May 19
Flatfoot made a left and returned toward the plant floor. Schmidt made a right and led me down the hall, away from the plant, to the sales office. This was an area I’d never seen before. Sales had their own parking lot, their own lounge, and they didn’t usually eat off the lunch truck.
I glanced into an office as we passed by. It looked like a big bullpen: I could see four women in cubicles talking on telephones and typing on computers. All appeared young and at least passably good looking.
The next office contained a photocopier, fax machine, and office supplies. Across the hall, a sign said, “Sales Manager.” Schmidt turned and stepped into that office, where an older grey-haired woman sat behind a desk piled with papers.
“This is Maria Donovan,” Schmidt said to me. “Joel Cranmoor,” he said to Maria. “He’s very good with the product, and I think he’s what you’re looking for.” To me, he said, “You wouldn’t have any problem working for a woman?”
“I don’t see why,” I replied, and smiled more sincerely than I felt.
“Maria, tell him a little but about the job,” Schmidt suggested.
Maria looked at me critically for a moment, and I realized I still wore my hardhat. I must have looked like just another laborer to her. But she recovered quickly.
“I need someone who can handle customer complaints,” she said. “Our customer service people do collections and bookkeeping issues, but none of them know the product. I want someone on staff who does, who can handle delivery questions, and who’s willing to learn the accounting end of it as well. How does that sound to you?”
“So far so good,” I said.
“Well, Randy, why don’t you leave him with me,” she said to Schmidt. “I’ll send him back when we’re done.”
Schmidt turned and left. Maria quizzed me on my skills. “How are you with computers?” she asked.
“Pretty good,” I said. “I know Word and Excel, and I use Quicken for my checkbook and my investment accounts. I’m pretty good with the internet.”
Maria raised an eyebrow. I think I’d surprised her. “Can you type?” she asked.
“About thirty words a minute,” I said. “But I only use two fingers.”
“That’ll do,” she said. “You ever take any accounting classes?”
“Nope,” I said. “But I guess I could if I needed to.”
“You’ll probably do okay,” she said. “Let’s go meet the girls.”
She rose from her chair, and I followed her back down the hall to the bullpen. Inside, she made a gesture, and the “girls” finished their calls. They weren’t girls at all: they were definitely women. The blonde in the first cubicle looked about twenty eight, with a short skirt and legs that went on for days. I could tell by the way she looked at me that she knew it, and expected me to notice.
“This is Joel Cranmoor,” Maria said. “He’s going to be working with us.”
I found that somewhat presumptuous, since we had yet to discuss money, hours, or much of anything else. But I kept my mouth shut.
“This,” Maria said, gesturing to the leggy blonde, “is Patty. And this,” she gestured at the next cubicle where a short, pleasantly plump young blonde sat, “is Alleese.” She gestured to the cubicles on the other side. “Nancy and Jennifer,” she added. Nancy was a slender brunette, and Jennifer a pretty Asian with China doll skin. They were all easy on the eyes, though I had doubts about working as the only male in an office full of women.
“Where’s the fifth musketeer?” Maria asked.
“Bathroom,” Alleese said.
“Well,” Maria continued, gesturing at the last two cubicles. One of them was clearly occupied, the other appeared empty. “This is where you’ll work,” she said, indicating the empty cubicle. Again I smiled inwardly at her presumption. I rather liked working the loading dock, and I didn’t yet have enough information to make my decision to move.
“Ah, the fifth musketeer,” Maria said, as a short, slender woman came into view. She wore her brown hair cropped short, and her eyes sparkled as if filled with lust for life. “This,” Maria said, “is Sarah. You’ll be working quite closely with her.”
Sarah smiled, and her face lit up. It wasn’t a come-on, just a lovely, open smile. But I knew right then I would take the job.
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