Strawberry Story (2009)

 

Strawberry Story (
SueSue

For the purpose of this story, I’ll use a pseudonym.

It was 2009, and I was supervising a small team of four in our office. Among them was E, a calm, kind, and beautiful social worker. Every day, I brought a large container of cut fruits and vegetables to work, mostly to keep myself from eating unhealthy snacks and also to share with my coworkers.

E loved strawberries and berries in general. She often brought some to share. Out of respect, she always offered them to me first, even though my desk was farther from hers. Then she would offer some to L, who sat by the window, strategically facing the boss’s office. L often said she had a plan for him.

One day, E and I found ourselves alone in the office. We began reflecting on the dynamics of our workplace. She confided in me, saying,
“L is selfish. She wants all the best things for herself. But you… you’re different. You even give me half of your cut fruit and veggies.”

She then told me something that I’ve never forgotten:
“I buy two boxes of strawberries. You see, L takes the biggest, best ones. She reaches into the basket and picks through it. She even told me once to buy the better kind. So, I go to Trader Joe’s to get organic ones, wash them carefully, and put the biggest, prettiest ones in a separate box just for her.”

Then she added,
“But with you, I don’t mind. I offer you strawberries from the second box, even if they’re smaller, maybe a little bruised, and you either politely decline or gently take the smallest one. I don’t feel used.”

At first, her words made me feel appreciated. But the story stayed with me. Later that evening, while driving home through the canyon—my usual 90-minute commute—I broke down in tears. I simply couldn’t help it. I was thinking that  I wish I would learn to pick the biggest and best strawberry.

I felt small. I felt that my humbleness had resulted in being overlooked or disrespected. It seemed like no one cared enough to give me the better one. Sometimes, we miss the best people who truly care about us, and we fail to take care of them in return.

Yes, unfortunately, we tend to give the best of ourselves and pay the most attention to someone who, as E said, is “hateful.”