[Critique Group 1] Marcia's April submission

Tue Apr 19 22:35:01 EDT 2022

Chapter Thirteen

1099 words

Workplace Rivalry

Before I could close my office door, Michelle inserted the sharp toe of her
shoe into the jamb.

"No-o-o  closed doors today, Veronica. Remember, this is an OOOpen house,"
she said. To emphasize the "O," Michelle blew a ring of cigarette smoke in
my face. She then turned to introduce another uninvited guest.

"Hope you don't mind. I asked Mike, Millwood's quality control manager, to
join us for Claudia's factory tour." Michelle stepped aside and Mike Snyder
stepped in. 

Chubby like a honey bear, Mike was a good old local boy, loyal and
trustworthy like an Eagle Scout. Knowing that I wouldn't be rude in front of
Mike, Michelle had invited him along for insurance. For added protection, I
saw she had also cornered Mr. Roberts, Millwood's balding vice president of
Manufacturing, to join us. My small office was suddenly crowded with
intruders.

"Nice to see you again, Claudia. Veronica can't keep you all to herself,"
Roberts chided. "You deserve the VIP tour. Mr. K and I are golf buddies, you
know," Roberts said as he gripped Claudia's elbow. His Texas accent implied
warm southern hospitality although we were in the frigid Midwest.  He
shepherded Claudia's small entourage from my office. 

Looking over her shoulder, Claudia stammered, "Veronica, my purse."

"Don't worry, I'll lock my office." My news would have to wait. "Seems
you're quite popular around here," I said, reluctantly following the
impromptu tour group. More curious onlookers packed into the freight
elevator with us. 

Emerging on the lower floor of the factory, Snyder was forced to yell over
the din of ear-splitting exhaust fans, piercing nail guns, powerful air
compressors, and whirring sewing machines. 

"Sorry. It's deafening at first, but we want visitors to see the assembly
process in action, not idle," Snyder explained. "Mind your step," he
cautioned. "Please stay within the indicated walkway."

Claudia looked rapidly left and right. I flung out my arm just in time to
stop her from stepping on Michelle's heel. Striding with importance ahead of
us, Hamilton had stopped abruptly to point out the upholstery area. Massive
bolts of intricate textiles and luxurious leather were arranged in tiers on
A-frame racks reaching the ceiling.

"As Millwood's Design Manager, I personally select all the upholstery,"
Michelle boasted. "Designers can select from a wide array of finishes and
coverings so every order is manufactured to their unique specifications. How
about taking some photos for the paper, Claudia?" Michelle suggested.

A growing train of visitors scrambled to pose with Michelle in front of the
industrial size upholstery racks. I had to admit, Shelly sure knew how to
work a room, even one as big as a factory. Odds were, her photo would appear
on the front page of Doe Lake's newspaper, maybe even be picked up by the
Grand Rapids daily that printed The Messenger.

"This tour will take all day if Shelly stops to pose for the paper every
stop along the way. It's a big place," Roberts said. "Let's move on to the
milling area." 

"A big place is an understatement," I whispered in Claudia's ear. "There's
over 700,000 square feet of manufacturing space to tour."

Conveyors buzzed overhead, moving chair parts from finishing to assembly to
shipping. Hand trucks and forklifts carted boxes and bins across the factory
floor. Like an efficient colony of ants, factory workers hustled parts and
pieces from the lumber mill to assembly and joinery, sanding and finishing.
Casters, hinges, drawer handles, and upholstery nails were piled on dollies
and pallets. Masked employees gripped spray guns fed by Hoses attached to
55-gallon drums containing noxious glue and finishes. 

Above the raucous machinery, Snyder hollered, "Workers are required to wear
ear plugs, safety goggles, and respiratory protection per OSHA regulations.
We're proud of Millwood's low record of workplace injuries."

Roberts was compelled to embellish the factory's safety record. "Although
it's a hazardous work environment, we've never had a work-related fatality."

Claudia leaned into my ear and said, "The prospect of biting the dust while
making furniture had never occurred to me." 

"Knock on wood," I said, tapping an unfinished desk top with my knuckles. 

"Speaking of biting the dust," Roberts said, "that's what the wood hog is
for. Do you hear that constant droning, Claudia?"?"

"Above all this racket?" Claudia asked. "I can't even hear myself think."

Roberts explained, "The wood hog consumes about 95 percent of our scrap
wood. A conveyor feeds waste into the hog which pulverizes it into sawdust
which fuels the plant's boiler. It's cost-saving and energy efficient"

"Waste not, want not," I quipped.

"Folks, we're nearing the end of our tour." Snyder nudged our group toward
the shipping dock where an automatic strapper wrapped blankets around each
finished piece. A vacuum lift hoisted the weighty case goods into shipping
cartons imprinted with the Millwood logo.

"Local dealers install the furniture for the end user.. Any questions?"
Roberts and Hamilton chatted with visitors, so I seized Claudia by the elbow
and took a short cut back to the elevator.

"Hope you got some nice pictures," I said. "Maybe Hamilton will look as
priggish on the front page of The Messenger as she does in person."

"That's awful, Veronica," Claudia giggled in agreement. "I'll pick the shot
that shows off her most obvious assets."

"Glad your sense of humor has returned, Claudia. Let's go back to my office
and I'll tell you my news. That will also make you smile."

I unlocked my office and reminded Claudia to retrieve her purse.

Reaching for her purse under the table, Claudia said, "Looks like someone
left you a note."

On the table, it's corner pinned under my bottle of seltzer water, a message
was written in black marker.

"I'M WATCHING you" was written in capital letters, like a 96 point headline.

"What is this?" Someone had entered my office after we went on the tour.
But, I had locked the door, hadn't I? Hadn't I just unlocked it when we
returned? The three words were ominous.

"This must be some kind of love note," I told Claudia, laughing it off to
one of my many admirers. Tell you what, Claudia," I continued, feeling a bit
unraveled by the message but not wanting to let on, "how about I give you a
call later and we can talk more then. I just remembered an important call I
have to make before 2:00."

"Whatever works, Veronica? I really appreciate your lifting my spirits
today. Hope everyone here will be happy with my report, except for Hamilton,
of course," Claudia said on her way out.

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