Big Mike Tucker's voice bellowed around the Buy More. "Grimes, Bartowski, My office now"
Morgan shimmied into the office, "Chuck's not here, he pulled an all nighter and is sleeping it off."
"Well go home and wake him up and get him in here, I have very important news for you two."
Morgan left the Buy More and went home to find Chuck but Chuck wasn't there. He found the note and instantly knew where Chuck would be. He knew him so well. Morgan found him at his spot on the beach.
There he was, sitting by himself on the sand. It was obvious that he had been there all night. He was looking a little worse for wear and his clothes were covered with sand. He seemed surprised that it was Morgan who found him there but then perhaps it was for the best. A certain blonde woman was not his favourite person right now and he wouldn't be sure what he would say to her or the way he would say it.
"Dude, I'm glad I found you!"
Chuck turned his head to look at him. "Hi Morgan."
"Dude, you're wanted in the Buy More. We're wanted in the Buy More! Big Mike got something big to announce and we have to be there".
Chuck sighed at the news. The Buy More, when all else fails and your life goes down the gurgler then the Buy More will always be there, keeping you on life support until you are too old and to senile to do something better.
"And it was a good morning."
Chuck shook his head as he stood up and bushed the sand off his backside. Even in his darker moments the Buy More was always needing him. He looked at Morgan and muttered something under his breath. Morgan couldn't hear what he said but decide to let it slide. They made their way off the beach to collect Morgan's beloved 15 speed from the lamppost he had chained it to.
"Open the hatch and I'll put the bike in." Chuck told his friend.
Chuck unlocked the cable that secured the bike and proceeded over to the car. The friends loaded the bike into the back of the Herder and returned to the Buy More. Along the way Chuck hoped that he didn't have to deal with Sarah, it would be too much for him to deal with right now. Fortunately Morgan drove the Herder around the back to the loading dock and parked. The Orange Orange was not visible from here so Chuck was relieved. Had it been visible then he would have saw that the shop was not open this morning and the "Closed" sign was displayed on the door. They entered though the loading bays doors and made their way to the lunchroom where Chuck wanted to change into something fresh and clean. Chuck made a quick change of clothes that he kept in his locker and then they made their way to Big Mike's office.
Big Mike was sitting at his desk when the two friends walked into his office, he was looking at some reports and without looking beckon them to take a seat. He browsed from one report to the other before finally placing both reports down and turning to face his visitors.
"You wanted to see us Big Mike?" Morgan was the one who broke the silence.
Big Mike looked both men in the eye and said, "I've been on the phone all morning with Moses. It seems that the San Diego Buy More is losing money so fast that it putting a severe strain on the rest of the company's operations."
"Is that so?" Morgan quizzed
"The San Diego operations are a mess. I've been making representation to Moses to give you two a change to turn the operations around. Boys, it's time you two took the next step and grow up. You're better than the rest of these morons around here. I believe you two have the ability to turn the San Diego operations around, and I'm staking my reputation on you two. Don't think I don't know what happens around here, I know of the tricks and the stunts you two have pulled in the past, so I'm betting that you can stop all the San Diego crew's hijinx. But the main thing is, the main think is you actually care about the store and the people you work with. You two can make a difference."
Chuck and Morgan looked at each other, and then back at Big Mike. They could not believe their luck. A chance to manage one of the Buy More franchises. After all their career failures and now a lucky break.
Big Mike continued, "The thing is , you two know all the tricks and I know all the crazy stuns performed around here , you two are in the thick of it. Well boys it's time to take the view from the other side. Now you have the chance to call the shots, to maintain the discipline, to get the financial benefits from a profitable store. I know you two can do it. I willing to help in any way I can. If you need any resources then let me know and I'll do my best to see you get it.
Morgan was ecstatic, but he knew implementing discipline was going to be difficult unless he and an ace in the hole.
"Can we take John with us? I think he is about ready to strangle Jeff and Lester."
Big Mike thought about it, and then nodded.
"Yes take him with you, I'll get Skippy to keep the green shirts in line. I'll just have to lean on those two morons myself, maybe the extra work will be good for them."
Mike also called Casey into him office, when he got no response he then sent Morgan out it find him. Morgan scooted around the store before finding Casey near the DVD section.
"Big Mike wants you in the office pronto!"
Casey marched into the Managers office with Morgan following up the rear.
"Glad you could join us, take a seat." The two employees took a seat next to Chuck and then Big Mike began speaking.
"John, Morgan and Chuck are going to run the San Diego store for two weeks, I would like you to go with them and get that store ship-shape. We'll put you all up in a hotel. Just think of it as a holiday from Jeff and Lester."
Casey grunted. "Do I have to share a room?"
"No, you all get a room each, and the company will give you vouchers for meals!"
"This is gonna be great" Morgan rubbed his hands, he was excited. "This is gonna be great" he repeated. "Casey, Chuck we get to run this show and all on the company's expense."
Casey rolled his eyes and grunted.
Big Mike then pulled out from his drawer a large yellow envelope. It had the Buy More logo on it and was addressed to Morgan Grimes. Big Mike handed it to him. Morgan looked back at Mike with a puzzled expression.
"It's for you. You have earned it. Congratulations."
Morgan opened the envelope and put the contents on Mike's desk. Apart from official paperwork there was a personalized expenses card with his name on it.
"I can't send you to San Diego without funding. You now have a Buy More expense account. Use it responsibly or I'll take it back off you."
For Morgan the light in the office suddenly lit up and a shaft of golden light seem to descend from the heavens, Morgan felt like he had truly been blessed. He was going on a road trip with his best friend and best of all and company expense account just waiting for him to use it.
Big Mike stood up, "Boys you can leave immediately. Good Luck". He lent forward and offered his hand. Everybody shook it. Morgan was on cloud nine, suddenly all the planets were aligning in his favour. It's amazing what can happen when a person decides to make a go of his career.
Quick trip home to pack, as this was an open ended assignment they didn't know how long they would be away. They each opted to have a two week supply of clothes and toiletries, then the men were on their way. Casey drove the Crown Vic as they travelled to San Diego., Morgan was in the passenger's seat. Curled up in the back was Chuck, he was catching up on lost sleep after his sleepless night on the beach. After about fifteen minutes Morgan asked if the car needed fuel.
"Do you need to fill up? John."
"Nah, I've got more than half a tank!"
"Are you sure? I hear the Crown Vic guzzles the gas."
"Nah, I've got plenty of gas to get us to where we're going!"
"Yeah but..." Morgan trailed off. The penny suddenly dropped for Casey, he now realised what Morgan was on about.
"You want to use that card of yours!"
"Uh yeah" Morgan replied with a cheesy grin.
Casey pulled over at the next gas station so Morgan could use his expense account for the first time. It wasn't just gas, Morgan purchased all sorts of useless stuff, it gave him something to play with for the journey south.