The Darth Tater Saga

Among the things that occupy my cubicle at work is a Darth Tater. What's a Darth Tater, you ask? Well, crawl out from under the rock you've been under for the last several months and pay attention. This:

is a Darth Tater. Brought to you, of course, by the folks that make Mr. Potato Head, in honor of Star Wars Episode III. Now then...

A little background to my saga here. There's a contractor that I work with here. His name is Charly, and he sits just a few cubes down from me. Before I left for vacation at the end of June (for Cornerstone), I was chatting with Charly and mentioned that I knew they would miss me while I was on vacation. Then he asked me what I was giving them to remember me while I was gone. He suggested that Darth Tater would be lonely and could use a new home while I was gone. So while I was on vacation, Charly was potato-sitting.

Back to present day...

I was sick this Monday and stayed home from work. When I got back on Tuesday, Darth Tater was missing and there was a note on my desk:

Dear Sheryl,

I'm tired of waiting here alone while you are out playing hooky. I've gone out to see some friends. I'll be home late. Please don't wait up for me.

Darth Tater

Interesting, huh? Well, later on in the day, Charly and I and another co-worker, Wong, stopped by to visit my friend Kelli in her cube down the hall. She wasn't in yet that day, but Darth Tater was there, apparently "visiting" the Star Wars toys from Burger King that she has sitting on her desk, including Darth Maul. There was a note sitting next to him that started out something like, "Please don't tell Sheryl where I am. I'm tired of her playing hooky..."

The next day at work, Wednesday, I worked a half day because I had a paper to finish before class that night. But before I left, I received the following email at my work account:

Sheryl,

Heard that you're playing hooky again. I guess that I won't be coming home today. I wanted to e-mail you so that you got my new e-mail address. I also wanted you to know that I'm doing well and having fun partying with my friends. I'm hanging out with a Martian dude right now, but will be moving on soon. He's a little boring if you want to know the truth.

I've decided to travel the galaxy in search of weak minded people that I can bring over to the Dark Side. I'll send you some updates to let you know where I am, and how I'm doing. Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any concerns or just want to chat. If you want to see me home, I would suggest that you stop playing hooky and start giving in to the Dark Side a little more often. (Oh and dusting me once in awhile wouldn't hurt either).

Your Darth Overlord,

Darth T

Here was my response:

Darth T,

Well, thanks at least for letting me know how to reach you. I'm glad that you've found something that makes you happy while I'm gone. And it's good to hear that you're making new friends.

Good luck with your search. I'm sure you won't have any trouble finding weak minded people. Have you evaluated some of the contractors around here? Please keep up the updates, and send pictures!

Just so you know, after August 8, I won't be playing hooky as often. But I will be gone on vacation the following week after that. Maybe you can go visit Charly again while I'm gone?

I miss you!

-Sheryl

That was Wednesday. I was sick again yesterday (Thursday) and wasn't at work. Today I'm back, and Darth T still has not made it back home yet. He's departed from Kelli's cube now. He left a note for her, however:

I have visited with my friends and have moved on my way. I was disappointed that I was unable to say goodbye because you were playing hooky! I wanted an opportunity to bring you to the Dark Side. I may stop back and try again. Thanks for your hospitality.

Darth Tater

P.S. Darth Maul wants to be dusted more often.

Charly's told me that Darth T stops by to visit him two or three times a day. He has yet to make it by to see me since he left. I hope he's ok.

To be continued...