I met Wendy during my third job after University. I was what they called a “dealer” which basically entailed buying and selling stocks on behalf of the firm’s institutional clients. One day, I found out that she was hired to be my assistant. She wasn’t reporting to me directly, but she was junior to me and she would help me execute the orders on the busy days. Being only a few years apart, we became great friends. She was cheerful (even on a Monday), totally outspoken (even if she was junior to everyone in the office she was not afraid to speak her mind to the most senior of bosses), and her attitude was infectious.
On most days we would have lunch at the office cafeteria. I eventually dubbed her “Miss Tuna” as she would always order the tuna sandwich. Everyday she would carefully scrutinize the cafeteria board as if she was planning to order something else. Sometimes, she would ask the lady behind the counter “whats today’s special?” but inevitably, she would order the tuna sandwich.
Not only were we close at work, we also hung out after work as well. She knew I had a crush on one of the dealers from another firm and she would set up after work drinks so we could all hang out together. I knew that her mother disapproved of her boyfriend so she would tell her mom that we were going out when in fact she was out with her boyfriend. If you ask me if we were best friends, no we weren’t… but we were good friends, more like partners in crime.
One day my boss gave me a large order to execute for a first time client. This was the “test” order and the pressure was on the make sure that nothing went wrong. Things were hectic and the market was moving so I called Wendy (she was stationed in the trading floor while I was in the office) to take care of some of the orders. When the stockmarket closed I called her up to the office to sort our trades.
“Where’s the fifth trade?” I asked her.
“What fifth trade? You only gave me four.” She replied.
“No! That’s can’t be – it was five trades. See? I have it written down.” I told her.
Of course she insisted she only heard me say four. It was really a game of she said, she said. Maybe I was wrong, and only gave her four trades. Or maybe she was wrong and she just forgot to execute the last trade… all I remember is that things were strained that afternoon. I had to explain to my boss what happened and of course my boss lashed out on me. I, in turn, gave Wendy the silent treatment the whole afternoon.
The next day we didn’t have lunch together. Neither did we have lunch the day after, or the day after that. We still chatted at work but things were never the same. No longer did she help me set up the after work drinks and I never found out who she used as an excuse to go out with her boyfriend anymore.
When I left the job a few months later she didn’t even say goodbye.
I suppose, if we both really wanted to, we could have made it work. I could have said sorry, I could have clarified why I was so angry that day.
Or even, I could have invited her to lunch the day after for a tuna sandwich…
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!
Recipe
Niçoise Salad – no recipe here – It was just some lettuce, tuna (dressed with some olive oil, anchovies, and red wine vinegar), hard boiled eggs and tomatoes. Feel free to add black olives and capers if you have them on hand.
One form of dishonesty could totally ruin a friendship. There are always second chances to make new ones and I’m here. Love the tuna on a choux pastry instead of a bread.
I would never have thought to use this combination, but it makes total sense now that you’ve shown us the way. I agree with others that your story is a bit sad, but I’m glad you’re telling things as they were and it sounds like your life is currently full of wonderful relationships so that in the balance of things you’ve gained much more than you’ve lost :).
What a clever idea to use choux pastry instead of sandwich bread! Love it 🙂
Merry Christmas!
It’s such a sad story. It’s always very sad when friendship ends. Hope one day both of you will meet and make up again. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Trissa.
That’s sad that the friendship ended awkwardly like that, I can think of so many situations just like that in my past that I wish I had been brave enough to fix. And I do love a good tuna sandwich 🙂 Merry Christmas Trissa, I’m so glad I’ve gotten to meet you through our blogs this year!
Thank you for sharing such a personal story, like the other one you also shared (about the driver). You write beautifully. Take heart that we all have our Wendy and Driver stories to tell. Great post, great pics, as always. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family 🙂
Sad to hear about the work friend. Maybe she’ll read this one day and get in contact with you again?
I love the stories in your posts, they are always so interesting!
Oh Trissa you share such poignant stories with us! I think it is inevitable that we have people like this in our lives that we fall out of favour or contact with, and I guess we can just think that perhaps it frees us up to meet other people who ultimately mean a lot more to us? I’m always one for the silver lining 🙂
Merry Christmas to you! xxx
It’s always sad when friendships end so suddenly. But we move on…
Hope you and your husband and dogs have a happy Christmas!
Nice transition Trissa ;D. This sandwich looks lovely! Merry Christmas to you too =D.
Oh, Trissa, why are your stories always so poignant?! But you know what, it shows a strength of character to acknowledge you were partly in the wrong and to tell everyone about it. I hope everyone reading grasps the moral to this story, esp at this time of year.
Merry Christmas, Trissa!
Merry Christmas. I am sure she may feel the same 🙂
It’s tricky when work and friendship clashes. Bet she’d love this extra special tuna sandwich though 🙂 Have yourself a very merry Christmas Trissa!
Hey Trissa.. sorry to hear about the rift.. perhaps you could call even now to mend things.. or perhaps she’ll read this post and accept the peace stick .. Hope you guys get back in touch! Hugs
Well, that’s kind of a sad story… It does happen that way with friendships sometimes; you’re good friends one day and then something, relatively minor, happens and over and done. I guess that only shows that it wasn’t maybe that good a friendship after all. O well, life goes on I always say and that tune sandwich or would it be called a tuna pastry? does look delicious!
Merry christmas to you too Trissa! Have a great time!