Rats of Words

     Until recently, Mike and I shared the same office at the lab. Our desks were back to back, and often when we were trying to talk to each other, our necks stretched so we could see over the top of our monitors. And our co-workers thought that was so cute! How wonderful that we spent every minute of every day together without trying to tear out each other's throats. Yeah – well, we'll just go with that rather than spoil everyone's idyllic illusion.

Mike in the office he shared with me

     Anyway, one day Mike was typing an email, and he asked me how to spell separate. My brain went to automatic, and instead of spelling it for him, I said, “separate is a rat of a word to spell.” Mike said, “do you know how to spell it or not?” I repeated, “separate is a rat of a word to spell – get it?” Yeah, then he got it. “Did your teachers not give you little tricks like that to help you spell certain words?” Not any that he had remembered all these years later.

     Well!

     The principal is my pal.

     We all want a piece of the pie.

     Do not mar your grammar with poor speech.

     Connecticut is connect I cut, which makes no sense at all, but you don't forget it!

     I guess those are all the ones I remember.

     At the beginning of this year, Mike moved to his own private office in another corner of the building - a place that better reflects his status in the company – no more looking over each other's monitor by day. I don't know who will help him now with his rats of words to spell!

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