Really, RL people? Good grief!

[blamebrampton]

leaf_light , don't get excited, but it is at the brill beta's.

So today was Take Your Ukelele To Work Day in my office. My friend who is keen to get one too is off to buy hers on the weekend and wanted to have a look at mine. As yet, I do not own a ukulele case because there is a ukulele drought in Sydney and the accessories are selling out even faster than the instruments. But I still have the little asymmetrical cardboard box it came in, so I packed it into that and set off on my walk to work.

My neighbour was bringing his bin in as I left. "Is that a sword?" he asked, nodding at the box.

"No," I replied, "It's a ukulele."

I got to work. "Is that a gun?" asked the friendly security guard (NB with ONLY INTEREST, not a hint of 'You might need to check that in'!)

"No," I replied, "It's a ukulele."

I took the lift up to my office and ran into my editor in chief.

"Is that a mini guitar?" she asked (she is v sane).

"Very close! It's a ukulele!"

The day passed with general pleasantness, at the end, I packed my things and went to walk home with some of the other late-leavers who park their cars up towards my street. We made it some little way before my bestie in the group said:

"B, I'm sure it's not, but for all the world it looks as though you are carting a machine gun about under your arm."

"Why does everyone automatically assume I'm likely to carry deadly weaponry?" I asked.

She gave me A Look. "Do you really need me to answer that?"

I suppose it's reassuring in a way that they all believe I would be not only a well-accoutred assassin, but one likely to use her powers only for good, not evil.


ETA OMG! Just realised what day it is, HAPPY BIRTHDAY oldenuf2nb ! You are a thing of beauty and a joy forever! I hope you have a wonderful day filled with pressies and hugs!

Comments

[geneva2010.livejournal.com]

Smiling at your story.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It is ridiculous, I look like Helena Bonham Carter if she ate more pies and had straighter hair. Apparently this reads as 'Secret ninja' to people around here.

I'm just going to keep quiet on the fact that Mr B and I are about to join the Kendo Club ...

[geneva2010.livejournal.com]

It must be the black hair. Very mysterious.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Mine has cheery red stripes, though!

[being-here.livejournal.com]

Hee! Excellent!

The ukulele of death?

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm not very good yet!

[being-here.livejournal.com]

Like me with my violin?

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Possibly, but not half so classy!

[nenne.livejournal.com]

They all thought you were carrying a weapon and they were all fine with it? *snickers*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I KNOW! Apparently I give out a vibe of 'thoroughly lethal, but only likely to use her powers in the vanquishing of great evil'. Which I suppose is complimentary in a way, but seriously, I am little and girly and far more likely to use botanical poisons than a gun!

[leaf-light.livejournal.com]

I am excited, I can't help it. This is the final, final part at the brill beta's, yes?

I love the idea of your ukulele being happily mistaken for deadly weaponry, Obviously the best way to carry a real deadly weapon around is so openly that people assume innocence of motive.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Really and truly the very end! She hopes to have it back in a few days.

And yes, though I suspect it helps if the person carrying it is smiling and wee ;-)

[subtlefire.livejournal.com]

The Deliciously Witty Stringed Assassin. I like it.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I did want to be a political assassin when I was a little girl – Dad read too much Machiavelli as bedtime stories!

[oldenuf2nb.livejournal.com]

Thank you, lovely! And now I have a sudden urge to own a ukelele. Or maybe a machine gun. Hmmm....

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Ukulele! We can jam together and if you find yourself in dire straits, busking is so much less risky than bank robbery!