The Trouble Way Page 6

  “It never occurred to me that a manager even used the can,” a surprised garden shop employee once said when Mr. Hedd emerged from a stall. “It’s kinda freaky.”

  It wasn’t the first time he’d heard the nickname; classmates in junior high were the first to come up the cruel name. He’d gone home crying more than once over their name-calling, telling his mother that he hated his big fat nose. He was well aware that the name-calling boys thought it looked like a dick.

  He knew that once a manager lost the employee’s respect, managing the store became progressively more difficult. He had seen signs of that happening to him. A prime example was the pencil in the door lock incident. He made a mental note to make an example of the first one he caught disrespecting him, male or female. He had to nip that bullshit in the bud.

  As Mr. Hedd kept ringing the entrance bell, waiting for the maintenance man to appear, several employees began gathering on the sidewalk with him. To add further embarrassment to what was turning out to be a horrible start to his day, his new assistant manager trainee, Jake Forest, joined the gathering crowd of employees waiting to get into the store.

  “What’s the trouble?” Linda asked. “Can’t we get in?”

  “Well, Linda, someone has vandalized the lock, there’s something broken off in it.” Mr. Hedd was bending to see if he could see the problem with the lock.

  “Maybe I can help,” Jake pulled a pocketknife from his pocket and opened the skinny blade.

  “Help yourself,” Mr. Hedd said. “I guess it can’t hurt.”

  As Jake was fiddling with the lock, only able to extract some tiny pieces of wood with what looked like graphite. “Looks like a pencil might have been broken off in there,” Jake said.

  The overnight maintenance man finally sauntered up to the front door, unlocked the door and everyone poured through and headed toward the employee lounge.

  “Sorry, Mr. Hedd., I was waiting in the stockroom to dump the trash and didn’t hear the bell,” the maintenance man said. “I thought someone had overslept.”

  “What’s the matter with you, were you going to sit in the stockroom all morning? Common sense would tell you to check and see what the problem might be. Hurry up and get that goddamn trash dumped and get punched out.”

  Now, he had another expense. The maintenance man would get a half-hour of over-time pay for his ignorance in addition to the employees who would expect to have their timecard adjusted for standing on the sidewalk and being unable to punch in for their shift on time. The little pencil in the lock trick would cost Big Richards several hundred of dollars in repair and payroll expenses, possibly as much as a half a grand. And that didn’t even take into consideration the lost productivity of those lazy asses standing on the sidewalk for half an hour. A job with those dapper thieves was looking better all the time.

  In his haste to get the emergency doors unlocked and the lights on, and against his better judgment, he left the maintenance man to dump the trash on his own. He was not entirely confident that this maintenance man was honest. His stockroom manager, Dwight, who, he just realized, was not one of the employees waiting on the front walk with the others. He’d have to take a look at Dwight’s attendance record first chance he got. His work seemed to have slipped a notch in recent weeks. He distinctly recalled awarding Dwight the Employee of the Month award for his attendance and exemplary work ethic. Maybe he was having personal problems. He’d have to have a one-on-one with Dwight.

  After unlocking the exterior doors to building, he walked by the record department where he found that two tape cases had been left unlocked. He pulled the tapes from his jacket pocket, put them in the case, and slid the glass door closed and pushed the auto-lock mechanism. He would be having an interview with the appliance manager about making sure the tape cases were secured at all times. That sort of oversight merited a written review, which would automatically be included in the appliance manager’s personnel file. He made a mental note to take care of that after Braunswine’s visit.

  Since tapes were quickly taking the place of LPs in the record department, losses had significantly increased because the tapes were more easily concealed. Mr. Hedd had suspected it was the janitors who were concealing merchandise in the garbage or hiding it for later retrieving after their shift had ended. He had instructed Dwight to watch for suspicious behavior and especially to keep a close eye on the night janitors. They accumulated bags of garbage throughout the night and put them near the roll-up door in receiving. Each morning, an assistant manager would unlock the door and it was the assistant manager and the stockroom manager’s responsibility to observe the dumping of the trash and to spot check some of the refuse bags.

  So far, Dwight had zero luck in finding the culprit. If anybody could catch the thief, it was Dwight. He wasn’t quite the level of management material, but he was a damn good company man.

  In a way, it was no surprise to Mr. Hedd that they had no luck catching the thieves. The DM had slashed the labor hours in the most recent salary budget and there were scant help for anything but basic store operation, much less devoting more hours to security. Loss prevention was one area where productivity could not be readily measured and was a typical area for reducing man-hours. Except for once a year, when a total merchandise inventory was taken, it was impossible to measure waste. Then, it was too late to take action. The total dollar amount on the books should match the value of the goods inventoried. If it didn’t, which it seldom did, the difference was invisible waste, shrinkage. If waste was too high, it could cost a manager his job. In recent years, Mr. Hedd had heard of two stores being closed apparently because their invisible waste was too high. The managers of both of those stores had been terminated.

  Finding the tapes was something he was not going to inform the district manager about. He’d learned his lesson on that particular topic. He’d have been blamed for lack of security on his part and it would have gone on his performance report. He was on his own on figuring out how to catch the employee, or whoever else it was, that was stealing. He sure as shit in a shoebox couldn’t rely on Braunswine for any useful assistance. Criticism was the only thing he could count on from that fat bastard.

  Along with a visit by the district manager, he had other items on his to-do list. He wanted to talk to Ms. Becky, his personnel manager about several things, one being to interview the appliance manager about the unlocked cases. Another was the application sitting on his desk. Dwight wanted to be an assistant manager so he would take a look at that. While he was at it, there was a matter of his attendance record. Dwight was normally a stickler for being on time but something happened and he’d been slipping lately.

  Finally, there was Jake Forest, his new assistant manager trainee. He wanted to talk to him personally, but he could let Ms. Becky introduce him around and fill out his personnel records first. Mr. Hedd would most likely be stuck with the DM for several hours. He knew Dwight and his capabilities so he’d give him the courtesy of an interview but he was sure it would be brief. There was a probability he’d get to Dwight before the DM arrived.

  “Here is Dwight to see you, Mr. Hedd,” Ms. Becky said as she guided Dwight into the manager’s office.

  “Have a seat, Dwight, I’ll be just one minute,” Mr. Hedd said as he scanned down an order sheet and checked off the on-hand count to make sure the order was correct. “Trust but verify, Dwight, trust, but verify,” Mr. Hedd said as he closed the order book from the cosmetic department.

  “Right,” Dwight said, as he looked around the walls at the pictures he was sure from the frame department. Prints that sold for around five bucks, replicas of famous painters’ pictures.

  “Well, Dwight, I see you would like to be on the management training program. “Any experience, Dwight?”

  “No, sir. Just working here in the stockroom.”

  “I see looking at your application you are a bit shy on the education requirements. Just a high school diploma, eh? I see your GPA is not stellar. Not even lunar
.” Mr. Hedd chuckled at his attempt at original humor.

  Dwight didn’t catch the joke and didn’t crack a smile. “Yes Sir, but I am a quick learner. I’m on time and I’m a hard worker,” Dwight said. “To tell you the truth, I wasn’t all that motivated in high school. But, I can assure you that I am a very hard worker and you wouldn’t be disappointed if you were to give me the chance.”

  “I have to say, Dwight, I’m pleased with your work. I am a little concerned about your attendance record of late. In fact, you were late this morning, the day of your interview. That does not bode well, I have to be honest, Dwight.”

  “I had some extenuating circumstances last night and she kept me out a bit late, you know what that’s like, I’m sure, Mr. Hedd,” Dwight said with a smile.

  “No, Dwight, I’m afraid I don’t know what that’s like.”

  Dwight’s smile disappeared. “I promise that will not happen again, Sir.”

  “There are two things that give me pause in making my decision here Dwight. One is that you are shy on the requisite education. An assistant position requires at least an Associate’s Degree in some appropriate field, such as business administration. I see you made it through high school, but just by the barest margin. A 2.20 GPA is nothing to crow about. The second area that makes me hesitate is your apparent lack of the requisite discipline for a position of such responsibility.”

  “I guess that pretty much says it all.” Dwight rose and turned to leave.

  “I’m afraid so,” Mr. Hedd said and rose. “Just one moment Dwight.”

  “Yes, Sir,” Dwight turned, a smile returned.

  “We are expecting a large distribution center shipment today and the District Manager is due in early this morning. I expect the receiving area to be in top condition. Will you make sure that is the case, Dwight?”

  Again the smile disappeared and Dwight turned. “Yes Sir, Mr. Hedd.”

  It was a half hour before the store would open and Mr. Hedd stood near the service desk, looking for the black Lincoln to enter the parking lot. He knew that when it did, it would drive by his blue Chevy at the end of the lot, the employees’ parking area, and the vehicle would stop and the driver would get out and peer into his car.

  “I always drive by the manager’s vehicle before entering the store.” The district manager revealed to him at a manager’s meeting during the cocktail hour after the general meeting. “I know by looking at the condition of his car what the condition of the store will be even before I walk in the front door. If the manager’s vehicle isn’t washed and waxed, if the inside has trash on the floor, if there are butts in the ashtray … I know exactly what the condition of the store will be … a big-ass cluster-fuck. I could write the report before I step foot inside the front door.”

  Mr. Hedd knew Brawnswine liked to use the term, “cluster-fuck,” because he’d spent time in Vietnam. It turned out he’d only been there on TDY. He’s spent thirty days temporary duty there.

  Chapter 5 Candy Lane I’ll only need a place for two weeks, definitely no more than three. Shoot me if I’m here for four. I think I’ll crank up this little beast and take it for a test-drive up the walls.

  Early 1970’s

  Candy loitered in the hallway outside the ladies’ lounge and watched as Ann made her way across the sales floor on her way to her morning break. As Ann neared, Candy slipped into the restroom and stood in front of the mirror, glancing at the door every few seconds as she fidgeted with the barrette in her hair. Finally the door squeaked and swung open and she quickly turned away, bent her head, and began sobbing. She gasped and reached into her smock pocket and pulled out a tissue and put it to her cheek, sensing someone approaching her. When she peeked through her fingers, Ann was standing next to her.

  “Whatever is the matter, honey?”

  “It’s nothing,” Candy said. “Really. I’m sorry.” Her shoulders quivered. “I can be such a baby.”

  “Are you sure?” Ann asked. “It sure doesn’t sound like nothing.”

  “Uh-huh,” Candy said and took a deep breath. “I’m sure. I’ll be okay. Honestly.”

  Ann looked in the mirror ran a brush through her hair and did some touch-up on her lips, gave Candy a smile and turned toward the door and took a step.

  “I got evicted,” Candy said, putting the tissue to her eyes. “My roommate moved out. She didn’t pay her part of the rent and I got kicked out. I don’t have any place to stay.”

  “I’m sorry.” Ann turned back. “Don’t you have any friends or relatives you can stay with?”

  “I thought I had a friend but she bailed on me and left me with no rent money. My mom and dad are separated.” Candy said. “I lived with my mom and she didn’t want me to leave in the first place. She said if I left, I couldn’t come back. She said I would fail if I tried to live on my own. And she was right. I am a failure. I can’t tell her. I’m too embarrassed.”

  “Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Ann said. “Lots of people have trouble starting out. I even had to live with a roommate for a while before I could get a place of my own. What about your dad?”

  “He’s hopeless. He can barely take care of himself. The last we heard from him, he was living someone’s basement in California, Fresno, or Modesto or someplace, I think, who knows. He called once a while back to ask if I could send him some money, of all things. I didn’t have any to send and that is the last I’ve heard from him for months.”

  “How about friends who might put you up for a while?”

  “I just don’t know what I am going to do,” Candy said. “I’m mortified. Seattle is such a big city.” She started sobbing again and put her arms around Ann with her head on Ann’s shoulder.

  Ann patted her on the back of the head and stroked her hair. “I’m sure something will work out. It always does. I really have to get to up to the deli, I’ll be late.” She disengaged Candy’s arms from around herself, slowly turned from Candy, and then scurried toward the door.

  “Thanks for letting me tell you my troubles, Ann. You are an angel, I’ll be okay,” she said as Ann left. Candy looked at herself in the mirror and smiled, flipped the Kleenex in the trash, applied some lipstick, ran a brush through her hair and left the girl’s restroom.

  “Candy!” Ms. Becky called to her as she passed the personnel office. “Your mom called a few minutes ago. I paged you but you didn’t answer. She wanted to know if you need a ride home from work.”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear the page, I was in the little girl’s room. I’ll call her when I go on break. Mother is such a bother sometimes. She treats me like a child. I can get my own ride home. Thank you, Ms. Becky,” Candy said and walked toward the stockroom.

  “I am ever so grateful. You are such an angel, Ann,” Candy said as she carried her suitcase into the apartment. “Thank you so, so much. Like I said before, I just need a place to stay for two weeks max, I promise.”

  “I just have the hide-a-bed for you to sleep on.” Ann said. “There are some extra sheets in the hall closet. There are some blankets there too. You can use one of the pillows from my bed.”

  “Do you think I could use just a little shampoo,” Candy said,” my roommate … ex-roommate made off with mine. I promise to buy some as soon as I get my paycheck on Friday.”

  “Sure, help yourself.” Ann said. “There are extra towels in the bathroom closet. Are you sure you’re going to have enough saved up to get your own apartment after only two weeks? It took me over two months to save up and find this place, and I was really scrimping. It’s hard.”

  “I guarantee you I’ll only need a place for two weeks, definitely no more than three. Shoot me if I’m here for four,” Candy said. “I can’t get over my roommate … ex-roommate, leaving me in such a bind. She left without one word, just disappeared, and took most all of my stuff. I don’t have anything except my clothes. She even took some of them. She didn’t pay her part of the rent and I got evicted. I’m sorry; I already told you all of this. But I just ca
n’t get over why some people are so mean. You are such a sweetie, Ann, I’ll never forget it. I owe you big time.”

  “You will owe me rent if you stay over three weeks. I can’t afford to support you,” Ann said. “I don’t mind helping someone for a while, especially a co-worker but I don’t make much more than you do.”

  “I promise you Ann, it won’t be three weeks. A month at the very, very most. You won’t even know I am here.” Candy said. “I’ll be invisible.”

  “When you get your car out of the shop, be sure to use the guest parking spaces. If you don’t use them, your car could get towed.” Ann said.

  “I just hope they can fix it,” Candy said. “It didn’t sound too good when I broke down. And it was really smoking. I guess I’ll be taking the bus for a while. I want to thank you again for the ride here. You really are a dear sweetheart, Ann.”

  “Make yourself at home,” Ann said. “Excuse me; I’m going out so I have to get ready.” She disappeared into her bedroom.

  Candy found herself standing in the living room by herself. “This should do just fine.” She walked around the room, looking at photos and at the records and books on the shelf. When she got to the kitchen, she peeked into the cupboards and then moved to the refrigerator.

  Ann emerged from her bedroom. “I have to get going. I’m sorry for abandoning you on your first day.”

  “Oh my goodness, Ann, you are gorgeous. There is some lucky guy out there tonight,” Candy said. “Enjoy yourself. I’m sure I’ll be able to keep myself occupied. I’ll be okay. Again, thank you so much for helping me.”