Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now.

 

 



“Cynthia, where is that fucking intern?” Brian yelled into the intercom.

A moment later Cynthia appeared in the doorway of Brian’s office. “Which intern would you be asking about?” she said patiently.

“The fucking intern that I told at least an hour ago to go get me a couple of easels for the Eyeconics presentation.”

“We have four interns working here,” Cynthia replied calmly.

“I don’t give a shit if we have a hundred and four interns working here! I want the fucking one that I told to get the damn easels two hours ago,” Brian declared.

“What was his name?”

“Adam, Alex, Andy – who the fuck knows! I want those easels.”

Brian’s glare sent shivers up Cynthia’s spine. She was very glad she was not the intern in question. He was going to be whimpering like a beaten puppy or crying in fear or out on his ass if he didn’t appear momentarily. And even his immediate appearance with the said easels might not be enough to save him.

“I’ll see if I can find him,” Cynthia said.

“Don’t bother,” Brian informed her. “Just get me the fucking easels.”

“Yes, Boss,” Cynthia responded and promptly disappeared.

“Fucking interns!” Brian muttered.

“Mr. Kinney, here are your easels,” a voice said from the doorway.

Brian glanced at the source of the voice. “You’re not Adam,” Brian said looking daggers at the hapless young man.

“Do you mean Anton?” the young man asked.

“Whatever the other intern’s name is,” Brian mumbled. “Set up the easels over there,” he said pointing to the area behind the long conference table. “Or can’t you handle that?”

“Yes, sir. I can handle it, sir.”

Brian went back to what he was doing on the computer, but he kept an eye on the intern and what he was doing.

“The easels are set up,” the lad said. “Are they positioned satisfactorily?”

“They’ll do.”

“Is that all, sir?”

“The art department has the boards ready that will go on these easels,” Brian stated. “Can I trust you to go get them, or will you disappear like Atlas?”

“I’ll be right back,” the intern said heading for the door.

“What’s your name?” Brian demanded before the lad could disappear out the door.

“Rory, sir.”

“Good, now I know who to fire if you’re not back here in five minutes with the required boards.”

“Yes, sir,” Rory said as he hustled out of the office with a worried look on his face.

Very quickly Rory returned with a pile of boards. “Should I set these out, Mr. Kinney?” he asked.

“Yes, they should be in order.”

Brian watched the young man carefully place a board on each of the two easels. He made sure to center them carefully.

“Should I get some more easels,” Rory asked noting that he had three more boards and no more easels to place them on.

Brian smiled slightly. This intern seemed to be on the ball and he was willing to go the extra mile to make things right. “See the ledge along that wall?” Brian asked nodding toward where he wanted the boards placed.

“Yes, sir.” Rory started placing the boards. He made sure they were tilted just right so that they stood up and didn’t fall over. He spaced them evenly so they were aesthetically pleasing.

“Not bad,” Brian said as he moved over to survey the area.

“Thanks, sir,” Rory replied with a smile.

“You like working here?” Brian asked.

“Very much, sir.”

“Glad to hear it. Keep up the good work.”

“I will, sir.”

“Brian,” Cynthia’s voice came over the intercom. “The Eyeconics people are here.”

“Send them in.”

“I’ll get out of the way,” Rory said quickly. Brian nodded and Rory moved to the door of the office. He stepped back out of the way as the Eyeconics group came in, and then unobtrusively exited. His good manners and common sense were not lost on Brian.

 

******
 


Brian decided he needed a cup of coffee. The Eyeconics meeting had gone very well. They liked the new campaign. Even that uber-bitch that was in charge had been impressed. Thank the gods, that the new intern had been able to get everything set up in time. When Brian found that other intern, he was going to skin him alive.

As Brian approached the break room, he heard voices. He was about to walk in when he heard his name. He paused to listen.

“Kinney is going to ream you good,” Rory’s voice explained.

“I hear he likes to ream young boys,” came the laughing response.

Brian felt himself bristle. He knew only too well what the little asshole meant. He’d show him what reaming was all about.

“You’re an idiot, Anton!” Rory retorted. “If I were you, I’d get my ass out there and make your apologies to the boss.”

Anton snorted. “I’m not an ass kisser like you. I like my leisure time.”

“You don’t know what the fuck you’re doing.”

“I’m enjoying myself,” Anton said with a smirk as he took another bite of his donut. “Your hard work may pay off in the future, but my laziness pays off now. I’m the one having a good time, while you do all the work.”

Rory shook his head. How did you explain to someone with an attitude like that, that he was totally screwing himself? Probably you couldn’t, Rory decided. “I thought you wanted to work in advertising. You just fucked your chances at the premier ad agency in Pittsburgh,” Rory admonished the other intern.

Brian smiled. He liked this Rory kid. He knew what was what and he didn’t mind going above and beyond. The other intern was a different story.

“I will work in advertising,” Anton said confidently. “I got straight A’s in all my courses in school.”

“So you’re smart in school, but you’re beyond dumb in the work world,” Rory replied.

‘Got that right,’ Brian thought.

“I’m not going to strain myself,” Anton explained. “I can be as lazy as I like and still get what I want. I’ve been sitting here having coffee and donuts while you were running your ass off. So, who’s the idiot?” he scoffed.

“That would be you, Anton,” Brian said as he entered the room.

“Wha…? Mr. Kinney, I…”

“No need to explain, Anton. Get your shit together and take it on the road. You’re fired.”

“But, I … You can’t…”

“Yes, I can. You may think that laziness pays off, but let me tell you that you are sadly mistaken. Laziness never pays off, not in advertising or any other profession. I’ll be sure to make that clear in my report to your professor.”

“But, you wouldn’t…”

“Just watch me. Now get the fuck out!”

Looking like a beaten puppy, Anton slunk from the room.

“Rory, you don’t subscribe to the theory that hard work pays off in the future and laziness pays off now … do you?” Brian asked, although he was sure he already knew the answer.

“Absolutely not, sir,” Rory said.

“Good lad. Do you think you can do Atlas’ job as well as your own, considering how little he actually did?”

“I think I’ve already been doing most of it, sir,” Rory replied with a small grin. “Not that I’m trying to toot my own horn.”

“There’s nothing wrong with horn tooting when it’s true. Consider your salary doubled along with your work load. Can you handle that?”

“Absolutely!”

“Then grab a coffee for yourself and one for me. I have something I want you to do for me today.”

“Yes, sir,” Rory said cheerfully.

Brian glanced out the door of the break room to see Anton with his coat on and his backpack over his shoulder. He was about to say something crude, but decided against it. He’d do his explaining in his report on the lazy intern.

“Here’s your coffee, sir,” Rory said handing Brian a mug.

“Thanks. What do you know about skateboards?”

“Skateboards?” Rory asked in surprise. “I have an Element.”

“Do you like it?” Brian said with a smile. He thought Rory might be the person he needed for this job. He wanted a young person’s perspective.

“I love it. It’s the best made and the materials are environmentally friendly. It’s a great board.”

“That’s the next campaign I’m working on, for Element Skateboards, but I know next to nothing about the actual product. How would you like to work on the campaign with me?”

“Me! Wow! That would be fantastic!”

“Good, then grab your coffee and let’s get started,” Brian said as he left the room.

“Yes!” Rory crowed pumping the air in victory. Could this day get any better? He was getting his pay doubled and he was going to work with the boss. Not being lazy had really paid off for him. Too bad about Anton, but then who cared?

“Rory, I’m waiting,” Brian called out from down the hall.

“Coming, sir,” Rory said as he practically ran towards the dream job he had been hoping for. Hard work could pay off today.

Feedback for Thyme

or email to thymewriter@gmail.com

Return to the Something To Think About Challenge