up the bottle and pour water over your head and say you got Gatorade-ed because you're such a GREAT teacher.

Amy Collyer said...

I would stay just because then you just may run into that executive who ends up wondering about you. Any publicity is good publicity. ;)

janae said...

It's too bad you don't have a diaper bag. I often wear mine on the front to hide spills. Not that I have spills often or anything ....

Polly said...

Wait it out.It's water.