April 2008
Taking "Charge" in the Office
One day while at work a woman on my floor stopped by and asked me if I had a screwdriver. Across the cubes someone else yells, "Forget it; I've got one." I then hear them rush away into a small conference room. While I thought it was strange, I just figured it was Monday and went about my work. A few minutes later I hear nervous, raised voices and some beeping. I walked over and noticed everyone hovering around this young woman, all with pale faces. I asked what was wrong and they showed me this little, beeping box that they were trying to open. It turns out the box was an automatic insulin injection device that the young woman wears and it had run out of batteries. The last time she changed the batteries, she must have cross threaded the plastic screw. The slotted screw was designed to be opened with a coin, but I could see that all the trial and error of repeated attempts had completely stripped it to the point that nothing would get a bite. Upon seeing this, I immediately drew my trusty Leatherman Charge. With the blade, I made a notch and then used the pliers to remove the screw. I gave the device back to the young woman who immediately replaced the battery. I smiled and walked away. About 10 minutes later, the obviously rattled young woman came into my cube. She walked up to me and as I stood up, she said: There’s my hero! She gave me a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek. The situation must have been more serious than I thought.
Needless to say, that episode silenced my friends that used to bust my chops for always having my Leatherman on me. Not to mention it cemented the fact that I will never be caught without a Leatherman.
Wesley T.
Piscataway, NJ
OK, you voyeur, you. Enough of reading other people's stories. It's time you told your own tale of gripping heroism or even just neat DIY'ism. We know there's a Shakespeare in you somewhere. Don't make us use the Steens to find it.