Part 1
Years ago I was leading business development for a smallish company. There was a big contract that was perfect for us, but much larger than we could manage alone. So I and some others went to 3 other local companies to recruit them for various parts of the contract and do a joint bid.
As we were kicking off the scoping and proposal process we decided to have a short retreat so we could better understand each other's companies, strengths, and people. If we won the contract we'd be working together for about 5 years. The owners of the companies involved invested in a rental house for a couple days so we could be essentially sequestered and there were 2 people from each company there, plus a 3rd from our company since we were going to be lead applicant.
On the first afternoon each company had someone do a presentation about their company, covering their history, leadership, staffing, and whatever else would be key to know. We then broke for dinner and then had some icebreaker sessions for the evening. They also broke out the alcohol.
For the second icebreaker session, we broke into small groups of 3 each. For this one, each person was asked to tell a story about themselves that was interesting or embarrassing or whatever. And it had to be non-work related. I went first and told a story about when I was in college and on the intramural swim team. The school was too small for a varsity program, so we just did events with other small schools. After a practice I was showering out the chlorine when the fire alarm went off.
The coach came through and demanded that we all leave quickly through the emergency exit. The three of us went toward our lockers but coach told us no time. We had to go now. We all looked at each other and followed instruction. We grabbed the gym towels and wrapped them around us as best we could. They were small towels, just barely enough to wrap around and cinch tight. Even so, we held onto the towels as we were ushered out of the building.
And there we were, in the side yard of the university fitness center, wearing small towels. Oh, and our shower shoes. About 50 other students and staff milled around, often giving us looks, and then a few minutes later the fire truck arrived. While the fire guys were inside, one of the facility staff went around with a clipboard and had everyone write down their names so they would know who had exited the building. She was all scowly and someone suggested she thought one of the students pulled the alarm and wanted a list of anyone who was in the building.
As you can imagine, it is hard to hold a clipboard, write on it, and hold a towel. So, obviously, as I was writing my name on the sheet, the towel gave and dropped to the ground, leaving me starkers right there in the daylight. Even worse, one of the school reporters had arrived and was taking pictures. They blurred out the naughty bits, but still ran the picture of me naked with their story in the school paper.
The other two in my icebreaker group laughed. I started to protest about it being a traumatic and embarrassing experience. But it really was funny, and since I was in the best shape of my life, the ideal time for that to happen.
Tom, the second person in our group told a story that was more bragging about how hard he worked to get his masters. It wasn't interesting or embarrassing.
But the story I'm actually here to share came from the third member of our icebreaker group, Amanda. And it is a story that I've not been able to get out of my head for decades, along with being fodder for many fantasies. I'll do my best to share her story as well and accurately as I can. It has been a long time though, so I hope you'll indulge me if some of the details are not 100% accurate. I've also changed names to protect the innocent.
Oh -- additional author note; this is a true story and I got the ok to share "Amanda's" story from her. After reading, please comment on the story and if you want to read more details. If so, I'll get approval from her to share more.
Both 25, Amanda and Steve had been married about a year when they bought their first house. It was a lot bigger and nicer than they thought they could ever get, but the price was right. The only downside they could see was that there were train tracks behind them, which was totally fine and actually interesting, since there would be no neighbors behind them. What they didn't know was that the location was right where trains were required to blow their horns in advance of a road crossing. None of their visits before buying coincided with a train going by.
A few days after moving in, and still with many unpacked boxes, their next door neighbor stopped by with a lasagna dish and a couple bottles of wine to introduce himself. Will was about 35 or so and single, his wife having either died or gone to prison, they never found out a straight story from him. Either way, she was out of the picture.
Amanda and Steve welcomed Will into their new house and showed him around a little. They found the dishes and the 3 shared the lasagna and wine and got to know each other a little. As Will went to leave to head back next door to his house, Amanda offered him his casserole dish back, which still had some lasagna. He declined and said they should finish it as leftovers since they are still getting settled. "Just bring the dish back whenever," he told her. "No rush. And finish up the wine too! Don't want to leave the evil spirits laying around."
Amanda, not being much of a drinker, had really felt the wine. Even the next morning she was still feeling a little drunk, and hungover. Steve had gotten up before her and went to work. He had also put the leftover lasagna into his lunch bin and left the casserole dish soaking in the sink.
Waiting for her coffee to be ready, Amanda cleaned up the dish so it would be ready for her to take back to Will. Her head still muddy, Amanda tried but failed to recall how the evening ended. She remembered hanging out with Steve and Will, and drinking more wine than she should. But she couldn't really recall anything after Will left. She just woke up in the morning all groggy.
With her coffee, she stepped out to the back porch to enjoy the morning and the view behind their new house. As she stood looking over the railroad tracks and the woods beyond, she heard the hot tub lid open and could just hear the water jets.
"Perfect," she thought. "He's in the back yard and I can take the dish over to him." The night before he had told Steve and Amanda to feel free to pop over if they see him in the backyard. No need to ring his doorbell. So she put down the coffee and picked up the casserole dish to head over to Will's.
Rounding the hedges, Amanda spotted Will in the hot tub. "Howdy neighbor! I brought your casserole dish back. Thanks for the excellent lasagna," she said as she approached. Will smiled brightly from the water.
"Hey Amanda! Good to see you again and great to meet you and Steve last night. I really enjoyed it. Just put the pan on the table there." Amanda did as asked and turned back to Will.
"That's a nice hot tub. Maybe we'll get one once we get settled and have some extra cash."
"Oh, it is wonderful to hop in each morning. Even better is to sit in the tub and watch the stars at night. Very relaxing. You're always welcome to pop over and use it. In fact, go ahead and hop in now!"
Amanda looked longingly at the hot tub with the jets and bubbles going. It would feel so nice to sit and relax for a bit and maybe recover from the hangover.
Seeming to read her mind, Will said, "this thing is perfect for after a night of drinking. A Russian buddy of mine says this and a sauna are perfect for sweating out the evil demons from too much vodka. Or wine. I figure Russians are experts in dealing with hangovers."
