Here And Thereafter (3)
"We didn't know when you'd be coming in," said Moe. "Besides, we didn't know what you wanted." "A breakfast sandwich or two would have been nice. You've gotten stuff for me before." "That's true," said Gregory. "But you were here when we got you something and you gave us money. Who would've paid for your meal?" "Haven't you ever heard of good will?" said Stan. "I would've reimbursed you." Gregory looked at Chris and rolled his eyes. Chris shrugged his shoulders. Stan smiled. He then turned his attention to Moe. "Are all of the carts from the back barn out there?" "Yeah," said Moe. "We managed to empty out both barns. It's a really big gun." "Yeah it is," said Stan. Now Chris remembered what O' Mally had asked of him. "Oh yeah! Stan, O' Mally wanted to talk to you about something." "O' Mally, huh? Did he specify what he wanted to talk about?" "Yeah. It's about the gun." "Alright. Be on the lookout for the players. The gun starts at twelve o' clock. They should start showing up any minute now. Also, I want the front and back cart barns swept out. I don't care who does it, so long as it gets done." Stan left after instructing his men to seek O' Mally. His final instruction left his staffers looking at one another. It was common knowledge by everyone who opened on Mondays that the front and back cart barns were to be swept out as the staffers awaited the arrival of the guest players (guest players because on Mondays the club leased the course out to organizations and such that wished to hold golf specials). However, there were some days when the command was never executed, as Stan didn't communicate his wishes on that day. Chris, Gregory, and Moe were inwardly hoping that this would be one of those days, but alas fate had different plans for the trio. Gregory started for the exit of the caddy office and Schmo sought to question him. "Where are you going?" Gregory turned towards Schmo. "To get my CD player." "Don't think you're gonna get out of this that easily, Gregory. You can't have your way all the time." "Chill out, Schmo!" said Gregory with a motion of his hands, which Chris noticed. "I'm going to get my CD player so that I can have something to listen to while I sweep out the back cart barn." Schmo was at a loss for words at first as evidenced by his mouth being gaped wide open. He turned towards Chris and Chris shrugged his arms. Gregory winked at Chris and left. "I didn't expect that," said Schmo. "Yeah. Despite how he comes off sometimes, he tries to change. I'll be in the front cart barn if you need me." "Ok." Chris left Schmo alone in the caddy office. *** By the time Chris had finished sweeping out the front cart barn a good number of the players had shown up. Chris came out of the cart barn with a broom and dustpan in hand and placed them on their hooks in the bag room. He caught glance of Gregory and Moe taking golf bags out of cars that had pulled up to the bag drop and hurriedly made his way to join them. "Go see if there are enough golf balls on the range," said Moe. "Alright," replied Chris as he walked over to the range. Chris could see from a distance that the players had yet to get through even one-third of the golf balls, as a good many of the pyramids were still intact. As he was heading back toward his co workers a car pulled up into the bag drop and Chris' actions were thwarted. The man who pulled up into the bag drop drove a silver cadillac. He popped the trunk and got out of his car. "Hey, how are you doing?" asked Chris. "Hmm? Oh, fine. Fine. Listen, do you know where the pro shop is?" The man asked this as he was pulling out his wallet. "Sure," said Chris. "See that path to the right of us? The pro shop is that building that's built just on the side of that path." "Thank you," said the man. "And I'm guessing that I follow this path to the diverging left to get to the parking lot?" "Yeah. You could do that if you wanted. But you could just stay on the path that you're on now and get to valet parking." "That sounds like a good idea. Thanks a lot buddy." The man handed Chris three dollars and went back into his car. Chris was suddenly reminded that he didn't get the man's name. "Excuse me, sir? Before you go, I need your name so I can find out which cart to put you on." "Oh, right. Of course. Wellington. I think I'm playing with Jim Smits. Do you have a list with the names of the players and the tees they are scheduled to start on?" "Yeah, I've got a list," said Chris as he pulled the list from the back of his pocket and began unfolding it. Mr. Wellington and Chris each looked over the list and Mr. Wellington confirmed that he was playing with Jim Smits. "Ok. I'll park my car now. Thanks for the help." "No problem." Chris went looking on the tournament grass for the cart numbered twenty-three, as that was the numbered cart that was supposed to house the clubs of Mr. Wellington and Mr. Smits. He found it and strapped Mr. Wellington's bag on the cart next to his partner's. Next he took a few steps back to look at all of the carts that were parked on the tournament grass. In his estimation a good quarter of the players had arrived. He also saw now that a few players were practicing on the chipping green. Another car pulled up in the bag drop and Gregory went to service the player. Moe Schmo came walking beside Chris after placing a player's clubs on a cart and Chris handed him the money that was given him by Mr. Wellington. "All right," said Schmo. "That's what I'm talking about. Making money." "How much do we have so far?" "Ugh--let me see--" Schmo looked up into the air and began to ponder over the matter. "I'd say about fourty bucks easy." "Yeah, you're right. That's what I'm talking about! Making money!" Schmo smiled and went to take a load off on the bench that was embedded on the wall near the entrance to the bag room. Chris followed. The two of them watched as players moved from their carts to either the chipping green or the range. They spoke very little and were in no mood to move until they saw Stan making his way toward them from the pro shop and then they both stood, pretending to look busy. They both looked at each other and laughed. Stan came down from the pro shop to join his staff. "Shouldn't they be heading out soon?" asked Chris. "Yeah," said Stan. "Give it a few more minutes." Gregory strolled his way toward his co workers and suddenly Schmo was reminded of something. "Oh Stan!" said Schmo. "There's something I need to talk to you about." "Shoot," said Stan. Schmo looked at Gregory for just an instant and then replied. "It's something private. Can we go in the caddy office?" "Sure," said Stan, and he followed Schmo into the office. Schmo closed the door. Gregory was somewhat exhausted as evidenced by his heavy breathing. He came and sat near Chris. "You okay, doggy?" said Chris. "You look tired." "I'll be okay," said Gregory. "These guys are just working me to the bone. They've got me switching bags and putting them on carts that they aren't assigned to." "I don't think they're supposed to do that," said Chris. "Yeah, well, they're doing it," said Gregory, then his attention moved toward the caddy office. "What are they in there talking about?" Chris looked toward the caddy office. "I don't know." "I do," said Gregory. "They're in there talking about me." "How do you know that?" "Because it's just like Schmo to do something like that. You act out of line in his sight and you're getting reported. You can't tell me that they're in there not talking about me." "Well then, if they are, that's just all the more reason for you to change how you respond to people like Schmo, so you won't have to put up with scathing remarks from Stan." Gregory thought on this nugget of knowledge for a moment and then decided to air his feelings. "Yeah--you're probably right, Chris." "Of course I'm right," said Chris who was now smiling. "Aww doggy, you gon play me like that, huh?" "You know it," said Chris. Gregory smiled. The door to the caddy office opened and Stan came out with a very disappointed look on his face. Moe Schmo stayed inside of the office. "Something bothering you Stan?" said Gregory. "Yes there is. Schmo tells me that you refused to set up the range today when he asked you to do it. Now why is that?" "Oh. I just thought that he was picking on me because I was the last one to arrive. That was my reasoning for not going over there." "I shouldn't have to watch over you guys like little children. If you don't follow the orders of the lead man on staff then that's a slap in the face to the one who promoted him. That's an insult to me. Do you won't to go on insulting me, Gregory?" At this point in the conversation, Gregory was beyond upset. He started to tell Stan off right then and there. He started to express all of his frustrations at how Stan ran his operation. But, after looking at Chris (whom he could tell was pleading with him to hold his peace), he decided to just take it in stride. "No, Stan. I don't want to go on insulting you. And I'm sorry if I did." "Good," said Stan. "I'm going back up to the pro shop. You three stay on guard for any players who might have questions." Stan walked briskly toward the pro shop. "See, doggy? Was that so hard?"
Copyright © 2004 Michael Harris |