It's Just a Shirt

I had to take a computerized assessment test yesterday for the nursing program. It didn't count toward my grade in any way, and I had to pay $80 in fees to take it, but the nursing department wants to know if they like it, and if it works. So we all have to pay and take the test, even though it didn't count. (That's another rant all together).

Anyway, the Director of Nursing was proctoring the test. She's a nice lady, but apparently quite proud of her alma mater.

I have this gray t-shirt I bought at a second-hand store months ago. See, at 6' 6", 280 lbs, I have to buy what fits when I can. So I picked up this gray shirt that says, in dark green, "Michigan State University" on the front.

So I'm wearing it to the test yesterday, when the DoN see it. She stops dead in her tracks, points, and says: "What are you wearing!?"

I have no clue where she's going with this. "Uhm..." I look down at my shirt, my jeans, my leather jacket.

"That shirt," she says, pointing. "Why are you wearing that shirt?"

"Uhm... because it was two bucks?" I reply hesitantly.

"But why are you wearing it?"

"Er... because it fits?" I'm starting to stress a little now. You know, she's the Director of Nursing. My teacher's boss's boss's boss's boss's [ad infinatum] boss.

"I went to the University of Michigan," she says, closing on me, still pointing. "And you should not be wearing that shirt!"

Hoo-boy. Out of all the colleges in all the United States that she could have gone to, and all the second-hand t-shirts I could have bought, and all the days and places I could have worn the shirt, this had to happen?

"Er, okay. I won't wear it around you ever," I offer.

"You shouldn't wear it at all ever," she says.

"Maybe you could get me a 2 XL tall t-shirt from the University of Michigan," I suggest, "and I'll trade you. I could wear that one, and you can burn this one in effigy."

She says nothing, but I finally get a smile out of her.

I offered to cross out the "State University" part and write in "University of" with a Sharpie, but she scoffed.

Oh well. I guess if I'm going to offend the DoN, I may as well do it now, while I can still change careers.

Still and all, it's a nice shirt. But maybe I'll wear it under my scrubs from now on.