# 3

John Smith was a resource procurement manager for Drumstix Infrastructure Services, Ohio. He was not fond of working nor liked the people who were around him. Being partly bald and obese didn't help either. He longed for his childhood neighborhood, where he had friends living off earnings of a grocery store. Nobody had ever heard him talking loud, he whispered only when it was absolutely necessary.

The last year had been particularly bad. Ray McKinzie was hired as his boss from a major rival and being able to bring him in was considered a major success by the Human Resources Department (This was the only source that John was supposed to procure. He wondered why.) What they forgot to check out was Ray's history in the rival firm and the fact that he was on the verge of being fired due to professional misconduct.

With no family left after his wife ran away, Ray had taken special liking for John and took up additional responsibility of screwing his professional life and playing with his sanity. John worked hard for long hours without being rewarded. He didn't give a damn about verbal praises anyway, but he liked a bit of extra cash. His work was severely criticized and was passed on to his juniors to insult him. A few shoe-lickers joined Ray in his campaign.

Today was a special day for John. He was meeting his dear old friend from yesteryears after a very long time. He had planned to wrap-up everything by early evening and had reached office an hour earlier than usual.

Ray was in a relatively better mood that day. He had planned not an overnight crucification of John but a relatively late night walk on the plank. John moaned and whimpered. Ray smiled and grinned. At 3 am, with his friend on his flight back, John submitted what he felt was absolutely fine presentation for next week's client meeting. Ray, blowing out the cigar smoke, had a cursory look and asked him to do research on all the past trades of the client, and of those on the other side of these trades.

"Baldy, we need to get this done. In fact, we should have done this long back. Do I have to remind you every time? We might not use this data but I feel comfortable knowing it. Give me a shout when you are done."

At 3:15 an ambulance parked itself in front of the office of Drumstix Infrastructure Services. John Smith was fired for professional misconduct and Ray was relieved on the grounds of severe loss in hearing ability.