If you’re new to the blog, be sure to start with Part 1 of our love story.
The first thing I noticed about Mark was his confidence. While the rest of the interns were trying to figure out what to do in our new roles, Mark took charge. He was the (very) unofficial boss of the interns and had most of us doing whatever he said to earn points on the “Mark Cool Status Chart” or the “MCSC” as he called it. The MCSC was a handwritten chart that Mark kept on the whiteboard with every intern’s name. He assigned us points arbitrarily based on whether or not we were in his good graces that day. It was pretty ridiculous the way everyone fell in line and spent that summer trying to earn points that could be redeemed for nothing at all.
Because his confidence sometimes came out like arrogance (Mark Cool Status Chart…really?!?!), we didn’t click right away, but we had a lot in common. We had similar values, a love for basketball, and enjoy a good debate. We talked smack to each other back and forth about our basketball skills. Then one day, he challenged me to a game. There was a basketball hoop in the parking lot of our office building. I accepted the challenge and we agreed to play the next day over lunch.
It was ridiculously hot on game day. We met in the parking lot and started to play up to 10 points. About half way through the game, I was ahead by several points. Mark asked me if I wanted to call a truce. There was no way I was having that. I was winning! After I declined, he dominated the rest of the game. Did I mention he is 6 foot 2 inches to my 5 foot 6 inches? I didn’t stand a chance, even after throwing a few elbows. (Sorry honey!)
With my deflated ego and lunch hour almost over, I went back inside to change out of my basketball clothes into work attire. I walked around and told my office mates I won because I knew they would tease Mark. When I finally made it back to my desk, I saw Mark waiting there with two glasses of water. I was really touched by the gesture. As I was running around telling everyone I won, he was thinking about how I might be thirsty and doing something about it.
Seeing him standing there with a glass of water was the first time I really thought of Mark as someone who could be more than a friend. But as soon as that thought entered my mind, I pushed it away because our internship would be over soon and I’d be going back to Indiana. When summer ended, we went back to our respective schools, but not before Mark gave me his phone number.
Part 4 coming soon.
Years later, I went back to that parking lot and took a picture of the hoop. The picture is sitting on my nightstand because love. <3
