The Time I had the Weirdest Conversation

The weirdest, most disturbing conversation I ever had.

It was a Monday.
My editing team and I were about to leap headfirst into our brutal assignment, something we'd been working on for weeks already.
I had arrived before the others, blurry eyed at 10am, and went to Mr Ankle's office to retrieve the keys for the lab.

The following experience proceeded as follows.

*knock knock*
Mr Ankle: Hello?

Elyse: Hi, it's just me. Can I just grab the keys for the lab?

Mr A: Oh sure

 I enter the office to  retrieve the keys.

Mr A: So, you're leaving soon I hear.

Me: yes. I'm pretty sad about it. I've had such a good time here

Mr A: Yes? What do you think of your classes?

Me: They're great, really, I've learned so much. I think I'm really going to have an edge over the people back home now.

Mr A: Oh good. And how do you find the editing class?

Me: Oh, that class is terrible. haha!

Me:...I'm joking?

Really long awkward silence

Me: seriously, editing is great. It's the most practical class I do. It's great.

silence

Mr A: What College are you at back home?

Me: The University of Technology.

Mr A: In North Tasmania???!!!

Me: ...uh. what!? no. Sydney.

Mr A: (disappointed) oh. 

more silence

Mr A: I had a girl friend once from Tasmania.

Me: oh? (trying to recover from the shock that he's actaully ever had a girl friend)

Mr A: Yes.

silence.

Mr A: You kinda remind me of her.

Me: ...

Mr A: Yes. She was tall as well. And I don't know if all Australian women look like they can chop wood...

Me: What?

Mr A: I said, I don't know if all Australian women look the same, like, look like they can chop wood...

silence

Me: uh

silence.

Me: Anyway. um, I was wondering if you might be able to write me a reference...

Mr A: what for?

Me: for the editing class

 silence

Me: Uh. Is that okay?

Mr A: Can you send me an e-mail on what you want me to say?

Me: like... just, how i'm going, my work and...stuff

Mr A: Well... send me an e-mail on what you honestly expect me to be able to say.

Me: um, okay.

silence.

Mr A: Because, I mean, you're competant. But I don't think you're great.

Me: ...um. Okay.

silence

Me: thanks