Mary Alice, Rock of Gibraltar

This Friday is my last day of employment. There was a small pizza party for me last week but I am told that I will be feted again with bagels on Friday morning. Because nothing says "party" like bagels and cream cheese. Oh, and I'm told there will be a gift.

For some reason, Jean Jean the Office Queen felt compelled to tell me that the donations for my gift have been generous. Surprisingly so in two cases, she said. So of course I tried to guess who. I did guess one of the people...which the Office Queen revealed to me by the flash of panic/surprise/recognition in her eyes. I told her she probably shouldn't take up poker.

Last night, Mary Alice was driving us to the Salvation Army Thrift Store for cheap blankets ($15 for 4 blankets - I figure I only need 12 more to have enough for the move *sigh*) and I was telling her about my conversation with the Office Queen. Chattering away, I turned to glance at her and gasped. Because

SHE KNEW SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From the cat-who-ate-the-canary look on her face, I knew instantly that Mary Alice was in on it.

Which meant that the Office Queen had been in contact with her.

Without my knowledge.

Unbeknownst to me. (Unbeknownst...a word that just doesn't get used enough.)

Behind my back.

Now, Mary Alice and the Office Queen have met a number of times but they are really just acquaintances. The realization that they were communicating without going through me blew my mind.

Once that information had settled enough that I could breathe again, I pushed. I probed. I interrogated. I weaseled. I wangled. I charmed. I pumped Mary Alice for information with everything I had.

Mary Alice was a rock. She admitted only that there has been communication with the OQ but wouldn't give anything more. Nothing. Not even a crumb.

Because she knows I love surprises. I have been twisting this around in my head all morning. What could it be? WHAT could it BE?? I will enjoy thinking about this until the moment the gift is put into my hands. And Mary Alice knows that makes it all the sweeter for me.

I love that girl.