Contract , livre ebook

Andrews UK - Eric Sterling

Découvre YouScribe en t'inscrivant gratuitement

Je m'inscris

Obtenez un accès à la bibliothèque pour le consulter en ligne
En savoir plus

71 pages

English

Vous pourrez modifier la taille du texte de cet ouvrage

Obtenez un accès à la bibliothèque pour le consulter en ligne
En savoir plus

A propos
Informations
Extrait

Description

When Danny McAllister loses his job and seeks to drown his sorrows in the local pub, his personal woes inadvertently start a chain of events that ignites trails in all directions; all of which will ultimately lead to the biggest of bonfires seen for a long time in sleepy Tetlow. The good, the bad and the ugly are all in town for an hilarious rollercoater ride resulting in a breathtaking climax that will leave your head spinning

Sujets

Humour

Informations

Publié par	Andrews UK
Date de parution	11 juin 2014
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781781660928
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0100€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

Title Page

THE CONTRACT

By
Eric Sterling

Publisher Information

The Contract published in 2011 by
Andrews UK Limited
www.andrewsuk.com

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior written consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published, and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

The characters and situations in this book are entirely imaginary and bear no relation to any real person or actual happening.

Copyright © Eric Sterling

The right of Eric Sterling to be identified as author of this book has been asserted in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyrights Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Chapter One

Tetlow was once a thriving cotton mill town situated in the North of England. It is, of course, still situated in the North of England, but the cotton industry that generated the wealth for the town had long since become extinct.
One of the major employers in the town was Tetlow Corrugated Casing Ltd. It existed within in the structure of one of the old cotton mills. The business was relatively successful, employing around forty people in all.
The mill – or factory as it was now – was positioned just on the outskirts of the town and being just enough of a distance as to warrant a short bus ride or car journey. .
This particular Monday had started as Mondays usually did. The staff had reluctantly walked to the clocking-in machine with a laboured shuffling of feet. They recounted to each other the events of the weekend as they huddled around the clocking area, searching for their ‘clocking in’ cards that were stacked vertically in the metal rack screwed onto the wall next to the clock. The shuffling mass then spread, in an even more laboured flow, across the factory floor. There then followed a series of clanking noises as the electrical power levers were switched on at the individual machines, and the droning that had been silenced the previous Friday evening, commenced once more to herald the start of another working week.
By the mid-morning break they had all settled into work mode again, and as they settled down to have their cups of tea, the silence was rudely interrupted by the annoyingly high pitched volume setting of the tannoy, as it blasted out the usually dulcet tones of the receptionist.
“Will Danny McAllister please report to Mr. Callans’ office immediately. Thank you.”
“I wish someone would do somethin’ to that bleeding tannoy. It wants kicking up its’ arse, so it does.” Elsie said, through clenched teeth.
“Tannoys haven’t got an arse. They’re machines.” Danny smiled as he got up from his chair, which had been a car seat in a previous existence.
“Well maybe we should just kick your arse, and tell Callan he can wait in the queue, you cheeky little bleeder. He shouldn’t be calling for you at brew time anyway. Let him wait and go and see ‘im in his own time. If he wants to see you he can pay for the privilege.” Elsie still had her teeth clenched.
It played havoc with her jawbone.
Danny made his way across the factory floor, negotiating his way past discarded cartons that littered the area of floor that wasn’t occupied by plant and machinery.
He reached the exit door and kicked a carton out of the way before opening it.
The corridor and stairway leading to Mr. Callans’ office was both grotty and dark. The handrail leading up the stairwell was hanging precariously by two or three screws. When he reached Callans’ door, there was just enough trace of the black lettering on the slim oblong brass plate, to identify the occupant.
Callan was sitting at his desk with Danny’s personnel file opened in front of him. The file was opened at the first page displaying the personal details and employment history of Danny. As he slowly read the details, he wondered what had ever possessed him to employ him in the first place.
Danny was twenty-six years of age, but often displayed the mental age of a twelve-year-old. Callan had now convinced himself that it was time to get tough. He had to start to set standards, and if that meant that heads would roll, then so be it – as long as it wasn’t his head that did the rolling.
Callan had finally been persuaded to take action after Jim Riley, the factory foreman, had come into Callans’ office the previous Friday afternoon.
Jim Riley was on the verge of a nervous breakdown and his outbursts on that afternoon came echoing back to Callan.
“Look Derek, no matter how many times, or how slowly I explain it to him, it just doesn’t sink in, he’s nothing short of a thick useless bastard. I can’t do anything with him. If I have to look at that stupid puppy dog expression on his face for one more minute, I swear I’ll rip his head off. He’s completely fucked up the whole production line again. That’s another hour’s downtime and an hours less bonus for that lot out there. If I don’t kill him, there’s a queue out there waiting to oblige. You’ve seen it countless times yourself, Derek, the blokes a menace, you’ve got to get rid of him and quickly.”
Callan knew Jim was right. He was only putting off the inevitable. He made great efforts to avoid this part of the job and fortunately hadn’t needed to do it in his ten years in relative stages of management. The new Derek wasn’t going to tolerate ineptitude.
He had a reputation to create.
Danny had to go and he couldn’t put it off any longer; best get it over with now. This wasn’t one for him to pass to the owner of the factory, as it was Callan who had employed Danny in the first place. It could also be embarrassing if he had to explain why he had kept Danny on for so long.
There was an erratic muffled knock on his door.
“Come in Danny,” Callan called out.
Danny pushed his right shoulder into the plywood door to Callans’ office. This action was always accompanied by a tight squeaking sound, as the door hinged away from its ill-fitting frame; an action that always caused Callan to shift uncomfortably in his PVC swivel chair.
One day he would get that bloody door fixed, he thought to himself - again.
“Morning boss, how’re you doing? What can I do for you?”
Danny had casually meandered over to the low-backed plastic chair facing Derek’s’ desk. Its four tubular legs were firmly imbedded in the grey, grubby office carpet. Judging from the way the edges turned up away from the walls, the carpet appeared to occupy its’ office environment reluctantly.
Danny proceeded to sit himself down, facing Callan across the desk without the slightest indication of what was to follow.
This made Callan even more unsettled.
He had, despite being in new territory, assumed that the employee in question would have more than a slight inclination as to what was going on.
“Danny, Danny, Danny.” Callan uttered gently.
He cleared his throat loudly and composed himself.
“Now then, er, Danny, we appear to have a situation here that we need to address, er, as soon as possible, together…well…now really. No time like the present, eh?”
It wasn’t going well.
“That’s right boss, and I’m happy that you think I can help. What do you want me to do then? I’d get the suppliers out if I were you. That machine is just not up to the job. You’ve dropped a bit of a bollock there boss, but don’t worry; we all make mistakes eh!”
“Danny, what the hell are you talking about? There’s nothing wrong with the machine - nothing! It’s state of the art stuff we’re talking about here. I personally selected it, and I can tell you it cost a bloody fortune. Danny lad, that machine only has a problem when you go anywhere near it. It must be frightened to death of you; it must dread you coming towards it.”
“Bloody ‘ell! That is state of the art.”
“For Gods sake, I can’t believe I’m hearing this. Look Danny, there’s no easy way to do this. Jim’s been having some problems where you’re concerned. Whenever we have a breakdown, nine times out of ten you’re there or thereabouts. You’re costing this company a fortune. I’ve…I’ve really got no option mate, I’m going to have to let you go.”
“Go? What d’ya mean; go?” Danny asked, confused.
“Danny, I can’t possibly make it clearer can I? You’re going to have to leave. You’re too much of a liability. I don’t get any pleasure from this, believe me. I’ll make sure you get your full entitlement, and maybe a little extra. I can’t say fairer than that now can I?”

“What do you mean boss? I’ve got to leave? Bloody hell! I really like it here boss. You should be sacking Jim and getting a decent machine installed. It’s not my fault it doesn’t like me and that Jim’s a shit foreman anyway, ask anyone? You can’t blame it all on me boss.”
“Danny, please. Don’t make this more difficult than it need be. You can finish straight away and I’ll pay you to the end of the week. Get your stuff together and call in to see Marion. She’ll have your money ready lad, I’m sorry, I really am, but it’s for the best, honestly.”
Danny became furious.
“For the best: best for who? Bollocks! It’s not the best for me that’s for sure. I’ve got a family to feed and to look after you know. It’s shit this is; our Linda will kill me. She will you know, she’ll go bloody spare! “
“It’s best you go now Danny. Say your farewells, and then, as I say, just call into the office on your way out.”
“Marvellous! Absolutely fucking marvellous! So that’s it. Two years dedication to duty up the swannee without a paddle, or whatever it is. Marvellous that is!”
“All right lad, all right