
I had a meeting with a co-worker the other day, and he’s eating meatloaf from the cafeteria while we’re talking. Suddenly, quite frantically, he starts picking through the meatloaf. He keeps the work conversation going at the same time, and suddenly, he declares in a low menancing voice, “Onion.”
I look quizically at him, and he turns to face me, straight on, and begins to gag. Not a coughing-type of gag. A full on, “I am about to vomit in front of you” gag. It’s mesmerizing. I’m frozen, thinking it was a one time deal, and we can move on and both forget it happened, as he continues to face me. Surely this is an indication that he is done.
And then he gags again. And again. At this point my adrenaline has kicked in and I realize I am too close to the trash can, so I jump up and into the door frame. Not sure what I was thinking, but that earthquake safety training is apparently paying off. I gingerly ask if he’s okay and should I go? (Read this next line in your head with his Russian accent.) “No,” he says, “it’s just that I cannot stand cooked onion.” He gags again.
At this point I start to walk away. “No, no, come back. I think I’m okay now.” He gags again. I start to run… back to my desk, and proceed to send him the picture of cooked onions you see above. Over and over again.