She Said, He Said, She Said

It is a conundrum I find myself in today.

Four people telling me one story, another (the one I trust most) a different story.

I find myself entangled in a truth / lies story. The story is so insignificant, I might laugh (soon!) but at the moment I find myself frowning.

You see, I flew to Johannesburg last week. Just before my departure I received the news that I was shortlisted as a candidate for a news reporter job. I thought quickly, and requested that my leave be extended by one day. Clever I thought. I would return at the time planned, and then have one extra day to go to this interview. Naturally, naiive that I am, I told some colleagues.

On my return to the office, I was immediately bombarded with the news that my 'supervisor' had 'told' our bosses about my interview. That very same day we had a meeting and at the close of this meeting, my boss said:"Just remember. This is a small town and a small office. We hear everything. If any of you go for an interview, please let us know."

Naturally, to my mind, this confirmed the 'rumour' that my supervisor had told my bosses. I was livid! I felt, and I still do, that this information was mine to do with as I pleased. If I had thought it neccessary to tell the bosses about the interview, I would have. But I didn't want them to know, for no more specific reason than that it was none of their goddamn business.

This morning I was called into their office. Apparently on some side-line issue. However, when asked if I was happy at the company, I told them that to me, the high-rate of gossiping was getting to me. They asked for me to give them an example. I told them about the interview, saying I would have naturally told them about it, once I had gotten the job (I didn't get it). They looked very surprised and then said that they had not known about my interview at all!

Ha.

Blush. Gurgle. Blush.

Oh. Well. In that case, I laughted very nervously, no worries. Obviously, my 'friend' had told me a lie. Or had been misinformed.

So after that little embarressment, I asked my friend-colleague (the one who had told me that the supervisor had run to the bosses) that they hadn't in fact known, and that the supervisor therefore didn't tell them.

But she is adament. They did know and she did tell them! The supervisor herself told her that she had told the bosses.

I trotted to the Supervisor. Time to speak to the one person who would know if she told them or not. She emphatically denied this, and even hugged me when I apologised to her for thinking that she had told them.

And yet, when I went to my original 'source' again, she tells me she is certain that they knew.

So.

I am left with the mind-tingling (numbing???) situation, spinning as it were. The issue of my interview is tiny, even a bit childish. Who cares if they knew or not? Who cares if she told them or not?

But it leaves me with this interesting set of truths/untruths. And I wonder at human nature again.

Who is lying? Why? What for? Am I naiive?

Perhaps it is again a sign, that as much as I should write for a living, being a reporter is not the way to do it. Can you imagine my mind when things start getting really interesting? When real lies have to be hidden, and not some stupid little interview?