DAY 55

The media were at the Perkins plant entrance.  They knew the approximate number of people who worked there and were counting people as they came in. By shift start time it was apparent that nearly everyone was at work.

George Perkins called the Accounting manager at 7:45 A.M., fifteen minutes after the start of the shift.  He was advised that the midnight shift had a hundred percent on time and the day shift had all but two active employees on time.  He thanked the Accountant and hung up. 

Later in the morning the Benefits Manager called George.  “You may want to know, there are two union people who were not here this morning.  Both of them are in the hospital.”

“Why?”

“Nate Davis was taken to the hospital on Thursday night.  He had gall bladder surgery early Friday.  Ken Landers was taken in last night and had an emergency appendectomy before midnight.”

“So we really had a hundred percent here not counting them.”

“Yes.”

“Could you find out if they are still in the hospital?”

“You aren’t going to send them flowers are you?”

“Not really, but in a sense, yes.”

George left a message for Sean to call him back.  That call came within ten minutes.  “Is there something wrong?”

“Actually, I want to do something but I don’t want to create a problem.”

“What is it?  Maybe we can work it out.”

“Are you aware that Nate Davis and Ken Landers are in the hospital?”

“I knew Nate was but not Ken.  What happened to him?”

“I hear they took out his appendix last night.”

“They were both having a tough time.  Now they will not get the money.”

“That’s what I want to talk to you about.  I would like to give it to them but I think it would be bad to make an exception that might come back and haunt one of both of us later.  But what if I put some money in an envelope for each of them and we go over and give it to them together this afternoon some time, call it a gift?”

“I like that idea, how does three this afternoon sound?”

“Sure.

When George arrived at the union hall Sean was coming out carrying two plants.  “I wanted to do something special.  I got a plant for each of them.”