Outliers Paul 7B
I was on my way back from the Mulch station for the sixth time today and saw a pile left behind by our equestrian helpers. I was cleaning up the piles when I heard someone approaching me from behind. I turned to see Paul heading straight for me. I put my broom on the trike and was dumping the scoop out.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Yelled Paul.
The sarcasm just took over. I looked around both left and right then looked at Paul, “You talking to me?” I said with the worst New York accent ever.
“This isn’t funny. You can’t hoard all the stuff.” Paul said.
“What stuff?” I said, knowing that Paul was talking about all the electrical equipment that I put a moratorium on.
“You know damn well what I’m talking about, the wire.” Paul shot back.
“You mean the regulated electrical equipment and supplies that takes a qualified person to install.” I said as I lowered my tone from jovial to serious.
“Don’t give me that crap, anyone can do that shit.” Paul started off.
“NO!” I shouted at him. “NO! By the look of some of your work, YOU CAN’T!” I took a deep breath and then continued, “You are not qualified to run any. And I mean any. Electrical circuits and if I catch you doing that again. I personally will bring charges against you.” I said then went to get on my trike.
Paul stepped up to me. “Who are you to decide what I can do?”
“For one; I was a licensed electrician. Two; and engineer. Three; I had the 2013 electrical code memorized. Four; I ran electrical crews for both low and high voltage installations in my twenties. Five; I designed thousands of control systems for buildings that are no longer standing or in use. So, when I call you unqualified. I. Mean. UNQUALIFIED!”
Paul just stood there. What more could he say?
“Move.” I demanded.
“This is not that world.” he finally said.
“No, it’s not, but electricity is a privilege and we are lucky to have it again. That means we need to treat it carefully and allowing you to half-ass the installation of new circuits is a recipe for disaster, and we really can’t afford that.” I was about to turn and go, then said, “If you really want to do that kind of work, then join the apprenticeship and get trained.”
“This is a dick move and all you’re going to do is make more enemies.” Paul stated.
I stopped and said something I shouldn’t have, “Well join the club and quite honestly I’m getting tired of all the sniveling crap I get from people who want to do a half baked job and charge top dollar for it. Get training or get lost.” Then I left. More mad at myself for losing my cool, but it was getting hard. Lately everyone was trying to do too much, too fast. I thought having the power back on would make it easier. Instead we can work later, we can do more, we are just wearing ourselves out. And now that the genie was out of the bottle, there was no putting it back. We were making progress. Kan was making these electric trikes and four wheelers and we have plans to suspend a line above the roadways so that we can move things from the fields to the factories quicker. Plus we are looking into batteries that will allow our tractors to charge and then plow, charge and plow because our diesel fuel is almost gone. Some think the horses could do that, but even with the charging cycle the tractors would be faster.
Paul’s final statement turned Alan back around. “You can’t police everyone!”
Alan was now facing Paul, “No, but I can sure as hell make an example of you to get my point across.” This was no threat. The Pauls of this community need to know that I’m serious about doing good work.
Paul just stood there. There were about a dozen people that saw this exchange and he was losing. The worst part is that this would carry over to his other work. This humiliation would resound throughout the colony and he wouldn’t get any work. Alan knew that and so he said as loud as he could, “As far as handymen go, you're one of the best, just stay away from the electrical stuff.”
You could see in Paul’s face that he now had his out. He could walk away with a win. Paul needed one more thing. He took a step towards Alan, “I need…”
Alan waited
“I need a letter.”
“You want a recommendation to join the apprenticeship?” Alan asked.
“Yes.”
“Done.” Alan was about to leave then said, “I’m not against anyone. But when it comes to electrical work. There is only one way to do it. I can’t compromise on that.”
“It’s just”
Alan cut him off. “No. No Justs. People die. Home or businesses burn to the ground. I won’t compromise this.”
“I get it.” Paul finally said. “But I can’t work and be an apprentice.”
“Yes you can, it will just take longer, plus you can test out of the first year and start as a second year.” Alan said then added, “Plus you will be so busy the next year will go by in a blink. And as a second year, you will earn more than what you’re doing now. It’s a win win.”
“But I’d be working for someone else.” Paul finally said.
“There is nothing wrong with accountability.” Alan stated.
“It’s not that. I just don’t do well with others.” Paul admitted. I work alone.
“Not for the next year. I’m not backing down on this.” Alan stated.
There was something Paul wasn’t saying. You could see it in his face.
Alan finally said, “Let’s talk tonight on my porch.” Alan was hoping that the privacy would allow Paul to speak out, what he was hiding here.
Paul nodded yes and then hung his head.
Oh yeah, there definitely was a secret he didn’t want the crowd to hear. Alan wanted to make sure he would come, “We’ll break out some brandy. I’ve got a two year old that is dying to be drunk.”
Paul’s head rose again. There was something about being invited to the Head Elders house for a drink that brought a bit of prestige to those invited. “I can do that.” he finally said. Then turned to go.
Alan continued with his chore and then spied another wagon coming down the road. He watched as it approached.
If you want to read more about the Remnant Series see the links below.
Bood 5: Chaos coming soon to Amazon.com
Book 6: Obsidian Arrows
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R. A. Legg
R. A. Legg
R.A. Legg © 2016. All Rights Reserved.
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