It’s a typical day at work.
I am turned around, holding my shirt up just past my navel. Elizabeth, my math teacher friend, is looking at my back at what I think is a ringworm I’ve contracted from a student. She is looking back and forth between the pink patch on my back and my work laptop, at the picture of a ringworm on a skin infection website.
Elizabeth: I don’t think it’s a ringworm. It’s not raised. And you said it doesn’t itch?
Me: No. I’ve named it Raheem.
Elizabeth: Why?
Me: After an old student who was a pain.
Elizabeth: Hmmm. Well, I don’t think it’s a ringworm. I think it’s contact dermatitis.
I lower my shirt and turn toward Elizabeth, who is now researching other skin maladies.
Elizabeth: Check it out – anal warts!
Me: Oh God, Elizabeth! Now Rob [the tech guy at work] will be able to see that I’ve researched anal warts!
Elizabeth: Heh! You’re right. Eww, Amanda! What are you doing looking up anal warts at work?!
My co-teacher, Karen, has been in the room the whole time. She turns to us suddenly.
Karen: You think that’s bad? One time I wasn’t thinking and looked up “recipe for pot brownies” on my laptop. I spent the rest of the day trying to cover my tracks, typing “why pot is bad,” “I hate pot,” “pot and its detrimental effects on children,” and “pot should be illegal” into the search engine.
