The rain splattered hard against the window glass. Jason tugged at the ropes leading to the blinds and let it fall away, dropping the slats down to block out the miserable weather. The thought of being stuck inside the administration office building, playing watchdog held no appeal. At least the weather was crappy and he wouldn't be missing any golfing opportunities. Why'd the damn union have to pick this time to strike? Why'd he have to take the damn management job anyway? He tried not to think of the answers.
"Hey, Jase! Ready to make the rounds?" called out Dan Rogala from the doorway. "I'm gonna have to get going soon and I want to show you around before I leave."
"Sure, Let's do it," Jason shrugged and followed after Dan.
Ever since the union went out on strike, management had kept a skeleton crew inside to keep watch, making sure that overzealous strikers didn't do anything stupid. Now that the weekend had come, the skeleton crew was cut down to the bare minimum and Jason was one of the few remaining on the lookout. Jimmy Dixon was supposed to be on watch with him but his wife had gone into labor and there was no one else to stand in for him. So, it looked like he would be on his own.
"I hear that they have a couple people out in the plant," Dan said as they strolled along the walkway that looked out over the factory floor. "You might want to check in with them when you have a chance. Now keep an eye on the doors at the end of the hall." Dan pointed to a set of doors ahead of them before entering a stairwell. "I hear that there's a couple of volunteers from accounting too, keeping an eye out upstairs. Let's see if we can find them."
Dan and Jason looked around throughout accounting and human resources and the general administration offices but found no one. There were a few lights on and it looked like someone had set up in the human resources training center, but no one answered when they called out. So they wended their way back down to the front lobby. Dan fidgeted while he waited for the escort van.
"You bring all your stuff like they told you?" Dan asked.
"Yeah, sleeping bag, duffel bag, all that crap."
"You're lucky they laid some food in too," Dan chuckled. "Four years ago we were starving!"
Jason chuckled along with him. Her remembered walking the picket line four years ago and wondering about what went on inside. Now being a part of the inside crew didn't seem like the party he had thought about back then. The price of wanting to be successful. A white van pulled up close to the door.
"Well, here's my ride," Dan said happily. "You got your cell phone and emergency numbers and all?"
"Yeah, all set," replied Jason.
"Have fun!" Dan said as he pushed his way out through the revolving doors.
Fun all right, Jason thought. Some kind of fun! He walked back around to the main conference room. There was a comfortable couch and a television along with the big table and chairs. A small kitchen was just through a passageway. He carried his backpack into the kitchen and stowed away a few things in the fridge, including a couple of beers for the ball game on Saturday. He went back to the conference room and marked off the inspection tour on the checklist, then turned on the TV. Just the six o'clock news at this hour. A rerun of Different Strokes was on another station.
Suddenly he could hear a voice calling out. "Anybody 'round?" Maybe it was the guys from accounting. He went to the doorway and looked down the hall.
"Right here!" He shouted, moving down the hallway. "Where are you guys?"
"Over here!" someone shouted out.
When he rounded the bend he was surprised to see a couple of women, perhaps as startled as he was. One was Mary Lou, an older heavyset gal he knew from accounts receivable. She was a real nice lady who was always upbeat. He didn't know the other one who was younger and slight. They were both wearing sweatshirts and jeans.
"Well, Jesus H. Christ!" Mary Lou exclaimed. "Why don't you just scare the crap out of me!"
"Sorry," Jason said apologetically. "They told me someone from accounting was here but Dan and I didn't see anyone on the last round before he left."
"Yeah," said Mary Lou, the older lady. "We were out looking for you I guess. We're the only other ones up front. There's a crew out back. Dave Johnson and Kyle Massey and one of the other supers."
"Well, thanks. It's nice to know I'm not all alone. This place is kinda creepy when it's empty like this."
"Say, do you know Diane?" Mary Lou asked, indicated the young woman beside her. "She works with me in Receivables."
"I can't say that we've met," Jason said looking closer but still drawing a blank. "How are you?"
"Don't you remember me?" Diane asked, looking somewhat perturbed. "A couple of weeks ago you had some shipping papers I needed. You made me come downstairs to pick them up."
"I'm sorry, but I really don't remember," Jason said, feeling the warm flush of embarrassment fill up his cheeks. "I'm usually pretty good at remembering people."
"Well, I remember you," she said crossly, but then warmed up to show a sly smile.
"All the young girls remember you, Jason," Mary Lou chimed in.
He chuckled feeling more embarrassed. He had overheard some talk in the break room a couple of times but had always thought of himself as pretty average. He was okay looking, tall and slender with blue eyes and a full head of dishwater blond hair, but not what he thought of as a heartbreaker or anything.
"Okay, shy boy," Mary Lou chuckled. "Lookey here, Diane! We got him all embarrassed. He's blushing!"
"So, what do you do for dinner around here?" Jason asked hoping to change the topic.
"Probably nuke something in the micro," Mary Lou said matter of factly. "The strikers usually make trouble over pizza deliveries. I heard they eat the pizza and send in the empty box and make you pay for it!"
"I'll tell you what, I've set up camp in the front conference room," Jason began. "There's a big screen TV with Surround Sound, and the kitchen right next door is stoked up nicely. Why don't you ladies come downstairs for dinner?"
"Sure, sounds like a good plan to me," replied Mary Lou. "What d'ya say, Junior?"
"All right," nodded Diane.
The ladies agreed to meet him back downstairs in about a half hour for dinner. Jason got busy fixing the meal. With everything started, he decided to freshen up. After washing up, he broke out his electric razor and put on a clean shirt. He was back tending dinner when he heard Mary Lou's voice.
"Hey, Good Looking! What's cooking?"
"Some noodles, a big jar of Ragu and voila! We're eating Italiano."
"And best of all," Mary exclaimed holding up a large bottle of Chianti. "Junior, here smuggled in a bottle of vino!"
Mary Lou took the spoon from Jason's hand and pushed him toward the door.
"Why don't you two go make the rounds and get acquainted, while I finish up in here?"
"Okay," said Diane, taking his hand. "Come on, shy boy, and show me the ropes."
He shot her a quizzical glance as they strolled down the hallway and along the corridors making a loop around the perimeter. They casually checked to make sure that the office was secure. They made some small talk regarding their situation.
