Karen 6

Sid makes it sound polite of course, cyclical downturn in sales and all that. Not buying much new stock right now, meaning he and Naomi can easily do the receiving around other stuff.
At first it feels devastating, but soon good news arrives. See I was one of the very few who actually had a good relationship with the news wholesale distributor, because my returns were always accurate, as listed.
They are quite happy to interview me. It won't be much more money and it does involve unsociable hours as it is picking orders for next day delivery. Still, I happily take it, one less problem in life.
The boss Nathan looks amused when I reply to his question on my Reserve status. He appears to stop himself before getting too smart ass about it.
Somewhat irked, I fish out my score card, land it on his desk. He stares, color vanishing from his face, just quietly says, "remind me not to start too many aguments with you."
I smile wanly, "I'll try to do the job properly, so we don't need to argue about it."
He laughs easily, "I don't mean here. I mean in the Reserves, I'm a Para too. But a Sgt, meaning I hate all of you officer types."
"I see, and did I mention I was a Cpl in the Canadian Army before making Aliyah?"
"Kid, you're a nut case, just go home. Why on earth hang around a penny ante country one step up from the Third World?"
I laugh, "some travel writers have called Canada 'a Third World country with carpets."
He laughs, "ok, hang around and enjoy. And when we make a drop into Lebanon, I'm gonna try and be in your group."
"Why?"
"Kid, I reckon that's a world record for score. Best we have one super sniper in our group, good life insurance. Nuff fun, let me show you how orders work on our system."