Awkwardness not averted

This weekend's awkward moments. Take II.

Alaska Youth for Environmental Action (AYEA) recently merged with two other environmental organizations. To celebrate, they threw a merged group launch party.

                At the event, one of the AYEA teens flew up to give a speech about why she loves AYEA and also to ask people to donate money or airline miles so that teens could fly to Juneau for the Civics Conservation Summit in the spring.

                The program manager of AYEA, Megan, gave me and two other interns the donation cards to hand out to the attendees.

                Oh no. I have to ask people for money? This will be awkward.

                “If you’d like to donate, just raise your hand, and one of the interns will be around to give you a form,” Megan announced.

                Score! Awkwardness averted!

                I spotted a woman in the back with her hand raised.

                “Dibs!” I called to the other interns.

                I walked over to the woman gleefully, feeling so ecstatic that I didn’t have to beg people for their funds.

                “Could I have a card?” She asked.

                “Of course!” I responded happily, as I gave her the form and pen.

                She took the items and began to walk close behind me.

                Is she going to fill out the form on my back without asking? That’s odd. Quick! If you offer your back, it won’t be weird.

                “Oh, would you like to write on my back?” I asked generously.

                The woman frowned.

                “No, I’ll just use the table.”

                And she walked two steps more behind me to the table, one of twenty tables located in the room.

                She was still frowning when she returned to hand me her donation.

Bonus Moments:

• That awkward moment when you ask your co-worker if a burn barrel is something you can ice skate with to help you balance.
• That awkward moment when you refuse to cross the street with the same co-worker and yell to warn him that cars are coming as he stands in the middle of the road with his arms open in traffic-stopping form, not realizing that the crosswalk sign is illuminated. 
• That awkward moment when your cousin tells you that you should check out this really snazzy pet lovers’ bakery, and you have to remind her that your dog is dead and you hate your cat.