Choices

Mable Snider hated these Tuesday morning managers meetings. She ran her hand through her salt and pepper hair and thought, "every job has its drawbacks". The new guy, Tom Stalky, was delivering his first weekly report with enthusiasm and bravado. She was sure it would wear off. Mable would be second to the last to give her weekly accounting of complaints, goals meet, expectations based on future trends, etc. Insurance was so predictable. Like Charlie Brown's teacher "wa, wa, wa, wa, ..." The reports droned on until the word 'Janet blasted her to attention. Janet had been discussed before but now it was suggested the she be moved to Mable's department.

"Damn good employee" ... "Never late"... "No mistakes"... "but she drives everyone else crazy about this fixation with being close to the restroom. Since there is only one where she is now, Janet stares at the door until whoever comes out ... like she own the damn toilet. There are two next to your Department, isn't there Mable?"

"Gee, thanks guys. I know how as a management team we are to share - that is share solutions to problems not sending them department-to-department. Why not just get rid of her?"

"She is over her ninety days. You can't get rid of her for staring at the toilet door!" The district manager piped in. "I think you are a good choice to take this on. You have been with us a long time. You will solve this problem like you have handled problems in the past, with tact. We will move her over to you on Friday."

The finality of that statement made her stomach tighten and twist with fear. The company always expected so much and the better her performance the more they expected. She never got the credit and felt like the community dump for problems. Damn, just four more years to go and she would retire. Maybe do what she wanted for once, not what was demanded, expected and coerced from her. Each year was harder and harder to put up with it, but she needed that retirement income. The fear of failure hung heavily over her all the time. She would talk to Dr. Miter, her therapist, about this tomorrow morning. Thank god no here knew about her early Wednesday morning appointments. They would get rid of her in a heartbeat.

Friday seems to go smoother than Mable had expected. Then Janet knocked on her boss's door. "I really need to talk to you."

"Sure come in. I have a few moments. Ahm, close the door."

"Can't we leave it open?"

"Sure. What is it?" Mable already knew what it was.

"Hum, it is, um... well my desk is farthest away from the restroom."

"Someone has to have that desk - you are the newest addition to the office. I don't show favoritism. First come, first choice of desks locations."

"But if I accidentally eat some bad food I might have to vomit and I need to be close to the bathroom."

"Are you sick or have an ongoing health problem that we don't know about?" Mable proded.

"No, no. I just feel the necessity to be close the the restroom, just incase."

"In case of what?"

"That I get some bad food that makes me vomit."

"See me Monday morning and I will consider what can be arranged." With that Janet slipped on her coat and headed for the elevator. Tom Stalky was there. As the door slid open they entered with Tom waiting for Janet to enter first. He leaned close to Janet and said, "How about dinner tonight? There is a nice little Italian place around the corner. Happy hour has started and so could we."

"No, no . I really can't. Restaurant food usually isn't cooked right and I might get sick." Janet lowered her eyes and blushed a little.

"They cook their drinks just right." Tom tried again.

"I have a touchy stomach." she whispered.

"Right." Tom left Janet standing in the elevator. Janet was angry with herself because she really liked Tom.

Janet stopped at the little market two block down from where she worked and just half a block from her appartment. As she walked through the door the clerk behind the cluttered counter moamed, "Good god, here she is again."

Janet checked the date on the milk. "Do you have a date further out on any of the milk in the back?" The clerk shook his head no. "Could you check for me, please?

The clerk grudgingly went back to the cooler. "No, it is all the same date back here." His voice floated through the open cooler door. Closing the door, Janet checked out the dry ceral.

"I will have to wait till you get some fresher milk in.....Did you know that the Special K cereal will be out of date in two weeks?"

"Yes, but it is still good for months after that. Most people use it up within a month of purchase." the clerk responed trying not to show his irritation.

"This lettuce isn't that brand that was recalled, is it?"

"No, that recall was for Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming. This is New York!!" Janet prurchased two organic apples and went home wishing she had some milk and ceral for the morning.

Monday morning Janet came in early assuming she would get a desk closer to the restrooms. Janet sat down at her desk and started to empty the draws. Mable came over to her and sat on the corner of the desk. "No need for that," she said.

"You mean I can't have the desk next to the restroom? Janet sounded shocked. Mable threw down a card on the desk. "I've made an appointment for you with Dr. Miter: first floor, suite 119, Wednesday at 4:00 PM. He is a good therapist. The company will give you that hour, seeing that you usually come in early anyway. Your insurance will cover the cost. You are a good employee, Janet, but this is the third department you have been in. You will either go get therapy for this phobia of yours or you will have to find another job."

Janet's Jaw dropped open. She wasn't crazy. Seeing the shocked look on Janet's face her boss simmply said, "Think about it and let me know by the end of the day which way you want to handle this." With that she turned around and sauntered back into her office and shut the door.