One
big point of contention with other employees was that management did nothing
about it. Several employees had softly discussed
with each other in the previous months the managers and supervisors were afraid
of the “29 Club.” It certainly seemed to
be on display in the park. When the
department head gave instructions for the exercise, Marsha and Anita, Marsha’s
partner in crime, would roll their eyes and whisper to each other. The best the manager would do is ask the
ladies to “please pay attention. When we
work together, we will all do better.”
This simply caused more whispering and giggles when the manager turned
his back.
Finally,
Marshall, a young man who started the same day as Julie, spoke up. He was always one to speak his mind but on
this occasion he used a lot of diplomacy.
He began by pointing out the elephant in the room and how there seemed
to be a division between the older and younger generations. He explained his father always worked with
his hands and drilled into his children the value of hard work. He continued, “I realize the younger people
in the office haven’t paid their dues yet.
But we want to pay them. We are willing
to do what is necessary. We don’t want
to take anything from anyone but sometimes it seems some people don’t want us
to succeed. Bottom line, we will buy
into the notion that we can do more if we work together. My dad always used to say two horses pulling
together can pull more than the sum of two single horses. I have seen this so I believe it. I know it is true. Can’t we get past our differences? Can’t we give our leadership the respect they
deserve? We can think it is all about us but if the company does good don’t we
benefit too?”
When
he was finished, there was a smattering of applause. Anita looked at Marsha with a questioning eye
but it was clear Marsha was ready to compromise. The rest of the team building was stronger than
anyone could have believed.
Later,
everyone lunched in the park picnic area. Marcus’s department arrived and were milling
around as they prepared to eat at the remaining open picnic tables. Julie watched Marcus as he helped unload a
company van. What was it with him that drew
her attention? In her eyes, he was perfect. He had physical flaws but she didn’t
care. He had some crooked teeth but she felt they
gave him character. Though he couldn’t
be older than 26 or 27, his hairline was already receding. He looked more distinguished. She recently heard him laugh and announce as
he patted his stomach, “I’m starting to get the dreaded spreadsheet spread. That disease number crunchers always get from
sitting on their butts all day long.” Julie
simply thought there would be more of him to love.
By
now, the two of them had lunch together regularly at the office so it wasn’t scandalous
when Marcus came to the table where Julie sat.
He plopped down on the end of the bench across from Julie and then slid
himself into John and moved him a little.
“Move over John.” He said. “You
gotta make room for us fat guys.” John
replied, “If you’d get your lard butt away from the computer every once in a
while, you might have room in places most normal people can fit.”
“Yeah,
yeah yeah! Hey, when we gonna hike these
trails here, John?”
“We
will.”
“That’s
what you been sayin’. Let’s do it this Saturday.”
“Okay
with me.”
Marcus
looked at Julie and smiled. She smiled
back. They Marcus asked John, “So is
Bethany going with you?”
“Yeah
she probly will. She likes outdoorsy
stuff. Why”
“Well,
I don’t wanna be a third wheel.
Julie? You wanna go?”
Julies heart leapt for joy but she kept held her composure. Be like a duck in water she told herself. She simply smiled and said, “That would be fun. Let’s do it.”
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