Chapter 17 - Page 240 - Trouble In Chicago

  "Okay" Jim asked, "what's the second complaint?" Bill pulled one of the complaint forms out of the folder and glanced at it. "And they're not able to back up to the unloading dock-the company now allows employees to park in front of the dock. The drivers have difficulty lining their trailers up to back them in."

  "Okay," Jim said, "what's the third complaint?"

  Bill glanced down at the complaint form again. "The forklift drivers give them a lot of verbal abuse. They yell at the drivers and threaten to get them fired."

  Jim picked up the folder and took out all the complaints. As he laid them on the desk, he counted twelve forms. The company only had twelve drivers, which indicated to Jim that every driver had lodged complaints.

  "Bill," he said, "do you have any trucks that aren't being used for a few days?"

  "We have a driver on vacation," Bill replied. "His truck's in the parking lot."

  "How long has he been on vacation?" Jim asked.

  "He's been gone a week. He should be back next week."

  Jim looked at Rhasha and Shanha. "Would you girls like to ride in a truck for four or five days?" They nodded excitedly.

  Jim picked up the phone and punched in a series of numbers. "Raymond," he said when someone answered, "is that you?" He could hear monkeys chattering in the background.

  "Yes, this is Raymond," the chauffeur said. "Who am I speaking to?"

  "This is Jim, Raymond. Can I speak to Jackie or Simbatu?"

  "Jackie's gone to get some peanuts for the monkeys, but here's Simbatu." There was a pause. Jim could hear Raymond mumbling to Simbatu. He could still hear the monkeys chattering in the background.

  "Hello Jim," Simbatu said.

  "Hello Simbatu. I've got a question for you."

  "What is it?"

  "I need to drive a truck to Chicago," Jim said. "Could you and Jackie find enough to keep you busy around here while we're gone?"