Joes Diner - Chapter 12

This is the final chapter of this story.

 New stories will follow soon.

 

Big Changes Coming

 

When I arrived home Lacy asked, “Are you fired or what?”

I told her the whole thing and she said aren’t you sacred to take such a large step up?

“No it will be alright for I know what my plans will be.”

The following day Mr. Hudson made the announcement to all the managers of his companies about my promotion and what my authority was.

He added, “If you want to keep your job you will cooperate with him for he has the power to remove you for non-compliance with his orders.”

This set off a loud murmur among the men but no one said anything out loud. They knew better than to cross Hudson.

A week later the Hudson family was off for the vacation of the year and I figured his kids were going to make it interesting judging from what contact I’ve had with them.

I called a meeting of all the managers which they grumbled about but attended anyway.  There were changes I proposed to make in general and told them I would be working with each manager individually to smooth the progress of the particular changes in their company.

After the meeting I made a list of the ones that I believed were going to resist any changes in the way they were running their company. Without asking I knew what most of their complaints were going to be. After three months I had everything in place and everyone finally complied after I told them it was either do it my way or the highway.

I know they had private conversations among themselves but as long as it was only chatter, it was of no consequence.

In the fourth month the managers wanted a meeting with me and I accommodated them.  They began by telling me that unless I backed off on the demands I was making on them they were going to quit, all of them.

Johnson, You are Fired

I knew who was leading the pack so I said, “I’m going to make it easy for you, Johnson you’re fired.  I will have some security officers accompany you to your office to get your personal things. You will get your severance check tomorrow.  You can come to pick it up or it will be sent by special delivery to you, your choice.”

My next statement was, “Now who’s next?” and no one moved or said anything.

I said, “If no one has anything else to say then get out of here.”

A couple of them looked as if they would like to hit me but didn’t have the nerve to try it.

I already had a man in place to take over Johnson’s position, and before he was out of the building the new guy took over.

When the rest of the managers found that out the swift replacement, they were wondering if I had their ‘stand-in’ waiting in the wings. This was the last hurdle I had to get over and soon everything was doing well.

Before the year was up, and Hudson returned, the costs were down and profits were doubled and I was pleased with the job I had done. Finally the managers saw what had happened doing it my way and were pleased with the job they were doing.

The day of Hudson’s return was here and he came to the office I had been occupying to talk.  The first thing he said was, “l am not pleased with the reports I have been receiving about the changes you have made.”

I realized it had to be the so called Vice Presidents who were sending those unpleasant reports to him and I knew that Jealousy and spite was their problem.

I asked Hudson to be more specific if he would and he said that I had got the businesses so screwed up he didn’t know if he could undo the damages.

In my defense I said, “The costs were down and the profits doubled in one year.”

He said, “That was of no matter it was the way I had done it that was the trouble.”

I asked for an example of what he was talking about.

He replied, ‘There were too many to be specific so I want you to get your stuff and get out, you’re fired and I’m back in charge.” 

He continued, “Clean out your desk.”

I said, “It’s already cleaned out.”

 

“Well then,” he said, “Go by accounting and get your severance pay.”

I said, “I already have it.”

“What do you mean you have it?”

“I knew you were going to respond like this so I have taken an offer from another corporation at three times the salary you were paying me.

You soon will find we are in competition with you for that is the reason they wanted me. Several of your managers will be going with me for they know and like the way I operate.

One other thing is the reports you were receiving was because the VP’s were angry at me because they had lost their golf buddies.  Before I took over some of the managers I let go were golfing buddies with them and they had hired people to do their job so they could take the day off and play golf and party.

 Very Sad but Too Late !!

You should have known that but you were too busy with other things. It gives me no pleasure but within two years we will drive you out of business because of the type of people you have surrounded yourself with.”

I went to work setting up companies to compete with Hudson’s enterprises and true to my word we buried him.

It didn’t please me that much for Hudson had been good to me but business is business and the saying, “To the victor goes the spoils,” tells it like it is.

Finis

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Joe's Diner - Chapter 11

When Something Goes Wrong - Fix It !

 

I was beginning to feel like a married man again. I’m not sure exactly what that feeling is like; all I know it is here and growing. It kinda makes a man feel completed. There is no guarantee that feeling will come with saying I do.

Marriage it is more like a warrantee where when something goes wrong you just fix it. This is a lifetime warrantee for those who stand fast and the marriage will serve the partners for a life time.

Unfortunately some are not cooperative and their conduct voids the warrantee and the marriage is over.  I also know what that is all about from experience and want to make sure it never happens again.

We were so glad to have Aunt Betty back again. She does so much around the place. I wanted to hire a cook but she loves to cook and with me and Lacy pitching in we should get by with no trouble at all.

My boss, Mr. Hudson was anxious to for me to return to work so he could leave for the coming vacation he had planned.  His holiday was to be at least for a year and I was somehow to be involved.

He asked me to come to his house for he wanted to talk to me. I told Lacy I didn’t know if I would be looking for a new job or what he had in mind.

She said, “Don’t worry it’ll work out alright.”

For some reason I was a little apprehensive. I suppose that is to be expected when you don’t know what you future is going to be.

As I pulled up to Mr. Hudson’s mansion I composed myself and pulled my shoulders back and rang the doorbell.  A tall austere gentleman opened the door and asked my name. He already knew who I was so I thought it strange for him to ask that.

Then I realized that was part of his butler instructions in doing his job. He escorted me into what appeared to be a den and asked me to be seated, Mr. Hudson would be in shortly he said and left.

This was a large property and the house was very elegant. There was no way you could compare my house to this.

 

While waiting two young girls came in and started at me and said; “Are you the one who is going to be fired?”

I just sat there with my mouth open and really didn’t have a comeback for those remarks.

Then they ran out giggling and Mr. Hudson yelled a few threatening words at them as he came in.

He said, ‘Those darn kids. They are always doing something stupid. They must take after my wife’s side of the family, because they always try to make people uncomfortable.  What did they say to you?”

I said, ‘Nothing of any importance, but why am I here?”

“You have been doing a great job with the company you are running.”

I said, ‘Thank you it is coming alone pretty well but it will get better.”

He went on; “Yes it is doing well, so well it makes me wonder why my other companies aren’t doing as well.  Are you familiar with my other companies?”

I said, “Yes very familiar.”

“Do you have any idea as to what is wrong with them?”

I said, “Perhaps but I’d rather not say for it would only reflect on the mangers and they are doing the best they can under the guide lines laid out for them.”

“Are you saying I’m the problem?”

“No, I can’t say that because you are making money and that is the name of the game.”

“Do you think you could do a better job than I am doing?”

I said, “You don’t want me to answer that do you?  No matter what I say it isn’t going to sound right. Actually I don’t know what you are dealing with so it would be impossible for me to know if I could do as well as you are doing.  Perhaps I should resign and that will put us both at ease.

In my mind was the words the children said; “Are you the one who is going to be fired”?

He went on and said; “Enough of this bantering back and forth. You know I’m going to take a year off and take a vacation and I need someone to oversee all of the businesses while I’m gone.”

I said, “Yes I know.”

He said, “Who do you think I should entrust the job to?”

“I haven’t given it much thought, I assumed it would be one of the vice presidents.”

He said, “I wouldn’t trust anything to those idiots. The only reason they have their positions is because they are my wife’s relatives.  I need someone who understands business and is successful in doing it. Would you be able to handle this job?”

I answered, “Yes if I had the authority to do what was needed to be done without interference from the members of the board.  I couldn’t be controlled by those (using your words, ‘idiots’,) and still do the job as it should be done.”

He said, “Okay I guess you’ll do.”

“This means I’m in full control over all the businesses and how they are run. With power to hire and fire if I want to and make any necessary changes I deem necessary?”

He said, “Yes but don’t go crazy and ruin my businesses.”

I said, “Of course not. I said there is one thing we haven’t discussed and that is salary.”

He said, “I thought you would continue at the same salary you’ve been getting.”

I asked, ‘Would you do the job for what I make?”

He said, “Of course not.”

“Then it stands to reason that I can set my own salary commensurate with others in my position.”

He said, “Yes I guess so but again don’t go crazy.”

I said, “Fine, I assume you will deal with the board and tell them I only answer to you and not to any of them.”

He said, “Yes that is the deal and I will take care of it.  Come in to the office tomorrow and we will go over everything you need to know about the businesses. I’m not leaving for three weeks and by then you should have everything under control.”

I asked, ‘Should I replace my position in my company with someone.”

“Yes go ahead and do that, someone you can trust and knows how the company is running.”

“Consider it done I said.” On the way out his kids came up to me and said, “Are you canned?”

I smiled and said; “Beat it brats,” and they ran off laughing.

 

To be Continued

Joe's Diner - Chapter 10



The Girl of my Dreams !

 

Sometime ago at my work place, I had been moved up to run one of the businesses the conglomerate owned and I had put it in order to where we were showing a good profit.

The top man in the organization showed up in my office one day and said he wanted to talk with me.

I had to let go some people who he had personally hired and I figured he was going to get on me for that.

He asked me about Lacy and Jessie I assured him they were fine.

I said, “We will soon be married and I hoped he and his wife will come to the ceremony.”

He said he would like to come and he wanted to give us a present.

I said, “That wasn’t necessary,” but he said he felt it was so I didn’t say any more.

He asked me for the date and said, “As soon as you get back from your honeymoon come to see me.”

I told him, I would and marked it down on my calendar.

I was occupied with my work and preparing for the time off. My second in command needed to be filled in on what I needed him to do while I was gone.

He was a very good employee but he had expected to get the position I now held.  Actually he had more seniority but it didn’t work out that way. He went on doing his job and I trusted him because of his work ethic.

It seemed strange on the wedding day when I drove to the church in my car and Lacy and her entourage was picked up in a limousine and Jessie was also with her.  Lacy wanted Jessie to be her maid of honor and Jessie was ecstatic.

I was calm and collected having gone through this before but realized things were going to be different with this marriage.  In fact everything was going to change.

As a rule, I am calm and collected, but I was beginning to get nervous while waiting for my bride to come down the aisle. I was thinking everything was taken care of so why should I be nervous as I tried to settle myself down.

Lacy’s Aunt, our former nanny had come for the wedding and had agreed to stay with Jessie while we were gone.  She had come early so she could spend time with Jessie and get reacquainted.

Jessie was thrilled to see her and was calling her old mommy.  It was just like as if they were never separated.

She told Jessie you can call me Aunt Betty for that is just one of my names. Lacy said to me that Betty’s mother had died and she would like for her to come and live with us if it was alright with me and I said yes of course.

I cared for her because of the way she cared for Jessie. We were going to be gone on our honeymoon for two weeks and Betty would care for Jessie while we were gone.

By the time the wedding march was played I getting antsy and ready for the bride to march down the aisle. As I saw her in her gown of white my knees almost buckled. Jessie had made her way down and we all were waiting for the main event.

It seemed forever for her to get the altar but at last she was there and the ceremony began.

I repeated the words I had penned and said them most heartily and then she repeated her vows. I thought as we made our vows to one another “This is going to be a lot to live up to,” but I meant every word I said.

Even though it was scripted it was a promise I intended to keep for it was a matter of love for me.  As I kissed my wife for the first time I felt a oneness with this woman that I knew would last a lifetime.

It seemed the reception was going to last forever but finally we managed to be on our way for our honeymoon.  

 

A mountain lodge that was known for honeymoon retreats had been arranged by me.

There was plenty of private time where you could eat whenever you wanted to instead of having to fit into their schedule.

Much of what occurred during the two weeks is private except to say we took long walks and had horseback rides which made both of us sore in the groin areas.

I concluded during our stay at the Lodge, that she was going to be more than adequate for a wife and I hoped she felt the same about me.

I didn’t dare to ask her about her feelings about me now. This was one of those crazy thoughts that pop up in your head out of nowhere. I refused to allow thoughts of my time with my Ex, (Abby) invade the present for that was a fading past and I wasn’t going to let it diminish the present joy I now have.

The end of our stay in the mountains came too soon for me but it was time to return to the daily grind.

When we returned Jessie was so overcome she started crying and hugging us. She had a ton of questions some of which we declined to answer because of where they could lead to.

An example of which was; when she asked Lacy if she liked sex.  

It was then that Aunt Betty stepped in and said we better let them get settled in and then later you can let them tell you what you need to know.

 To be Continued

Joe's Diner - Chapter 8

(Sorry but this chapter is out of sequence and is being posted late.)

 

My Dating did Not Work Out - MY Fault because - - -

 

Lacy was doing a great job with Jessie. I didn’t think I would ever find a replacement for the nanny that Jessie had before we moved.

She calls Lacy mommy all the time now.  At first it was a lark but now she tends to mean it when she says mommy. They have grown so very close. Lacy takes Jessie to school, picks her up, cooks her meals, and washes her clothes just like her mother would do.

Of course their favorite thing was shopping. It didn’t matter what kind of shopping just so it was doing it together.

After seeing how close they had grown and Lacy not taking much time for herself I began to feel guilty for she had no life outside of our life. She was a young woman that should be dating and here she was content like being married.

I was pretty much over the bitterness of my failed marriage and found myself looking at women with a manly interest again. I asked a woman out for dinner, where I had met at the office while she was doing business at another department.

We went out to a nice restaurant and had a pleasant time of conversation but I had the feeling she expected more after inviting me in when I took her home.

Embarrassed I made up an excuse for not going in and went home. I learned something that evening and that was women at this level are liberated and make no pretense at what they expect.

As I thought about it when I got home I was further embarrassed by failing to measure up to her expectations.

Jessie was in bed when I got home, but Lacy wanted to know why I was home so early.  She said, “Didn’t she invite you in?”

I didn’t know what to say to her.  I was uncomfortable but finally said, “Yes she invited me in but I declined the offer.”

“Why?” she asked, and couldn’t keep from grinning as she spoke.

I said, ‘Because it was just the first (and probably the last) date and I didn’t know her very well.”

That is WHY !

She wouldn’t let up and kept goading me about my refusal to go further with the lady in question.

I was getting a bit impatient with her and after her last tease I took her and kissed her long and hard and said; - - -

“That’s why.”

We just stared at each other until she turned and went to her room.

I sat down at the table and had to deal with a multitude of thoughts that was flooding my mine. Should I go in and apologize or wait and then do it later or just let it lie and hopefully it will be forgotten.??

I was exhausted and went to bed and strangely slept like a baby.

The next morning I got ready for work and Lacy had a breakfast prepared for me.

Jessie was up also and said, “When are you going to marry mommy?”

I said, ‘What?”

She said, “I saw you kissing mommy so do you love her?”

I have never lied to Jessie, but I didn’t know how to answer that question. I wasn’t sure if I said I wasn’t in love with Lacy, if that would be true or if I said I was and if that would be the whole truth.

Jessie broke in and said, “I asked Lacy and she said she didn’t know, maybe so.”

She got a little perturbed and said, “Doesn’t anybody know anything?”

Lacy came into the kitchen and Jessie said, “You two have got to figure this thing out.”

Lacy dished up our breakfast and we all sat down. Jessie said, ‘Well?”

I said, “Hush up Jessie.”

She said, “Well somebody say something!”

I finally said, “Lacy I don’t know what came over me last night and I hope I didn’t offend you.”

She started to smile and said, “Did you notice I didn’t resist but was kissing you back?”

I said, ‘Yes I noticed that and was confused by it.”

She said, ‘Since you find it difficult to say, then maybe I should speak up.  I have fallen in love with both you and Jessie and I don’t know how long I can continue like this.”

I was astounded by her frankness and had a flood of emotion come over me.  She had said what I felt - - but couldn’t speak of until now.

I said, “I love both of you also.”  I thought that is a poor way to purpose to a woman.

Lacy, Will you Marry me?

Then I composed myself and said, “Lacy, will you marry me and become mother to my Jessie?”

She smiled and said; “I thought you would never ask.  Absolutely yes I will.

To be Continued

 

Joe's Diner - Chapter 9

 

After Lacy had said yes to my proposal, Jessie said, “Kiss her daddy and let me watch.”

I kissed Lacy and Jessie said, “Kiss her some more for she likes it.”

I said, “That is enough from the cheering section. I have to get to work but we will go out tonight and celebrate.”

That evening we went to a nice restaurant to celebrate our engagement. We don’t drink but we celebrated with some sparkling water and toasted each other.

I believe Jessie is the most excited of all about our engagement.  I told Lacy  that she and Jessie can plan the wedding but we need to set the date.

Lacy said, “I will check my calendar and pick a date. If that works for you then we’ll make it happen.”

It appeared that six weeks from now was the appropriate time so the wedding was on.

It seems when everything is going well something has to raise it’s ugly head and try to complicate matters.

My Ex said she wanted to see her baby !

One day while I happened to still be at home, there was a knock at the door and Lacy answered it.  There stood my Ex wife, Abby.  

She had received the wedding announcement from someone in my office, who had gone to the trouble of checking my past and thought she could stir up some trouble.

Lacy invited her in after she identified herself and Abby announced that she wanted to see her baby.

I entered the room and said, “No for you have no baby.”  I reminded her that part of the divorce settlement was that she gave up all rights to our baby, and she would never see the child again.  

To some this may seem harsh but it was actually her idea at the time because she wanted no encumbrances that a child might bring.

Abby said she had been thinking it over and wanted to get back together again and raise the child together for after all a child needs her mother.

I asked her the name of the person who had sent her the wedding notice and she told me.  I already had figured it out but wanted her to tell me anyway.

I thought to myself, “I will take care of that later today.”

I told Abby if she didn’t leave without disturbing Jessie I would have her arrested.

No - a thousand times NO

She wanted to argue until I started to dial the police the she said she would go.  She asked for a picture of Jessie but I said, “No for she didn’t exist as far as you are concerned.  You have met her mother already and Jessie loves her so go.”

I decided to take her to the plane and see to it that she was headed east to her home.

Before I left for the airport, I told Lacy to bring Jessie down to work after she got out of school and we would go out to lunch.  This settled her down because this visit from Abby upset her greatly.

I gave her a kiss and hurriedly rushed Abby to the airport.  I gathered from her that she was disillusioned with the path she has taken and is just trying to find a new direction.

I wasn’t interested in trying to help her find her way for I knew how easy it would be for her to pull us into her cycle of despair. I offered no advice and no comfort for she had made her own bed and it was up to her to find her way out.

The last thing I wanted was for her to come in and destroy Jessie’s world by trying to draw her into her world of confusion.

Jessie was a happy child and I wasn’t going to allow her birth mother to come in and pretend to be a loving mother that thought of her every day.

I have seen that lie played out many times over.  A woman gives up their baby and after someone else has raised the child; here comes the one who abandoned the baby now trying to convince the grown child of how much birth mother loved her.  Perhaps they hope the child will take care of them as they age.

I watched Abby board the plane and take off.  

On the way home I thought about my marriage to Abby and the downward progression after Jessie was born.  She felt called to help her fellow man but that didn’t include me and Jessie.

The first two years were as much as one could expect from a marriage. We agreed to have our family while we were still young and be able to enjoy our grandchildren but it didn’t work out.

The first signs of trouble were, the long hours she was staying at work, and not willing to spend time with our baby or be intimate with me.

I wanted to understand what happened to her so I hired a friend who worked at or was partnered up with a couple of guys at a decretive agency.

With his connections he managed to discover just what happened to Abby. It seems she so empathized with the prisoners that she started to live their life with them.

They began to play her and she began to bring stuff in for them. She didn’t realize she was bringing drugs in for her patients that outsiders provided for them. When what she was doing was discovered she was fired and lost her license to practice and was put on probation.

She could have served some hard time but they realized she did what she did because of an intense desire to help her patients. She was now getting help from psychologists herself.

It was one of the doctors that insisted she try to reestablish a relationship with me and Jessie.

It was another good idea some no nothing, and uncaring, idiot wanted to try and see how it played out with no concern about what it might do to Jessie.

They were willing try anything without regard to what damage their “try it” scheme might do.  If it messed up Jessie’s life up then it would be a job for another psychologist to straighten her out.

After their expert treatment for Abby she was able to get a job as a waitress for a short time till she went back into rehab again.

Lacy wanted to know how it went and I told her it went off without a hitch.

She was quite upset that Abby would come in and try to upset “Her baby.” She said she wouldn’t allow that to happen and would do whatever it took to make sure it didn’t happen.

I was a little surprised at her resolve but appreciated the way she felt. I took further legal steps to keep her away from Jessie.

Someday if she is interested in hearing it I will tell her the whole story.

I heard that some six months after Abby was released once more from the rehab program, she had been working for one the psychologists on staff. She was still an attractive woman and he became interested in her enough to marry her.

I suppose they can sit around in the evenings and psychoanalyze each other.

He had gotten her a job as a receptionist where he works and she now gets to give patients some advice before their treatment with the doctor.

To be Continued

 

OLE DOUBLE DOWN DEAL

 

This short True Story is entered at Hazel's “Tell Me a True Story.”   

 My continued story will resume shortly.

 

Everyone Wanted to Follow The Prophet

 

He was a young man full of himself and yet on occasion he showed flashes of the right kind of stuff. He felt he had been called to preach the word but that feeling along with an overabundance of zeal was about as far as he had progressed so far.

He enrolled in Bible school or the version of it in his day and he found himself among the same kind of would be preachers as himself.

They were all trying to make some kind of a mark that would set them apart from the rest and cause the true prophet to notice them and take them under his wing.

As fate would allow this young man, Eli managed to stand out from the rest and the top speaker in the country let him hang around him for laughs.

Oft times he would have to put him back into his place. He would get to talking about the mega church he was going to have, twice as big as the true prophet has.

The prophet would say, “You sound just like all the rest of those Bible school students with empty hands and empty heads.”

All Eli could think and talk about was his great ministry and how GOD was going to bless what he was going to do.

The time came when the Spirit began to do small things through Eli and the prophet was aware of it.  From that day forward The Prophet began to take the young man seriously.

Eli started to take on the persona of a man truly called of GOD.  He started to dress like the Prophet; with a leather outfit and let his thinning hair on his head grow long and always was exposing his hairy manly chest.

The other Bible students were jealous of the progress Eli was making but began to recognize he was doing what they were only hoping for and talking about.

They were sure he was going to have the biggest church of them all.

The time came when the old prophet was to depart from this earth and Eli stayed by his side continually.

The prophet said, “You’re bothering me - - go your way.”

But Eli said, “No way I’m with you till the end.”

The old prophet said, “What is it you want from me?”

Eli said, “I want double of what you have.”

The old prophet said, ‘You don’t want double the trouble I’ve had I’m sure of that.”

“No, no I mean double the blessing GOD has bestowed upon you.”

The prophet said, “I leave shortly and have a lot of traveling to do but if you are with me at my departure the double blessing is yours.”

Not too long after, the old prophet departed in a blaze of glory leaving his cloak near the place of his departure.

Eli went over and to the cloak and ripped up his own cloak and put the departed prophet’s cloak on.

When he came to the river where the old prophet had commanded the waters to part he took the cloak just as the prophet had done and struck the waters and shouted; “Where is the GOD of the old prophet,” and the waters parted before him.

So began the ministry of the young prophet in earnest.  

What he became to realize was when GOD moved upon him it was to solve problems.

Along with the double blessing came double trouble which wasn’t what he had in mind when he asked for the blessing.

Where once he had a full head of hair he now was bald and while he interacted with women and solved their problems he never mentioned having a wife of his own.

Having fulfilled his course he departed this earth and left the heritage that men seek today; a double portion like unto the blessing Elisha was given.

“A bed time version of Elisha’s life”

This post is shared at “Tell Me a True Story.”

 

Joe's Diner - Chapter 7



I asked my Chinese Secretaries to decorate my office Chinese Style

 

Two days later at our new home, our furniture was moved in and with the shopping the girls had done the place was complete.  Our first night in our new home felt strange. Jessie and Lacy had bedrooms down the hall and I had the master suite with a king size bed to roll around in.

I wasn’t expected to begin work for a week but I wanted to see how my office was set up. As I looked it over, I thought nobody else’s office looks like this and they will feel a touch of the Orient when they enter.

It was a large office with room enough to have key prospect’s in to begin negotiations.  The secretaries had done a marvelous job and I felt it would pay dividends.  With us speaking Chinese it was like being in China.

I explained to my secretaries how I expected them to know everything I was doing and to blend right in without being obvious.  I left for home but told them I would see them tomorrow.

Lacy lost no time in getting Jessie enrolled in school and managed to work a class in for herself in the local college a short distance from Jessie’s school.  

I had leased a car for Lacy so she would have her own transportation.

During my first official week at work Lacy and Jessie came by to visit my office and meet my secretaries. The secretaries were surprised when Jessie spoke to them in Chinese.

I told Jessie to knock it off for it wasn’t polite to leave Lacy out of the conversation.

She said, “Okay” (in Chinese) and said, “I guess we will speak English so my nanny can join in the conversation.”

It wasn’t but a couple of days till everyone knew I had a young woman I called a nanny living with me. This provoked a lot of talk at the water cooler so to speak.

My employer came to me and asked what was going on.

I said, “What do you mean?”  He said, “There is a lot of talk about you and a young woman living with you.”

I said, “From the time Jessie was born I have had a nanny caring for her. The original nanny I had for my daughter couldn’t move with us because her mother was ill and she needed to stay and care for her.  She told me she had a niece here in Seattle that had taken up the occupation of being a nanny like her and if I wanted she would put me in contact with her.

I agreed and had several communications with her, and hired her on the condition if my daughter liked her after I arranged a meeting. Jessie has taken to her much like she did to her former nanny and due to the uncertainty of having to entertain clients in the evening I needed a live in nanny the same as before.

If someone has a problem with this if they will step forward we can settle it between us but I will not stand for innuendos from gossip mongers.

That is the whole truth of the matter and again if someone wishes to step forward and accuse me of some impropriety then either step up or shut up for there is nothing in between.

The boss, George said, "I will handle this right now."  With that, he went and addressed each department and asked, “Do you like your job? I am prepared to fire any and all those who spread lies and gossip about things they know nothing about.

There has been some back biting going on and you know what I’m talking about. Now if there is anyone who knows something unseemly concerning about Mr. Hanson step forward and speak for he wants to hear it from you directly.”

He went on and said, “Some or all of you that have been gossiping about his arrangement for caring for his daughter need to speak up.

All was quiet and no one spoke, so he said one more word from any of you and you’re fired and anyone repeating something someone said is gone also.”

When I returned to my office my two secretaries were giggling and said, “The boss really took care of that.”

I had to chuckle and said, ‘Now girls, be good,” as we were all smiling.

I was to have lunch with Jessie and Lacy and they were a little early and heard the whole thing.

Jessie said, ‘Did someone say a bad thing about you dad?”

“I said I’m not sure but I don’t expect it to continue.”

There was a lot of entertainment in Seattle and when we had the free time we would all go out and have fun.

More and more it became my duty to entertain business prospects. I was expected to host a dinner for them where they could bring their wives with them.

I decided to bring Jessie with me for she was my family and of course Lacy came also.

It was a bit strange introducing Lacy to the visitors as Jessie’s Nanny for most assumed she was my wife.  After telling them she was Jessie’s nanny the men assumed she was my paramour and thought that it was a nice arrangement.

I’m not sure what the wives thought but they looked at Lacy rather suspiciously.

Jessie would whisper to her what was being said in Chinese and Lacy decided to make the most of it and have some fun  by taking my arm as we left and clinging to me.  

She and Jessie thought that was hilarious.

I didn’t know what to make of it especially after Jessie started calling Lacy mommy.

Jessie finished the first grade and I had promised to take her to Chucky Cheese to celebrate. I dressed casually which was unusual for me for I always wore suits when I went out.

The girls were having a great time while I mostly just enjoyed watching them.  Lacy came back and sat next to me actually sat very close to me and it was then I saw the main gossip from work staring at me. I just nodded at her and stayed where I was for it was too late to move away from Lacy while she was playing with Jessie and roughhousing.

I thought this is going to kill Miss big mouth because she knows if she starts to gossip about seeing us sitting so close next to each other she is likely to be fired.

The next day I saw her several times and she was fuming because she had some choice tidbits and was compelled to hold them in. For some reason I had the urge to rub it in when I saw her but I decided to let it slide.

I just said, “I saw you last evening, did you enjoy yourself?”

She could hardly speak for she was in such a state but finally managed to say, “Yes very nice,” and excused herself and went to the ladies room to gain her composure.

I could only imagine the torment she was going through, for such is the price a gossip must pay when they can’t spew forth their venom.

To be Continued