15 Robert gets upset
Robert was busy sorting out orders sitting in his office on the first floor.
It was barely 10 o'clock when Alice stormed into Robert's office.
"What did he do now Alice?"
"He is scaring the customers." She said while waving her hands in the air over reacting as she usually does.
"What did he do?" Jason laid down his pen.
"Well Mrs. Dunn complained that he was ignoring her when she spoke to him. She said he kept on staring over her shoulder, as if he was looking at something or someone. The poor woman was scared out of her wits." Robert looked at her with narrowed eyes.
"Are you sure she didn't make it up again? You know Mrs. Dunn, she is always full of stories."
She pulled her face into a sour smile.
"I don't know" She threw her hands dramatically in the air.
"That's why I am telling you about it. I expect you to sort it out. I don't have time to do your work too. That's why I pay you." With that she spun around and stormed out.
"I can do everything, and I don't have the energy to deal with Mr. Smith today. These young people of today … no respect …." He could hear her complaining all the way down the hall to her office.
An amused expression appeared on Robert's face as he went in search of Jason.
He found his friend in the store room. Jason was looking in big on a wobbly looking shelve in the middle of a large store room. He did not notice as entered the jam-packed store room.
It was clear to see that many of the items on the shelves had been there for a long time. The room was brightly lit and yet the gloominess of the old shelves and surplus stock in the room made the spaces between the shelve look ominous.
Robert stood a small distance from Jason. He looked at the raggedy shelf shaking as Jason was searching through a big box.
"Jason, can I speak to you for a second?"
Jason dug his head out of the box and looked around with a jerk.
"O, it's you, didn't see you there. I'll be with you just now. Just looking for another bike chain for that kid's bike, I sold to Jefferson last week." He explained and his head was back in the boxes. The whole shelve was shaking as he continued his search for a few more seconds and then stopped.
Jason striated up with a small box in his hand.
"Got it." He exclaimed triumphantly. "What's wrong?" he enquired looking at Robert.
"Finish with Jefferson and come to my office when you're done."
"I'll be right up." Jason walked past him without another word.
Robert did not move until he was alone.
His eyes went up to the container that had overturned on the top shelve. Its contents were hanging motionless in the air right above the space where Jason was rummaging through the box.
With a slight movement of his right hand, he directed all the metal tent pegs quickly back into their container. The container then floated down to the ground. He picked it up and placed it on one of the bottom shelve.
The shelf creaked under the weight off the box, and he heard something metal fall to the floor behind him. Robert straitened up quickly and looked around. He walked around the shelf and found a broken old lamp lying on the floor.
Robert looked around the store room. He found no sigh of anyone else in the room. After deciding that it must have been to close to the edges of the shelf he sighed with relieve, and walked out of the room.
Җ
Jason came into his office about twenty minutes later. He fell down onto the only other chair in Robert's office.
"What's new?" he said clearly in no hurry to leave.
"Mrs. Dunn complained to Alice." It was all Robert had needed to say. Jason threw his head back.
"What did she bitch about now?" the contempt for the woman clearly in his voice.
"I swear that old hag has nothing to do but complains about anything and everything all day long."
Robert looked at the man with black sleep deprived circles under his eyes.
"You scared the living daylights out of her."
"Good." Jason had a smug look on his face.
"No Jason it's not. She is one off our biggest customers and when she complains you know Alice listens."
Jason pulled his left top lip up and snorts sarcastically.
"That old hag has it in for me. She never liked me. She's a real pain in the bud. You know it, as well as I do."
"Mrs. Dunn adores you, she's your best customer, and she only deals with you."
Jason pulled his face again and rolled his eyes at the comment.
"She's not the only one who complained. Jason, people are talking. You are irritated, grumpy, and aggressive. It looks like you're half asleep at work."
"That is bullshit!" his mouth twisted into a grimace scowl.
Robert looked at his friend surprised at the amount of aggression.
"How much sleep did you get last night?" he asked in a low voice.
"I'm fine." He answered with an artificial smile. you go see Doc. Wilson and get something to help you sleep? I am really getting worried about you." his smile widened. "You are zoning out, you look like the living dead." He paused for a second before he continued. "You cannot go on like this Jason."
Jason jumped up suddenly hot-footed to leave.
"Ok, I'll go see him later. Can I go now?" He sounded aloof.
"No, I think you should go to see him now, get something and go home."
Robert could sense the anger that was boiling in his friend. Jason hated people telling him what to do.
"Fuck you Rob! I told you I am fine." He leaned forward and barked. "And I am fine! Get of my back. I'm not a child Rob, I can look after myself."
They glowered at each other Robert stood up his brow furrowed and his face became hard.
"No, Jason you're not ok!" a hard edge crept into his voice, "You look dreadful; you haven't had a descent night sleep in days. You don't sleep, you hardly eat, you drink too much, and you look like a chimney most of the time. You have these horrible dreams, and now you seem to have taken to daydreaming and hallucinating. I know that you have been working at the club until the early hours of the morning."
Jason looked surprised.
"Yes Jason I know. I saw you there."
They glowered at each other for a moment. Then Jason turned away fuming, but he remained silent.
"And to be totally honest, you smell like a brothel." He added visibly disappointed.
"Jason I am giving you the day off, and if you don't go to Doc Wilson. I will drag you there myself." he said in a disgruntled voice.
Jason glared at him knowing that Robert never made empty threats. The fact that he was well built did not matter. He knew Robert would find a way to carry out his threat.
"Fine, I'll go. Anything to get you of my back!" he snorted and with that he stormed to the door.
"Jason!" Roberts's voice was low. "I just want to help you." Jason stopped at the door with his back to his friend.
"Whatever." He dropped the words before storming out and slammed the door behind him.
Robert slammed his fist on the table. Infuriated with himself for allowing things to get so out of hand. He decided that he would phone Doc. Wilson's office later to make sure Jason did actually go. He sat down and opened a file but paid no attention to the contents.
