He wasn't the original Bubble Boy but boy, he made my day.
(Editor’s note: The original story was written about a dozen years ago but as I walked into the local UPS store this weekend to print our Christmas letters, it all came back to me. I just had to share it once more. Hope you enjoy it.)
It was Christmas time and as usual, my annual Henry Christmas letter was running late. I write it, edit it and add to it constantly throughout the month of December. But it was finally finished and approved by management.
So, I went off to the local UPS store to make copies. I had called ahead for pricing and I was glad to finally get these suckers in the mail. I walked in and spoke to the twelve-year-old boy who was making color copies.
Maybe I'm just getting older but these guys all look like my kids classmates. Anyhow, I told him I had just called and wanted to recheck my price estimate. He told me they were fifty-nine cents apiece. On the phone, he quoted me thirty-nine cents apiece. I was not happy. I told him so. He just shrugged his shoulders and walked away from me. After saying one or two not nice words, I saw another co-worker and told her about the misquote. She told me to come over and she would work it out.
She did say that thirty-five cents were the correct price and gave my order to another non-twelve-year-old worker. He knew what he was doing and processed my order. I also printed some cool Seinfeld posters that I was making as a present and to display, as who would not love Seinfeld?
While waiting, another woman came into the store. She spoke to the twelve-year-old worker, who's name, I believe, was Kukla. She had a huge picture in a frame that she was giving to her boyfriend, but she wanted his kids to see it before it was wrapped. She asked Kukla if he could wrap it in bubble wrap so it could be taken out to show the kids. He said no. "Once it is wrapped, it can't be opened," uttered Kukla.
She looked at him in puzzlement. She only wanted temporary wrapping, using bubble wrap, for transit in her car. Again, Kukla said that it couldn't be done. Once bubble wrap is wrapped (apparently) it can't be unwrapped.
By now, I was smiling as I wasn't the only poor slob dealing with Kukla. I leaned over the copying machine, peered my head inside and said loudly, "Hello!!!"
Once more, she explained the whole thing as another co-worker came over to listen as Kukla wasn't quite getting it. The lady was getting upset. She began her story again and I started laughing.
She looked at me and said, "See, even that guy is laughing at me!" I told her, "No, I dealt with Kukla and believe me, I'm not laughing at you. I'm laughing with you!" She smiled.
The other co-worker said that he would take care of it and Kukla, once again, shrugged his shoulders and walked away.
The lady came over to me and I made a 'bubble-boy' reference due to Kukla and the bubble-wrap. Now she really smiled and said, "How can anyone not love that show? I hate anyone who doesn't love it." (A Seinfeld fan! Gold, Jerry, gold!)
I showed her my print and she laughed. We chatted for a long time, waiting for our prints. As she left, I handed her a copy of the wicked cool Seinfeld poster I had made. She looked surprised and asked me if I was sure. I said yes and handed her a copy. She said her father would love it and how nice it was of me to give it to her.
I got all my Christmas letters and Seinfeld posters printed. As I walked back to work, I was all smiles.
Bubble wrap and the bubble boy. Now, Kukla was not a bubble-boy, but boy, did he not understand bubble-wrap. Boy, oh boy.