Steve
Saturday
As I sipped my first cup of coffee on the still dark patio, I contemplated the state of the company and whether starting an adult toy company during a major recession was sane. S&S LSA was definitely a toy company, but had the potential to make a splash. If we can build a ready to fly light sport aircraft and sell it for about fifty thousand, we will have more orders than we can handle, even during a recession. The total startup investment won't be too bad as we were planning on building the space anyhow. The composite body is ready and an R&D project, plus the engine is really a multi-purpose engine that happens to fit this application.
The engine is something special. Abe spent a long time developing an engine that is either air cooled for one application or water cooled for another. The difference was in the cylinders, heads, and water pump. Abe said he was creating a platform engine that could be varied in size and variable in performance options. He's working on a turbocharger that will beef up the output by about twenty to twenty-five percent. He always has accomplished what he set out to do.
I guess the biggest investment is the usual, people. Wes isn't that expensive, based on his knowledge, and the other men were barely productive because of slow business in their old departments. Wes needs a girl Friday to make sure he knows what day it is and when to return calls. I'm sure Ruth will come up with the right person.
As I walked over to turn on the lights, Glenda came in, carrying her cup. She said, "How long have you been sitting out here? Did you need some privacy?"
"Not really, Glenda, just thinking about some projects."
Glenda poured herself some more coffee and sat with me. She asked, "Are you worrying over what to do in Germany? That is a great compliment from a country like that."
I said, "They probably just want some new manufacturing blood to spur their own into action. We'll probably have a rebuild shop and maybe build one of our new forklifts there. The Ireland group is building at a steady pace now, but the orders have been heavy enough we've had to ship from Onan. That wasn't our plan for overseas, but it's been working out. Onan is doing alright in new orders, but is laying off workers and contracting out in anticipation of an even worse economy. If they can't fulfill our orders, we'll have to make up the difference in manufacturing. That's another 'we'll see' type of thing."
Glenda said, "You know Martin and I are getting up there in age. Martin is just about to the point he can't do much for many people any more. It upsets him, but he recognizes he can only do what he can do. Now that Jim is taking care of the major maintenance around the property, and Mark is beginning to help people with their cars, Martin can relax and just tinker with some minor fixit things. He has to feel useful."
"What are you getting at, Glenda?"
She smiled and said, "I'm just trying to remind you that your morning girlfriend and her husband are getting older. You've made us so happy we'll probably hang around another ten or fifteen years, but you'll have to push us around in a chair."
"If you get to the point where you can't get around good, let me know and we'll get you one of those power chairs or scooters. You're getting around pretty good though, so it's going to be years before you need one of those."
I got up and went to Glenda and gave her a hug. "We'll always be around to take care of you, Glenda, both you and Martin. You two don't have to do anything but enjoy yourselves and your retirement. You still try to do too much. Let the other ladies take care of things."
"Oh, Steve, you know I have to be busy. The only thing I do is wash up some things and sometimes help with lunch. No one hardly lets me do anything any more."
I smiled, "Good, it's time for us to wait on you."
Sue had come out with a diet Coke in her hand and said, "Glenda, are you talking old again. I told you last week to cut that out. You ain't old till you're at least ninety, and you have a ways to go."
Glenda smiled and asked, "You've been having those girls of Chuck's out here a lot. Are you lobbying to have them out here for more babies?"
Sue said, "Wouldn't that be neat to have a bunch of babies again. Perhaps Dennis and his girlfriend will get hitched and start producing too. The kids make this place."
"You didn't answer the question, Sue, are you trying to get them to move out here?"
Sue grinned, "You caught me. Yes Ma'am, I am. I think the girls are about ready to come on out, but Chuck likes his place and the girls have a big house of their own. They're going to continue to work, so they need to come out here for someone to take care of those babies during the day. Susan and Nancy dote on babies and will want to take care of them full time."
The patio was filling up, when Charlie asked, "Did I hear you talking about going out to the Vet's bike show?"
I answered, "Chuck said he wanted to ride and I thought it might be good to go out there this evening. The games are in the afternoon, but the judging of the show bikes won't start till around five. If we left here a little after five, we could be out there by six and have a good time. We would be there for the auction and all the drawings, plus we could eat out there."
Shawna and Hanna simultaneously asked, "Have you made arrangements for kid watching?"
Sue said, "Kate said she would help, plus Mom is coming out this evening. Matty said she would help, so that's three. The kids can all crash here and have a slumber party."
Charlie said, "Okay, that takes care of this evening, now what about this motocross stuff? What are we going to do about that?"
The word motocross caught the ear of a bunch of kids who edged their way closer to the group of adults.
I said, "Kevin, Dennis, and Tina all said they would help teach the kids. First things first, though. This morning we can all go get safety equipment and perhaps find a couple of bikes."
Jim said, "Hannah and I scouted a few bikes in the trader and found four that are decent buys. They're all small ones, hundred cc stuff for little ones. Some of the kids will move into one twenty-fives real quick, but all the kids can start out with the hundreds."
I offered, "Sue will get you some cash so you can pick those up."
Charlie said, "That's the other thing. How do you want to handle the cost of this thing? How do you want to split up the bikes and stuff?"
I said, "Sue and I talked about it and we'll pick up the machinery. If anyone wants to buy something special later on, go for it, but we're doing real well right now, so we'll pick up the cost of the bikes and putting a track together. Terrel said he knows a guy who has built some tracks and will get a beginner's track ready for us this coming week. He had the grading and dirt moving equipment at a job last week and can move it here now. As far as the safety equipment, do you think everyone can pay for that?"
Charlie answered, "Everybody that works for you can, but there may be some other kids from out here that may not be able to."
With a smile I said, "Have them come with me and my brood to get the safety gear so I can pick it up. If we have people out here that are in trouble with jobs and such, let me know. This is our neighborhood; we don't let our neighbors get down. We'll find them a job."
Shawna said, "There is a family that's been here about six months and I heard the man lost his job last month. They were going to be short on lot rent and utilities. I was meaning to ask you if you could talk to the guy. The company he worked for moved him here then decided to cut most of the management. The guy had just been promoted to department manager and is now out of a job."
Sue asked, "Does his wife work?"
Shawna said, "That's the real rub, the guy has two kids and the mom hasn't been a part of the family for a lot of years."
"How old are the kids?" Sue asked.
"The boy is Greg's age and the girl is about Lizzie's," Shawna answered.
"Well, let's go get them so we can take them with us. If the dad will come along, I can learn a little about him. Maybe we can find him a job."
Shawna said, "Let me introduce you. We'll take your cart and bring them down for breakfast."
"Shawna, they may not be up yet. It is Saturday."
Shawna was pushing me out the door, "Hey, this is an opportunity for the guy. If he ain't up, we'll get him up. With two kids, he's probably up."
Charlie was hollering as we climbed into my cart, "See you tonight, Shawna, I have to go to work."
We drove over to the double-wides in the newer section, and stopped at a nice place. It looked well cared for with some bushes and bedding plants along the side.
The main door was open, so I knocked on the side of the screen door. "Hello, you have visitors."
A young boy and girl ran to the door, while a young guy walked over. He looked out, then opened the door. "Hey, Shawna, how are you? Is this Charlie, your old man?"
"Hey, Bart, no this is Steve Sharp. I brought him over to meet you. He's getting ready to take the kids to the motocross store to get safety gear. You talked to me about your two wanting to get involved."
"I know I talked to you about it, but we may have to pass right now. Things are getting really tight a lot faster than I thought they would. My miserable car had to have a transmission and as soon as that was fixed, I had to buy a battery. Then the TV went on the fritz. We found a cheap used one, but you know kids and TV, you gotta have one. I'm running real short, so motocross may not be realistic right now."
I said, "How about letting me help the kids out so they can get started. I'll spot you the safety gear and we're going to have community bikes, so there won't be any cost there."
Bart said, "That's kind of you, but we shouldn't sponge off of other people. I'm concerned though that if they did do the motocross stuff, I don't have any health insurance. I can't afford the Cobra amount for the health insurance I had."
"We can probably work something out for you on that, Bart. How about letting the kids get involved with the other kids that are going to be doing this?"
Shawna spoke up, "Have you had breakfast yet?"
Bart said, "I was just starting to fix it."
The little redhead smiled and said, "Come on, come down to the patio and have breakfast with us. We have a party every morning and this would be a good day for you to join us. Come on down and we'll talk about everything."
You could see the indecision in Bart's face, so I said, "There's a bunch of people down there to network with about getting a job. If there's a place for you, you'll probably find it among all the folks down there."
That made up his mind and he said, "Sonny, you and Joan shut off the TV and put on your shoes. We're going someplace to have breakfast."
The boy, Sonny, asked, "Is this the place where CJ, Steve, and Greg live?"
I said, "It is. Steve and Greg are two of my boys."
Sonny was putting on his shoes and said, "That's the place I was telling you about last night, Dad. Steve said they had a bunch of NASCAR teams over there for a party."
I asked, "Did you talk to Steve last night?"
"No, we saw him at the pool yesterday. All the kids from over there were talking about it. There's a lot of kids that live over there."
As we got into the cart, I said, "Yep, there are a lot of kids over there. You guys should join them more often."
At the house, I brought Bart and his kids into the patio. CJ and Steve saw Sonny and immediately ran to him, which meant two seconds later they were running into the house. Liz came up to Joan and began talking to her, and seconds later, they were running into the house as well.
"Coffee, Bart?" I asked, heading toward the big pot.
"That would be great," Bart said.
I handed Bart his coffee, drew another cup for myself and turned to him and the guys standing around the bar, "Tiny, Phil, Abe, Martin, Henry, Ryan, Hap, Bear, this is Bart. I'm sorry, I didn't ask your last name."
Bart said, "It's Molson, like the beer, Bart Molson."
Tiny laughed and said, "Hope you don't mind drinking Bud. That's what's on tap around here."
"You have a tap?" Bart asked.
Abe said, "Damn right. We use it right regular too, every evening. It's a tradition Steve started several years ago with Martin and Charlie. It's just continued."
I said, "It's a long story for some other time. The Charlie you mentioned is at work. Some of the other guys are working as well. How about a breakfast sandwich, I think the ladies are saving up the big breakfast for tomorrow morning."
Ryan offered, "If you haven't been invited to the Sunday morning breakfast and lingerie show you definitely have to come. It is a real eye opener."
Phil said, "It is definitely something to wake you up and get you up."
Tiny asked, "What do you do for a living, Bart?"
"I was manager of manufacturing accounting at Stratus Corporation until they decided to contract. They downsized all of the department managers and cut the department size in anticipation of less business. They were doing pretty well, with orders actually about the same as last year, but think they are going to have a rough year. They don't have any confidence in the economy."
Tiny said, "They were doing a lot of government business. Do they feel the department of defense is going to stop buying?"
Bart said, "I heard the DOD will probably slow down orders and reduce purchases by at least thirty percent. I don't know whether that's real or not, but that's what they're basing they're staff reduction on."
Tiny was curious, "Have you been able to do much job hunting since you were cut?"
"Every day for six weeks. I've had a few nibbles, but no one wants an accountant with an MBA. I only finished the MBA to have better knowledge of how management controls a business. I thought it would help as an accountant. I think the people I'm talking to all think I want to be in marketing, and in reality, I'm just a bean counter."
Henry overheard that said, "Hey partner, I resemble that remark. There's nothing wrong with counting beans when it puts some on your plate."
"You can say that again," Bart said. "I much prefer helping to balance the books than trying to market them."
Tiny said, "You know, I just sent two guys to Hawaii for a new operation over there. What do you think, Henry, should we check this guy out to see if he measures up?"
"Do you guys know of a job opening?" Bart asked, getting excited.
Henry said, "Actually, yes. Tiny stole one of my best men and took one of his best men to send to the land of grass skirts. He thinks we might be able to cover for those two with the present staff, but he's going to find out real quick, it ain't happenin'. We can easily get behind now because our mutual bosses are constantly introducing something new that we have to scramble to cost out. I can imagine Tiny is having some sleepless nights over the boss' new toy project."
I said, "Now, now, I can call them toys, but you must call them LSAs, because they will be very profitable."
"Sure they will, Steve, but you're a year away from full production and I know what you're doing. You're using this project to research materials for something else you're thinking of. The kid over at the fiberglass shop was over here at the park measuring the tables so he could mold some special sewing tables. He told me all about wanting a bunch of composite sheets to shoot at. We'll be knee deep in more government business."
Bart spoke up, "I know how to handle government accounts. I've been handling them for Stratus for five years. I know how to work directly with all branches for equipment and armament."
I smiled and elbowed Tiny, "That did it, Tiny, hire this guy before our competition snatches him up."
"Hire me? Are you kidding? Are you someone who can do that?"
Tiny said sort of off the cuff, "Yep, Steve Sharp, the founder and owner of S&S Enterprises, can do that. And Henry here, the guy popping off to you, can probably put you to work handling government accounts this morning, if you want to work on Saturday."
Bart asked, "Don't you work for the same people?"
Bear gave a belly laugh and said, "Hell, nobody works for anybody around here. Everybody works with everybody here. Henry primarily plays with the sewing plants and Tiny overseas everything. You know who makes almost all of the fatigues worn in the military today, don't you?"
Bart answered, "Sure, that would be Quality Wear. They've cornered that market and are coming in real low. No one can compete with them."
Bear said, "See that little babe over there with big hooters? That's Sue Sharp, Steve's wife, that's the creator and owner of Quality Wear."
"Holy shit. So Henry, you really do work for Quality Wear?"
"Yep," Henry said, "ever since Steve flew up north and rescued me from an accounting firm that was going nowhere."
Bart turned and looked at me, "You're serious, right; I can apply to your company?"
Tiny said, "We are all serious, but unless you can't pass a drug test, you're hired and will be starting out at Quality Wear on Monday. Henry will work out your salary and benefits with you." Tiny looked at me and asked, "What do you think, Steve, can we wave the ninety day waiting period for the health insurance?"
"That shouldn't be a problem. We should be able to take care of that. Now, Bart, how about a breakfast sandwich and a little more coffee before we go shopping for some safety gear?"
You could see the relief in Bart's eyes as we made our way to a pile of wrapped sandwiches and good looking pastry.
Bart went back to sit with the men, and I went to Sue and said, "We just solved your problem of losing a guy to Hawaii and the problem of working with the military and their invoicing."
"How did you do that?" Sue asked.
I said, "Shawna knew that guy who has kids and couldn't afford the safety gear?"
"Okay," Sue said.
"Well, it turns out he was an accounting manager, with an MBA, who was just moved here by Stratus and was then downsized when they cut back last month or so ago."
Sue smiled, "No kidding. So he worked with their military group?"
"He says that's where he's been for the last five years and had just been brought here as a promotion to be group manager."
"Introduce me. I want him to start Monday so he can straighten those invoices out."
I brought Sue over to Bart and said, "Sue, this is Bart Molson, Bart, Sue Sharp, the queen of Quality Wear."
"I'm not a queen. I work there just like everybody else." With a smile, Sue said, "Has Henry told you that he's had two guys trying to figure out how the military can screw up invoices faster than we can even print them?"
"He said he could use the help," Bart said.
"Well, as of Monday morning, you'll be helping sort them out. You'll be in charge of what, Henry, about a dozen girls that handle those invoices?"
Henry said, "That's about right, about a dozen."
"Well anyway, Bart, you'll be earning your keep from the first second. I'll have personnel to do your paperwork while you begin. Oh yeah, hey, Ruth."
Ruth came over to Sue. Sue asked, "Do you have any of those dope sticks out here?"
As Ruth was thinking about it, Hannah said, "We have some in the supply closet for the models."
Sue said to Hannah, "Get one and get a cup." She turned back to Bart and said, "Follow Hannah, pee in the cup and have her dip her stick. If you're clean, you're hired."
Bart was laughing at Sue's delivery and grinning broadly as he followed Hannah into the house.
Sue gave me a kiss, then Tiny and Henry, and said, "I love it when a plan comes together."
Tiny commented, "Just another example of the luck you two have brought this place. We find treasures everywhere."
Kevin said, "Let's get an early start at the gear store. They get really busy about ten. We should try to get there as close to eight-thirty as we can."
I said, "Sounds good to me. Shawna, help get the kids together that need safety gear so we can leave real soon. Get Mercy, Kathy, and Juanita to help."
Just about this time, the courtesy van from the hotel showed up with two of the teams inside. Phil said, "Oh shit, I told them about us having breakfast out here every morning. I'm sorry, Chief, I'll handle them. Go ahead and take care of the kids."
Tiny said, "I'll work with him. I was going to be at the shop with these guys anyway. Get going. Say, why don't you catch the driver of the van and use it for the kids? Have him take your cart back over to the hotel and you can drop off the van later."
"Good thinking, Tiny," I turned toward the door and yelled, "Hey," to the driver, "I need to talk to you."
The guy had no problem with what I wanted since I was the hotel franchise holder. Or at least the company was. He drove away and I began directing kids toward the van. It would hold the driver plus fourteen, so we were piling them in. Kevin was going to use Sue's Expedition and Hannah was going to use her Saturn SUV.
We went through the door as the clerks were opening up for business. I told the owner, "Fix each one of the kids up with a full set of safety gear and a helmet. Colors are not important at this point, just the quality of the gear. Make it your best and you'll get our business next time too."
The guy began counting kids and was up to twenty four and said, "Holy shit, I don't know whether I can outfit twenty-four."
One of clerks said, "That big re-order you bought just came in. We should have most of everything we need in that order."
"Man, are you lucky. Any other time, there is no way I could outfit that many at once. That is quality stuff. I have some promo stuff that isn't as good, but would work."
I smiled, "No, these are our kids, give us the good stuff. Fix 'em up."
It took until ten to get all the kids suited up with helmets, boots, gloves, and leathers. We even got some cups for the guys and then some of the girls asked why they didn't get one. The store was getting busy, but we were able to get everything purchased. I could see it would be a mess to try to check each kid out individually, so I told the clerk. "Ring up everything on one ticket. I'll take care of it and let the ladies divide up who owes what later."
The owner came to me and thanked me for the business. He said, "I threw in gloves for all the kids. That's my thanks for the order. Have you guys bought bikes yet?"
I said, "We're starting out with some used hundreds and will progress upward as the kids are ready for them."
He nodded and said, "I have a half a dozen hundreds in the back that are new two year old models. I'll let you have them at half price if you'll take all of them. Folks are buying one twenty-fives even for new beginners. I try to tell them to go smaller, but they won't listen. I think a lot of the kids that start with a bike that's too big for them get turned off because the bike gets away from them. Christ, I'm two hundred pounds and a one twenty-five will haul my big ass around a track."
I shook my head in agreement, "Thanks, we'll take all you have. If you know of some more right now, we'll take them."
"How many do you want total?" The guy asked.
I called Kevin over and said, "Jim and Hannah said they have found four bikes and this guy says he has six that he'll give me a deal on, how many more than ten do we need?"
Kevin said, "We could really use one for every kid and one each for us adults. We'll have to have some safety gear for us too, you know. Tina and Dennis still have theirs at home. Ah, we absolutely have to have a dozen total, but a full twenty four would be good. Considering at least six will be broken at any time, two dozen may not be enough."
The store owner said, "Tell you what, I know where I can at least a dozen more hundreds for the same deal. If you'll buy the bigger bikes you need for the adult riders from me, I'll trade dollars with you on the hundreds and spot you two adults your safety gear. That's worth a bunch of bucks."
Kevin said, "No shit, that's worth a bunch."
I smiled and said, "I take it that we're making an even better deal. Let Kevin pick out the big bikes, and we'll be by later today or Monday if that would be better to begin picking up the bikes and our safety gear."
"Monday is better. I have to service everything and make sure it runs. You know there's a warranty even on the two year old new bikes. I'll take care of them for you. I don't warranty bent parts, but I do fix them. We're good and we're pretty quick. Thanks again for your business. I see folks out by the big street bikes, so I should go sell some. I'll see you Monday."
The bill for the safety gear looked like the national debt. Good thing I've been making money, or this could not happen. Kevin and I agreed we would come in Monday during the day and pick up bikes and get our safety gear. That's good, because we were going to need a large storage building to hold everything.
The kids were going bonkers and insisted on wearing their gear out of the store while carrying their shoes. It looked pretty funny to see all the kids in those big helmets. It almost looked like uniforms, as they were all alike except that there were four different colors: blue, green, yellow, and red. It was even at six per color. That might work out to be teams, who knows.
Kevin mentioned the downside as we were loading them up to go home, "You know, those kids will outgrow those leathers pretty quick. Some can be hand me downs, but kids grow fast. You're going to be busy buying replacements."
Primary editing by Pepere
Proofing by Sagacious
Last one through - Deenara2000