by Frank Perry
matter...appearances mattered.
As a registered custom’s broker, he managed foreign shipments through Government customs and security processes. After fifteen years with the company, it felt good to relax a bit. Newly married, he enjoyed sleeping late and having breakfast with his new bride. His gift to her was financial independence. Months earlier, this would not have been possible, but good fortune had found him. It only happens once in life, if ever, and Dennis had taken the brass ring when it was offered. Leaving home later than usual this morning, he was stuck in Long Island traffic on Interstate 495, so he called the office on his mobile phone.
After one ring, the company operator answered. She said something obscured by the traffic noise, so he answered “Gladys, it’s Denny.”
“Denny!” There was a brief pause before she said in a hushed voice, “Don’t tell me you’re running late again?”
“I can’t help it, I’m stuck in traffic!”
“He’s going to be pissed.”
“Look, I can’t help it.”
“Denny, it’s not my place; but you can’t keep coming in so late, what’s going on with you? You never were late before you got married.”
Gladys had known him since she joined the company over ten years earlier, and could talk to him as a friend. She was his mother’s age with the usual ailments associated with being over-weight, low income and middle aged, combined with years of broken and abusive marriages. She had always felt protective of Dennis because she had no children and he was about as close as she would ever have. Dennis had achieved more responsibility than he was otherwise qualified to handle and she felt some measure of pride having helped him succeed. She also felt sorry for him in a way, even though he’d risen above the docks into the white collar ranks.
“Look, my being married ain’t nobody’s business and hasn’t got nothing to do with it. I’m just cuttin’ back a little to work a normal job.”
She responded with genuine care for him, “Well, getting to work two hours after everyone else is a lot of cutting, Larry’s getting’ upset. He’s gonna talk to you.”
“Fine, I’ll be in whenever.”
He pressed the keypad, ending the call. If Larry wanted to talk, so be it. He felt persecuted. He should be appreciated for all the hard work he’d done over the years and made Larry a lot of money. But, Larry still thought of Dennis as the dropout who followed his drunkard step-father onto the docks at sixteen. Well that was half a lifetime ago!
Last year, he’d gotten an unbelievable opportunity dropped in his lap by complete strangers from Eastern Europe. All he’d had to do was manipulate a little paper; and wow, the money was fantastic. He was richer than anyone in his family had ever imagined. It allowed him to have a new apartment, fast car and a beautiful wife. Larry needed to learn some respect, which he would tell him when he got to the office.
At the Glen Cove Road exit, he turned off the interstate, heading south toward Jamaica, NY. He was still practicing his downshifts and made a game of trying to make the transition off the interstate onto the surface street without ever using the brakes. His new Aston Martin DBS stuck to the road like it was in grooves.
Arriving at the office, he sauntered in, pretending that nothing was wrong, but he barely sat down before Larry was in his face.
Larry was on the far side of middle age, with a large gut and a big nose. This morning his nose was red, which happened when his blood pressure rose. Dennis had grown up working for Larry, who had been a surrogate dad after his father had died. Larry had warned Dennis to watch the clock and get in on time, but Dennis had ignored him. This morning, Larry’s nose, eyes and ears were flaming red. “All right Denny, what’s going on, I told you last week that you needed to get back on a normal schedule. What gives?” Larry was shaking and clearly did not like confronting people this way.
“Look Larry, I know my new hours are upsetting you, but you’ve got to chill on this. I don’t need any grief.”
“Grief...grief! Denny, you’re not pulling your load and everyone sees it. I’ve been like a father to you for years, so don’t give me any bullshit. I have a business to run and you need to get back on the rails or your career is about to take a U-turn.”
Taking a deep breath, Dennis responded, “Larry, I’ve been a good employee for you. You can’t talk to me like this and threaten my job!”
“Denny, I’ll do whatever is best for the company; don’t think you’re special just because you’ve been here a long time.” The tempo of the dialogue was at an escalation point, so Larry stopped talking momentarily and looked at the ceiling before continuing. “But look, we’re both getting hot under the collar and should let this cool down. You think about it today and let’s see what you decide to do tomorrow.”
Before any more was said, he turned and left Dennis alone in his office.
This kind of conversation would have frightened him a year ago. Then, he could not afford to lose the only decent job he’d ever had. With no education, World Wide Shipping was his salvation. But, he would never get rich working for Larry.
After a couple hours of routine work, Dennis realized that he’d another, much greater, opportunity at risk if he lost his job. His recent financial windfall was only possible because of the position of trust he held. If he lost his job, it could mean losing the chance to earn another million dollars, maybe several million, if the same guys came to him in the future. He could not risk that chance.
That evening, Beal walked into Larry’s office. He felt and acted more demure that earlier in the day. “Larry, can we talk for a minute?”
Larry leaned back and looked at Dennis with a kind of fatherly concern, “Okay Denny, what’s on your mind? Have you been thinking about our little talk this morning?” Larry had known Dennis most of his working life. When he was a young manager expediting shipments for insistent customers, Dennis was driving a forklift stacking pallets and sometimes driving delivery trucks from various New York cargo terminals to Customs clearing warehouses. On more than one occasion, Dennis had helped Larry locate critical goods in the maze of incoming shipments. His memory for numbers and locations impressed Larry; and when he was senior enough to hire people, Dennis was at the top of the list, even though the owners were skeptical of his poor education. Over the years, Larry’s judgment regarding Dennis proved correct and had an influence on Larry’s ultimate promotion to General Manager.
Dennis replied, “Yeah, kinda” looking at the floor, acting more like a school kid caught stealing than an adult manager. “Look, I want to keep my job and know I’ve been slacking off since I got married. Hell Larry, I don’t want you pissed at me.”
Larry responded as a Six to a subordinate, “Look Denny, I don’t know what’s going on. Six months ago you changed. You moved and got a car none of us can afford, and then got married. Marriage ain’t a bad thing, but most guys work harder with responsibilities, they don’t slack off.”
“What do you mean?”
“Look Denny, I ain’t stupid, you’re living way higher than I pay you. It’s not any business of mine, except if it could get the company in trouble. I don’t want to know if you’re doing anything illegal, but I’m warning you not to do it through the company.”
“Larry, I don’t know what you mean, are you accusing me of something?”
“Denny, I’m not going to debate it. Get your ass in gear and don’t do anything stupid. You know I won’t can you easily; but I will fire you if things don’t turn around. Tomorrow is your chance to show me you care about this place and your job.”
Nothing more was said. Denny left Larry’s office more upset than when he entered. The old man was suspicious and he didn’t like it. He shut down his computer, grabbed his jacket and headed out to his car.
In five minutes, he was turning onto the Interstate heading north, with his gas pedal floored. It took less than five seconds to accelerate from forty to over a hundred. He backed off when the traffi
c ahead blocked his way. He decided to call his wife.
After three rings, she answered.
“Kathy, it’s me.”
She sensed the edge in his voice, “Denny, what’s wrong?”
“Oh, it’s work again. Larry’s on my case. I may have to quit.”
“What, quit? Denny, what’s wrong, I thought you were his favorite.”
“He’s not mine any more, and I don’t need the bullshit.”
“Denny, let’s talk about this at home, when will you be here?”
“I’m stopping by Mel’s, I’ll be home after dark.”
Mel’s was a small bar in an old clapboard building in West Islip, near their apartment.
She was alarmed, “Denny, come home, let’s talk, you don’t need to go to Mel’s if you have a problem.”
“Look sweetheart, I need to cool down, I won’t be too late.” He disconnected before she could object again. Mel’s was a sleazy bar.
He turned onto Sagtikos State Parkway an hour later, heading south. Mel’s was only ten minutes away. He’d only been there once before, but he needed a neutral place to think and relax. Money gave him options that he’d never had before. Above all, he wanted respect and freedom, which money should bring. But he’d to keep his job, even if he hated it now.
Inside the bar, he ordered a gin and tonic at the counter and moved to a small table to be alone. Several drinks later,