Greetings readers.
Yes, the Christmas posting was a first in a long while. I've updated my profile page if you care to read for an explanation. Otherwise, enjoy.
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Β© 2018, All rights reserved - mimaster
***** "Jailbreak", written by Phil Lynott, Performed by Thin Lizzy, 1976
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Stepping into the bright morning sunshine Neil was excited as the warmth washed over him. So was Thelma; the two of them practically skipping down the sidewalk as they exited the lobby. Work was over. They'd just finished up their last night of third shift and they were in a great mood. Thelma was actually humming Alice Cooper's
Schools Out
as they made their way to the parking lot.
Neil laughed at the vague correlation, but he understood. Still, he couldn't help himself. "Wouldn't
Jailbreak
be more appropriate?" he wondered, referencing the Thin Lizzy classic.
"Huh. Yeah, I didn't think of that one. It does just feel like we escaped, doesn't it," she giggled.
"Well we certainly got away cleaner than I thought we would when we came in last night!"
They had both been looking forward to an amazing weekend. Thelma was going away to visit her mother in Pennsylvania. Neil was going home to Ann and the untold adventures they'd undoubtedly find together.
Giving his work partner a hug, they said their goodbyes, both thankful they'd next see each other on day shift. Popping in the cassette now stuck in his head, he rolled the windows down and cranked up the stereo. Peeling out of the lot he turned onto the back road toward home, relieved to have the plant becoming smaller in his rearview mirror.
It appealed to his sense of justice that the title song of the album was the first one on the tape.
"
Tonight there's gonna be a jailbreak. Somewhere in this town..."
he began singing along, his mood only getting better as he put more distance between himself and his job.
He could already feel his body relaxing, the warm wind rushing past as he zoomed along the undulating road. It was officially the weekend and it was off to a great start.
First off he didn't have to work on Saturday, which hadn't been a certainty when he'd arrived the night before. In fact the odds were that he
would
be. The department was way behind schedule with several hot jobs that had to be completed before Monday. With it being a shift change weekend, third and first shifts were staring at the prospect of having to work one more day to make that happen, and only having one day off before having to switch their hours. But there was a glimmer of hope and his and Thelma's crews were the key.
Seeing the disaster that was falling into their lap as soon as they arrived they quickly formulated a plan of action, the partners working in tandem to figure out the best way to attack the schedule. Giving out assignments, they followed up throughout the shift, marking the progress and making any necessary changes on the fly. Halfway through the night they started to feel like they had a chance. By the end of the shift the department was not only back on schedule, they'd miraculously found themselves slightly ahead, but not by much. When their boss Jeff arrived that morning he was thrilled.
"Tell your folks they have the weekend off," he smiled.
"Are you sure?" Thelma asked.
"Absolutely."
"What if Conrad and Fred screw things up again tonight," Neil said bluntly, referring to the supervisors in charge of second shift. He knew they wouldn't care about the where the schedule ended up at the end of the night. It was their last night on second shift. They'd be going to third, which meant they weren't going to work the weekend no matter what. They were guaranteed two days off.
Neil's concern was legitimate since that shift, Conrad's crews in particular, had been creating most of the production problems that put them behind to begin with.
But Jeff already was on top of that scenario. "You and Thelma have gotten us ahead, Neil. I'll make sure we stay that way today. By the end of day shift we should be good."
"So, Conrad basically gets away with fucking off again," Thelma snapped.
Jeff bristled at her comment, but he understood. The inference was, and had been that the other two shifts had to keep compensating for the one that wasn't doing their job. And she was tired of the fact that it wasn't being addressed. Or at least, she thought so.
"I've got it covered, Thelma."
"I'm leaving as soon as we're off work Jeff. I'm taillights as far as this place is concerned. You know I'm going to see Mom. I don't want a phone call telling me I have to put a crew together like we did two weeks ago to cover that ass-wipe's lack of management skills.
I... won't... be... here!
"
"It wouldn't be you anyway, Thel," Neil interjected. "It would be me... it's my side of the department that's in danger of working
this
time."
"Do you honestly think I'd leave you like that Neil? We're partners. You helped me two weeks ago when I got screwed by Fred. Remember? My point is -"
"Will you two relax?" Jeff said, trying to calm them. "I have it covered. You two saved the day again, and I'm thanking you for that by telling you you're not working tomorrow."
Thelma's eyes narrowed. "And I'm telling you I'm heading to Mom's house right now if that's true. But I don't see how it can be, since they've gotten nothing done but the bare minimum in four months."
"Look, from what I see on the schedule, barring a catastrophe on day shift we really should be good by one o-clock this afternoon. I'm just not going to tell
them
that."