CG: Alright, question.
OB: Okay, question number one. How did you meet?
CG: How did we meet? We work together. We have jobs 60 feet away from each other.
JR: We are all employed here around…Well, not you [Rossi]. You’ve been here…?
CG: I’ve been here since geological time started.
JB: I’ve been here since the Mesozoic. He dates back to the Neolithic era.
CG: Yeah, we’ve all been in the department for at least what…20 years or so?
JR: Yes, a young person’s life cycle.
CG: Question number two.
CH: Sort of like the actual follow up to that one is what do you think caused you guys to become friends? Was it just the proximity? Or was it like a shared interest…
CG: Well, misery loves company.
JB: Probably [Geernaert] and I became friends because there was another teacher here that he used to play backgammon with. And then when that teacher retired, I took over, and he and I would play backgammon, every single lunch period. And all the time. So we kind of grew closer that way.
JR: And then yeah, I came in mostly to give snide comments while you guys were playing.
JB: He was there to be the sarcastic one.
JR: And then we started playing Dominos for a while.
JB: That’s right!
CG: Oh, we did play Dominoes for a while. Yeah. Yeah, we kind of started bonding over backgammon. We played thousands and thousands of backgammon games.
JB: Lots of wasted nights.
JB: But then Rossi and I back when he first got here, Rossi and I used to be in the rallies a lot. There were rally things that we did and they were always asking me and him to go ahead and do it. We kind of bonded over rally activities.
JR: We were willing to be a couple of buffoons for public consumption
JR: Yeah, and these guys just, they’re slightly older than I am. But they’re like older brothers–better versions of my older brother.
OB: So you have an older brother?
JR: I do, but I’m closer with them.
CG: You have a brother?
JR: Good thing this newspaper doesn’t circulate to Florida.
CG: Question number three.
CH: What does friendship mean to each of you?
CG: Well, I should add to the previous one. Also, when Rossi started coming hunting with us. So we started hunting together, as well. But this is only you know, what, six, seven years ago? So we started pig hunting together. And then we kind of pulled [Rossi] into it.
JR: And we were successful on like, the first hunt that I went on, so that—
JB: We had to keep him for superstition.
CG: And so what was the question? What does friendship mean to you? Yeah, wow, that’s a good question, that’s deep. Good question. Gentlemen?
JB: I think it just means like, you know, caring about one another and making sure that you always got their back. So like helping them out whenever they need help, you know, being there for them. I think that’s mostly what friendship means.
JR: And brutal honesty.
JB: I think that’s the thing that’s just between us.
CG: With the emphasis of brutal.
JB: We do not let anybody forget anything.
CG: Yeah. Friendship is remembering one dumb thing you did 20 years ago and still making fun of the person for it. Yeah, that’s friendship.
OB: Is there? Is there a specific thing in mind?
CG: I mean, it’s not for public consumption.
JB: That would not be appropriate.
CG: I can’t think of anything. Just any stupid thing we say or do never gets forgotten.
JR: It is brought up at every opportunity. We’ve been around each other so long that the odds are—
CG: Yeah, we’re at the point now where I’ll say something and I already know the joke he’s going to make about it, right? I know what he’s about to say.
JB: Like we can’t say the phrase two weeks without Rossi going-
CG & JB: TWO WEEKS!
JB: -because it’s from a movie.
CG: That’s right. The moment I say something, I know what movie quote I’m going to hear. Caddyshack or something like that.
CG: There’s so many things we could say, but we can’t.
JB: Yeah, we can’t
CG: Those are the innocent ones, sorry.
OB: So as a teacher friend, what’s your favorite thing to do together?
CG: Skeet shooting, fishing.
JB: Ehhh that’s more [Mr. Geernaert’s] thing.
CG: Hunting.
JR: I think just outdoor activities. Getting away from the family.
JB: Not in a bad way.
CG: Not in a bad way.
JB: Something we encourage all people to do is sit and talk and hangout together. Not like on your phone.
CG: Stop trying to make this serious.
JR: Which is what james is doing right now on his phone.
JB: What are you talking about? I’m just doing something for work. Geez!
CG: Oh, I’m sorry. Are we taking your time?
CH: Do you guys think on a subtle psychological level all wearing hats and glasses led to you becoming friends?
JR: That is a weird ass question. We’re dressed like this because we’re all the same age.
JB: See your future!
JB: If we were friends at your age, we’d all be wearing sweatshirts and Converse.
JR: I gave up wearing my Converse regularly around 2011.
JB: Now you need arch support.
CG: Anything else? How about this, what is it like having friends at work? At- at- school?
*Bowling and Rossi die laughing*
CG: Yeah! It’s great…
JB: God, the insight that you bring to an interview.
JR: We figure you spend more waking hours here than you do at home with your family, so in many ways it’s a necessity.
CG: Being able to stand in the hallway between classes and laugh is priceless. It really is. That’s something that you can’t put a prince on. Hence the term priceless.
JR: Mastercard.
CG: I know what you’re about to say.
OB: Oh…we do have one final question.
CH: Do you guys ever see your friendships reflected in your students
CG: No.
JR: No, because we actually talk to each other.
JB: Well, that’s not necessarily. Jesus. They’re so stupid. I’m the serious one.
JR: Oh, oh YOU’RE the serious one.
JB: No, I mean. Even—well yeah I didn’t have friends in high school—
CG: That’s off the record.
JB: Strike that. But I see kids that are obviously friends. And what are they doing? They’re busting on each other. Making fun of each other. We do the same thing. But it’s all out of love for each other and caring about each other.
OB: Ok, I think that’s ACTUALLY a wrap.
CG & JB: That’s a wrap!
