02.02.2000

Dear Beth,

I have a favorite pen. It is a Sanford uni-ball micro point. Actually I have a box of them. Every day I take one from my box and place it on my desk to be written with when necessary. Every day one of my co-workers will come over and take my pen. I really don't mind it that much, but this happens every day. The company I work for will only allow us to order stupid bic pens and no one seems to like them so they just keep taking my pens and probably lose them after writing only a few words and just come back to take another one of my pens and they aren't cheap pens. I don't want to strike out at my co-workers, but this pen nabbing has to stop.

Penless in PA

Dear Penless,

I think you should buy a big plastic pencil case like we used to use in elementary school and put lots of girly stickers on it and also put a lockpad on it. And then, obviously, put the pens you're saving for later in the pencil case.

For the pens you'll be using in the immediate future, just get a pocket protector.

That should do it.

Write to beth@dorkist.com with your shameful secrets and anything else that's been tearing your pretty little head apart.