Amanda and Steve both got new jobs last week and they are back to meet old colleagues today.

M: Hi, Amanda, how are you? I’ve missed working with you and the whole group since my transfer last week.
W: Hi, Steve! We’ve missed you too. The office just isn’t the same without you. How is your new job?
M: It’ s great. I really get to focus on what I like to do and everyone has been very nice and welcoming. However, I’m having a small problem with my new colleagues.
W: What happened?
M: Well, three people are celebrating their birthdays this month and the policy here is for everyone to contribute ten dollars to a card and cake for each of them.
W: Wow, so you’ll be out thirty dollars on your first week at work !
M: I know. It is a lot of money and I haven’ t yet gotten to know well enough any of the people celebrating their birthdays. In our old department, it was only three dollars for each birthday and there were only ten of us.
W: Well, every department is different. You wouldn’t want your new co-workers to think you’ re a Grinch , right?
M: What is that? It doesn’t sound like a good thing to be.
W: A Grinch is a person who spoils the mood on a happy occasion by being selfish or unenthusiastic. You know—a party pooper.
M: I definitely don’t want to be that\ But I still think it’ s unreasonable for them to ask me for such a big sum of money when we don’t know each other very well. What should I do?
W: If I were you, I would just bite the bullet and hand over the money. First impressions are important and it’ s not worth getting a reputation for being a scrooge. Think about it this way: when your birthday comes around, you’ll have at least one card and cake to look forward to.