Prompt Word: Incline
Penny Collins, Business Manager 5
Penny spiral unwrapped the figure eight of string off of the buttons of the interoffice envelope. The page inside was on the letterhead of the clog shop, and was cryptic. She recognized her own start date with the company, then there were three numbers, two of which were multiplied together. The note on the page simply said, “Your clogs are ready, please pay your due.”
Penny knew full well that the clog shop hadn’t taken an order, so she was wondering why the union would be asking her for dues. Management isn’t covered by the union. It was Friday, so she figured she would drop by to hear what the “cobbler’s assistant” might have to say.
That evening she went all the way home first. Partly to make sure she had the money on her, in case it might actually be used to help Joan Ismail.
When she arrived, the cobbler glanced up, and said, “You’re back? Hmm, early. Knock twice on the raven door and wait.”
Penny remembered, “Pardon, which label will be the raven?”
The cobbler looked up, his right eyebrow at an extreme incline, “Corax, of course. Hmph.” He shook his head and returned to his work.
‘I feel like I just failed a test,’ Penny thought to herself, while walking the hallway. She found the raven door and knocked twice.
#wss366 (4/7)
A boy no older than 10, with darkly stained coveralls and fingers opened the door, and the smell of sulfer and vinegar assaulted Penny, but it was not nearly the worse smell she’d encountered today. The boy looked up, and said, “Oy, an appointment with Mick?” Not sure what else to say, she just nodded. The boy continued, “Right then, you know the way to the woodlot? Wait there, it’ll be a bit.”
#wss366 (5/7)
Penny led herself through the COTURNIX door, and made her way to the wood drying yard, and was surprised when Mr. McMahon was already waiting. Penny started, “Oh, I think the apprentice boy is heading to fetch you.”
“Kid needs a break anyway,” Mr. McMahon answered. “Anyway, there’s news.”
“Go on,” Penny said.
“The factory forwarded dues today to the union for Joan … and you.”
“Wait, what!?”
#wss366 (6/7)
McMahon continued, “Joan was their mistake, entirely, but it means she’s still on the union roll. You, on the other hand, once I found out about Joan, let’s say I know someone who was willing to make a slip up in the accounting department. Thing is, if they are going to hand us lower paid management, we’re going to take them up on it.”
“Wait, so you mean you are actually asking me to pay dues going back two years?”
“I mean, unless we got your start date wrong.”
#wss366 (7/7)
Penny was floored, “I, I, I don’t understand.”
McMahon replied, “Oh, that’s simple. It’s easier to protect Joan if we protect both of you. The leadership agrees. Plus, it expands our, uh, footprint, pun intended.”
Just then, three men she didn’t know came into the yard from a side gate, with Joan Ismail following behind.
McMahon looked up and said, “Ah, you know Joan, but let me introduce you to my other bosses at local 601.”
Link to first post: https://wandering.shop/@vollink/115737974805957666