Message-ID: <14886eli$9809011423@qz.little-neck.ny.us> X-Archived-At: From: "Bill Morgan" Subject: {Morgan}NEW: Six-month Turnaround, 16 of 16; M/F Rom - lite sex Newsgroups: alt.sex.stories.moderated,alt.sex.stories Followup-To: alt.sex.stories.d Content-Type: text/plain Path: qz!not-for-mail Organization: The Committee To Thwart Spam Approved: X-Moderator-Contact: Eli the Bearded X-Story-Submission: X-Original-Message-ID: <19980829121436.8107.qmail@hotmail.com> Author's note: If you are looking for wall-to-wall sex, look elsewhere. This book is a romance with a business setting. Beyond that, the sex is comparable to - or less than - what one would find in almost any work of popular fiction. Permission is granted to post on any free site, as long as the copyright statement is included. Please advise the author of any such postings. Comments are welcome and encouraged. Please address me at morg105829@aol.com. I hope you enjoy the book. My plan was to post a chapter each weekday; however, Eli has been having problems, so ASSM has not been posting daily. As a result, I am uploading the remaining chapters now. This is chapter the final chapter. I would particularly appreciate feedback from readers who bothered to read it all. Six-Month Turnaround Copyright 1992, 1998 by Morgan. All rights reserved. Chapter 16 Several weeks later, all of the pieces were fitting into place. There was a conference in progress in Cliff's office. Sandy had made some changes in the executive office layout. In just a couple of weeks she would be elected Chairman of the company and an office was being built for her next to Cliff's. Cliff had teased her because her furnishings were quite modern. He pretended to grump, "It's going to cost us a fortune to redecorate the entire executive floor. No one cared as long as everything was 1950's business traditional, but now you've started something." They also had a new secretary. Sandy had hired Stacey Evans who had formerly worked for Stephanie Simpson. Sandy had called the girl as soon as she heard about George Simpson's termination at Ajax. It turned out the girl was married to a graduate student and lived in Kenosha, Wisconsin, closer to Milwaukee than Chicago. She was delighted to leave Stephanie. With Simpson out at Ajax, they doubted if Stephanie was still with the public relations firm but no one cared enough to find out. Stacey brought in a tray with coffee for the group which included Sandy, Sam Johnson, and Kelly. Sam was briefing them on results. "It looks like the turkeys are ready for roasting. It's remarkable what a little knowledge can do to get people to talk. It's also clear, Sandy, that your theory of the cabal was accurate. There was great care taken in Milwaukee, but apparently nowhere else. When the FBI raided the house near Chicago where they were intending to take Sandy, the people there were cooperative. "It turns out Metcalf was the link to the stuff as we suspected. He's a friend of the president of the little company. In fact, we understand he had been invited to join its board. Cartwright has the Cayman Islands contacts. Apparently he's been shuttling back and forth, and there are dozens of telephone calls from his office to the Cayman Islands bank that's the source of so many of the uncovered short sales. He also has the Miami underworld contacts that provided the manpower. We're not certain about that, and it doesn't matter a whole lot, but the contacts for the people could have been initiated in the Cayman Islands. There's a lot of drug money down there. Foster in Chicago seems to be the guy with most of the money. He doesn't seem to have taken as active a role as the others, although he was pulled in because they needed a place within reach to keep Sandy. That still puzzles us a bit. We have been unable to figure out what they were intending do with her. They still haven't covered their short position, so they are financially destroyed or soon will be. "This brings me to the reason for our visit: The police and FBI are ready to move on the gang now. However, they recognize the case would still be open if it weren't for your cooperation and your idea about the cabal. Actually, they did an excellent job of screening themselves here in Milwaukee. If it hadn't been for Sandy, I don't know where we would be. On the other hand, they did next to nothing out of town to cover their tracks, so we worked the case from the outside in. Anyway, they're ready to move. When would you like us to? Our thought is to wait until the voting rights are signed over to you and then arrest them. We would hate to see the company tied up in knots because the voting trustee is in jail leaving no one with the power to act. We're willing to wait until October 1 to make the arrests. How does that sound?" Cliff looked at Sandy, who shrugged. "Why don't you do it then," Cliff said. Sam got up to go. Stacey saw the meeting was breaking up and brought in the mail. There was a very large Federal Express mailing tube for Cliff, marked "Personal & Confidential". He opened it, curious about its contents and found that it was a large calendar. Along with it was a rather lengthy letter from JL Wilson. Cliff glanced at the letter, then unrolled the calendar. He asked Sam if he had a minute, and asked Kelly and Stacey to come and look also. "Sandy, this is a secret... at least for a few more minutes. I want these people to look first." The three gathered behind Cliff's chair and looked over his shoulder. Auto parts suppliers specialize in cheesecake calendars they distribute to garages, service stations, and service departments of car dealerships. This calendar, JL's letter said, was *not* for distribution. There had been a very limited run, just enough for the stores. It showed Sandy wearing the white bikini she bought in Charlotte and lying on her back resting on her elbows. With her back arched, her breasts were prominent, and her auburn hair was hanging down loose. Cliff recalled the pose because she was looking at him when it was taken. She looked gorgeous. In large letters below the picture were the words, "Our Owner." Below the picture, in very small type, was the identification, "Sandra M. Donnell, majority stockholder, Murphy Manufacturing Company, the owner of Southern Auto Parts." The girls pretended to study it carefully. Kelly was the first to speak. "Stace, don't you think it's a little too... conservative?" Stacey cocked her head. "Well... a little, maybe." Then Sandy came over, her curiosity getting the better of her desire not to give Cliff the satisfaction of seeing her acting curious. As she came toward the desk, Cliff laid the calendar out flat and turned it around to face her. After placing some weights on the corners to keep it flat, he began to read JL's letter carefully. "My God!" Sandy exclaimed. "This is awful! Where did it come from? It had to have been taken when we were in Charlotte, but I don't remember any cameras. I know we didn't have one, and the Wilsons didn't, either. Cliff, I feel awful!" "Maybe this will make you feel better," he said. "JL writes that a member of his club had a camera with a long lens and took it. He gave the picture to JL who later got the nega tive." Cliff glanced at the calendar itself and continued. "You can see the calendar itself is different. The dates begin with August of this year and run through December next. "JL got the idea because he heard how effective your speech to the workers was here in Milwaukee. He felt it was even more important to his people because they're scattered all over the South and aren't in parts manufacturing at all. Furthermore, he feels that his people tend to be a lot more motivated by personal loyalty than by loyalty to some big company. He kept the whole thing a secret from us and apologizes to you, Sandy. However, he wanted to see what would happen. What happened was sales in the units nearly *doubled*. He sent this Federal Express because he said sometime this morning Kevin O'Rourke or Jeff Stover will be running in with the sales results." There was a knock on the door. "Speak of the devil! Stace, you want to see who's there?" Kevin and Jeff were at the door. Jeff was holding a stack of papers. As they walked in, Cliff removed the paperweights and allowed the calendar to reroll. The two were obviously agitated. "What's the problem, guys?" Cliff asked. Jeff replied, "Our computers have gone crazy. It's Southern Stores. Jamie Carothers is beside himself! He's afraid you're going to fire him because he didn't insist on using the mainframe here in Milwaukee." "You still haven't told us what happened. What did?" Cliff persisted. "Cliff, you know how our sales through the stores nearly tripled because of the upgrades, and the rest? Well last month they almost doubled again off the higher base! At least that's what the numbers say. The puzzling thing is, though, they actually add up. There are significant out-of-stocks for the first time, and there are also major increases in warehouse movement. What should we do?" Jeff asked. Sandy's face was impassive as she said, "Why don't you send them a fax for retransmission to all the stores saying something like, "Last month's results were the best in history. Thanks guys, and keep up the good work! Sign it Sandy Donnell, Owner." Kevin and Jeff looked at each other, utterly baffled. Cliff unrolled the calendar for them. "Here's the secret weapon. It's called motivation!" He picked up his phone and called JL in Charlotte. When JL came on the line, he activated his speaker phone. "JL, it's Cliff. Sandy's here with me. While she was trying to recover from a galloping case of embarrassment, Kevin and Jeff came in with the sales results. They're here, too. I got the letter, obviously, but we wanted to hear it from you. What's the story?" JL laughed. "Folks, in the South, we call it motivation. I don't know what you Yankees call it. Sandy, I surely hope it wasn't too embarrassing for you. But what it's done for my people! Wowee! I don't know how much you know about our business, but the big traffic location is the parts counter. Well, folks, the fairly typical arrangement is to have that calendar right behind the parts counter protected by acetate, and in at least one store, by Plexiglas. When we sent it out... Well, I have never seen anything like it. "Sandy, it was a good thing you came down with Cliff and visited some stores. There were a lot of our people who got to meet you. Well, their phones were ringing off the hook. The guys who hadn't ever met you were calling their friends who had. They got the same answer, every time: 'Yes, sir. That's our owner, Miss Donnell! Ain't she a beauty?' I don't know if you noticed, but our guys did. There's a tiny line that says 'unretouched photograph,' and by God, it surely is. Well, folks, that calendar has been the biggest sales motivator I could possibly imagine. "And it's given me another idea: We're going to have a convention in Hilton Head in late February. We've never had one before, so it would be wonderful if you all could come down. After the way things are going, Sandy, I *know* those boys would just love to meet you in person. Do you think you could?" "JL," Sandy said, "If I possibly can, I will. Could we maybe bring some other Milwaukee people down with us? I think it would be a good idea if our people got to know one another. And there are a lot fewer of us than there are of you. Besides, JL, there's something you should know: One of my ancestors fought for the South in the Civil War. I guess they didn't get up to Milwaukee until after the turn of the century. If anyone's interested, I'll try to find out his name and unit. It was my great-great grandfather, plus or minus a great. Any interest?" "Of course I'm interested," JL replied. "But I'm just a little concerned. Sandy, my boys would go to hell and back for you right now! If I told 'em you're a daughter of the Con federacy, I'm not so damn sure they might not start marching on Washington! But I would sure love to see it." Cliff said, "JL, I need to talk to the people here for a bit. Are you going to be in your office for a while?" JL said that he would. "Good. I'll try to get back to you later today." Cliff hung up. "Sandy," he said, "something just occurred to me. Would you have a big problem if we restructured the Southern operation? I'm thinking we ought to make it a subsidiary of Murphy rather than a division. We could incorporate it as Southern Auto Parts, Inc. My idea is we retain 80 percent or so of the stock. We let JL and his key people buy the other 20 percent. Furthermore, we structure the stores in the same way as subsidiaries of Southern. Then the local manager and his key people have an equity interest in their unit. If they do a good job, they share in the profits, regardless of how well any of the other units do. This has been used very effectively elsewhere. There's a baking company in the South that runs this way. The real motivation comes from the minority interest. What do you think? How would you like to be Chairman of Southern Auto Parts, Inc.?" "Cliff, I think it's super! Kelly, you're our financial advisor. What do you think?" "Sandy," the girl replied, "It makes all kinds of sense to me." She smiled at Sandy, "That photograph of you - it's really gorgeous, by the way - proves the power of motivation. I'm all for Cliff's idea." "Does anyone object? Kevin? Jeff? No? Okay, it's a done deal. Hang on a minute, and I'll call him and see what he thinks." Cliff placed the call again and talked with JL. At first, JL was speechless. Finally, he found his voice. "Do you mean to say we would be partners? Me and my boys would be owners? Cliff, I'll tell you what I think. I think me and my people are so damn sure it would work, we would give you a profit guarantee. If we don't make more money for you, we won't take any. How's that for sure?" "JL, keep it under your hat for now. We have to do it after the October Board meeting. But consider it done, okay? I guarantee it will happen. And you know something else? Sandy will announce it - with your permission, of course - at the meeting in February. Fair?" "Fair isn't the word," JL responded. And you say Sandy's going to be Chairman and I'm president. What are you going to be? We need you, Cliff. Will you be a director?" "Sure will, JL. And we're counting on a golf game when we're down there. Is it a deal?" "It sure is. Folks, you'll never regret this. I absolutely guarantee it!" Cliff hung up the phone, and the group went down to the cafeteria for lunch. Sandy was still a little embarrassed thinking of herself as a pin-up in auto parts stores throughout the South, but finally decided that the men seemed to love it and it was sure helping sales. After lunch, Kelly joined them in Cliff's office. They still had not fully settled the personal financial impact of the corner on Murphy stock. However, Cliff had received a check for over $1 million, and Sandy and Kelly had divided over $10 million between them. Steve and Jane Muller joined them, having recently returned from their honeymoon. Jane had just returned from a visit to Kaga, and Steve had been over to Troy to see Jack Crowther at Magna. Together, they went over the present position and near-term prospects for Murphy. The present situation was excellent and prospects were even better. There were now twenty-five production units including seventeen brand-new ones. Steve reported on something Crowther had told him during his visit: "He told me he had visited one of the Magna plants the day before and saw a forklift operator moving a flat of parts out to the production line. A supervisor asked him if they had been checked by quality assurance. His response was, 'They're Murphy parts.' Clearly, that was all the supervisor needed to hear. Cliff, they have never seen the quality we're giving them. They have all kinds of ideas for other machined parts they would like us to consider making for them. We're the geniuses of precision parts as far as they're concerned. The situation for us couldn't be better!" Jane reported that the Wozlowski ring was about to become the Kaga Motors' world standard. "Cliff, they want to know how much of the world production we would like. I never thought I would see the day. This is tough selling! I admire my tan, mentally calculate commissions, and try to figure how much of their business we want. It's absolutely ridiculous! What should I tell them? It's all open to us, up to 100 percent of *world* requirements. Whatever we don't take, we get a royalty on. Sandy, have I told you lately what hell it is trying to make a living in sales?" Bill Stevens came in, and they spent the rest of the day trying to work out the production schedules and plant expansion requirements. At the end of the day Jeff Stover came in with the latest forecast numbers for the end of September. Cliff and Sandy laughed at how close to his financial commitments the company was going to be. Jeff said, "Actually, we are so damned close I could make them come out! And you know what else? Sales and profits are growing so damned fast, by the end of October, no one could know the numbers had ever been fudged." As they left the building, Sandy asked Kelly a question. "Kelly, I would like you to serve on my reconstituted board of directors. Will you?" Kelly was delighted. "Sandy, thank you. It's a real honor. I'll try to advise you on the market, but for the life of me, I don't think you need it. Nevertheless, I consider it a very special privilege. Thank you." * * * October 1 was a brilliantly clear day in Milwaukee. The Board was scheduled to meet at ten o'clock. Everyone was present including Bill Owen with a couple of FBI agents, as well as Lem Collins with a plain-clothes group of three Milwaukee police officers. Sandy, Cliff, and Sam were in position at the table when the directors started to arrive. Stiles took his usual seat at the head of the table and called the meeting to order. There was no old business. There were only two items on the agenda, the first of which was Cliff's report to the Board. He passed out copies and reviewed it. He stressed that while the objectives had not been met because of the need to sacrifice some volume before moving the Company sales ahead, the company's present growth track was far steeper than had been originally projected. Stiles looked at him sourly. "Thank you, Mr. Fitzpat rick. I assume you have your letter of resignation prepared?" Cliff passed it to him. "Thank you." "The next order of business is to elect a new chairman," Stiles continued. "Sandra Donnell is the nominee, succeeding Mary Small who has resigned as a director. Are there any other nominees for the position of chairman? Hearing none, all in favor say 'Aye'." Sandy was elected unanimously. Stiles started to rise to give her the seat at the head of the table, but she waved him back and just took the gavel. "Mr. Stiles, I assume I receive the voting rights to the Murphy shares today. You have the papers with you?" Sandy had been in touch with Stiles ahead of the meeting about the voting rights. Stiles produced the papers from his briefcase, and she looked them over carefully, putting them under a file she had in front of her. Sandy took the gavel and said, "The next order of business is to request the resignation of Messrs. Stiles, Cartwright, Metcalf, and Foster from the board of directors. Gentlemen, it has come to our attention that the Federal Government and the State of Wisconsin are having a dispute over where you'll be spending the next twenty to forty years. Gentlemen?" Sandy spoke the last words loudly enough to reach the law enforcement officials waiting outside. Moments later FBI agents and Milwaukee police took the four men into custody. They were in a state of shock as they were led away. The remaining directors also resigned on the spot. Within less than thirty minutes, things had returned to normal. Sam Johnson shook hands and excused himself to organize the departure of the Pinkerton task force. Sandy sat at the end of the board table now feeling suddenly drained of energy. She hadn't realized the extent to which she had been keyed up until now that the excitement was over. When she glanced at Cliff, he looked the way she felt. Finally, she spoke to her lawyer, Tony Doyle, who was present and serving as a new director and corporate secretary. Tony had prepared the legal script for the special election of directors, and so forth. She said to him, "Tony, could you just prepare the Board minutes with all of this garbage in them. We promise we'll swear it all happened, but frankly I just don't have the energy even to go through the motions." Tony grinned, nodded, and gathered up his papers. The other new directors were Kelly, Cliff, and Bill Stevens, and there were two Board vacancies. Stacey Evans knocked on the door. "There are some people here, Cliff. Can they come in?" Cliff grinned and told her to ask the Chairman. Sandy, still relaxed at the end of the table said, "Sure, Stace. Just leave the door open and come in yourself. I think it's fair to say the Executive Offices of Murphy Manufacturing are closed for the day. As a matter of fact, before you come back in, tell the rest of the people they can go home." Steve and Jane Muller came in. They were soon followed by Janet Simmons and then Max Kaufman. When Max came in, Sandy got up and went to him. She gave him a kiss and teased him about being away from the floor. "Max, we're not doing a damn thing, but someone's got to work to support us in the style to which we would like to become accustomed!" Suddenly, Kelly Cameron said loudly, "Damn!" The others were startled. Cliff said, "What's the trouble, Kelly? Did we forget something?" The girl grinned broadly. "No, I'm afraid not. I just thought how dull things are going to be. This has been the most exciting and eventful few months of my life. You folks have done such a spectacular job, about all that's left for me to do is count the money. "Cliff, I do have one question, though. Does planning always work out this way? It seems like its being done with mirrors. In business school I always thought a strategic plan was full of high-sounding words and brilliantly innovative strategies. With all due respect, friends, this is plain vanilla." Cliff laughed. "Just remember, Kelly, for all the attention given to zingy flavors like pistachio and butter walnut, over 65 percent of all ice cream sold is just plain vanilla. That's where the money is. You're right, though. Our strategy *is* plain vanilla. And because it is, it's easy for the folks who have to make it work to understand. "The secret is simplicity. The problem with the super-sophisticated strategies isn't that they're wrong. Often they're very good. The problem is the only person who really understands it is the guy who wrote it, and unless it's an awfully small company he can't execute it all by himself. If the guys who have to make it work don't understand it, it won't work. It can't work! Remember the Army training axiom, KISS: 'Keep it simple, stupid!' That's what we did. Satisfied?" Kelly grinned, "I guess so. But it still sounds too easy!" Sandy sat down again next to Cliff who reached into his pocket and took something out. "Sandy, am I correct in assuming we're not in session? We're trying to gather enough energy to get out of our chairs and go home?" She nodded, yes. Suddenly, she felt totally exhausted. "Sandy, will you marry me?" he asked. Her eyes popped open. "Of course, darling. Now it can be anytime you want. But why did you ask me now? Isn't it a little... public?" "Sort of, I guess. But Sandy, not only are these the people who are putting Murphy on the map, but I happen to know they're also your very best and oldest friends. So I think it's appropriate. Besides, I have something for you. Can I borrow the third finger of your left hand?" he asked. Sandy held out her finger, and Cliff took the ring he was holding and slipped it on. She looked at it, dazzled. Suddenly everyone in the room was gathered around. Stacey quickly left and returned moments later. Kelly was the first to speak, "My God, what a stone! Sandy, he sold some stock and said it was to pay off the bank and buy you a ring. I thought he was kidding, but looking at that diamond I don't think he was. It's the most magnificent diamond I've ever seen!" Sandy pushed her way through the group to Cliff who was standing by this time. She kissed him and held him in her arms. "I have just one question, darling. When?" By this time a caterer had entered and set up champagne and food for the impromptu engagement party that followed. Epilogue Cliff and Sandy returned from their honeymoon just in time to go down to Hilton Head for the Southern Auto Parts meeting. It was planned as a three-day affair. The first day was devoted to meetings on elements of store operations while the second day began with JL explaining the new corporate structure of Southern Auto Parts. The general meeting was followed by individual meetings to review the business implications of the local subsidiary structure and indicate specific steps for each unit and its manager to take. The big dinner was scheduled for that evening. A whole contingent of people came down from Milwaukee including Bill and Janet Stevens, who, along with Kelly and Kevin O'Rourke, had been married in the meantime. Jane and Steve Muller completed the contingent along with Sandy and Cliff Fitzpatrick. Before their wedding, Cliff teased Sandy about all the time she was spending on arrangements for the convention with JL. She replied that since she was no longer working her fingers to the bone as his secretary, all she had to do was watch the cash management wheels turn. "Besides, Cliff," she concluded, "you warned me months ago of the temptation to over-engineer a good cash system. This keeps me out of trouble." When they went in for dinner, Cliff, who had now been filled in on Sandy's plans, and Sandy were wearing their Milwaukee coats. When they returned from their honeymoon, there were two brand-new ones. The lettering on the breast now read S FITZPATRICK and C FITZPATRICK. Dinner was served early, with JL mumbling something to his people that the bar would be open afterwards. "There's something about clearing the room or something," he said. When the people walked in, there were assigned seats and tables. The seating was by state, with an appropriate state flag in the middle of each group. All were states of the Confederacy. During dinner, a glee club from a South Carolina college sang songs of the South from the Civil War period. At the end of dinner, JL introduced Sandy as the featured speaker. "Gentlemen," he concluded, "It gives me great pride and pleasure to introduce to you a true daughter of the Confederacy. Her great-great granddad fought with Stonewall Jackson and was wounded at Chancellorsville where General Jackson was killed. Gentlemen, the Chairman of the Board of Murphy Manufacturing Company, the owner and our boss, the Chairman of Southern Auto Parts, Sandy Fitzpatrick!" The men in the room stood instantly and cheered their boss. The applause reverberated from the ceiling while she waved to the crowd. When they quieted and were seated again, she began her speech. She thanked them for the brilliant performance of the previous six months. Sales were almost triple the best full year the company had ever had. She talked about the reasons for the new organization, and how it was thought that additional motivation would make things better still. Cliff was amused because, in addition to wearing her plant coat, Sandy had her auburn hair up in a bun and was wearing horn-rimmed glasses that he knew had clear lenses. She didn't wear glasses. As she got to the end of her speech, she commented on her attire. "In Milwaukee, everyone in the plant recognizes me in this coat. It's like the one everyone else in the plant wears. It's come to my attention, though, that I'm recognized somewhat differently down here." With that, she stepped out from behind the podium, took off the glasses and the lab coat and yanked out a pin that had been holding up her hair. Her auburn hair flowed free and she was standing there, tanned from her honeymoon, wearing her now-famous white bikini. There was a stunned silence in the room for a few moments and then a thunderous roar. The men were standing on their chairs cheering. Sandy stood with her arms up, waving for quiet. Finally, the group quieted down. She turned to JL who had been leading the cheers and who was now grinning broadly. "JL, you were right. They do recognize me quicker this way!" Again there were cheers from the floor. "Guys, I have something for each of you. At that point, large envelopes were delivered to each table. There was an envelope for each person. Inside was a new pin-up picture of Sandy with a personalized inscription to the man and his store. Before there could be more cheering, JL went to the microphone. "There are three people who don't have envelopes, GC Mitchell, Tom Casey, and Billy Joe Jenkins. The reason is we have something different for you all. These men had the largest per centage sales increases in the company last year. We have something special if you all will please come up. In addition to the special award, there's one more thing: Tomorrow, we're having a golf tournament. These three are playing with our Chairman, Sandy Fitzpatrick. Now Sandy was captain of the University of Wisconsin golf team and did very well in regional tournaments. I happen to know she played a lot of golf on her honeymoon. She has something else to say while we're waiting for the boys to join us." "Guys," Sandy said, "There's someone else I want you to meet. He's the love of my life, and the man whose ideas permitted the success Southern Auto Parts is now enjoying. I want you to meet the president and chief executive officer of Murphy Manufacturing, and a director of Southern Auto Parts, my husband, Cliff Fitzpatrick!" Cliff came over and joined Sandy, who gave him a kiss to further cheers. He whispered in her ear, "Darling, you are brilliant. Do you have any more?" She winked and showed him crossed fingers. Cliff spoke a few words of congratulations. By this time the three top-performing managers were on the stage. Sandy greeted each of them and gave them very large tubes. Each was about three feet long. JL took Mitchell's and opened it. He withdrew a roll of paper and gave one end to Mitchell while he unrolled the other. It was over six feet long and nearly three feet high. When it was fully unrolled, they flipped it so it could be seen by the whole room. It was a true life- sized picture of Sandy lying down still wearing the white bikini. It was autographed to GC Mitchell and all the people in Batesville who set the record for the greatest increase in sales in company history and it was signed, Sandy Fitzpatrick. JL went to the microphone. "There are no promises, but Sandy says she may do this again for the top three stores this year. But if you want one for your store, you're really going to have to work! Do you want one?" Again the cheers thundered out. While she waited for the room to quiet down a band had entered, and the members arranged themselves in the back of the room. Finally, the room was quiet as they waited for her to speak again. Instead, she sang a capella in a very clear voice, "Oh I wish I was in the land of cotton, old times there are not forgotten, look away... look away... look away, Dixie land..." There was a momentary silence in the room as the band came in on the next bars, "for I wish I was in Dixie, away, away..." The room exploded as everyone in it was on his feet and joining the singing. The room rocked as men removed the state flags from their rests and waved them in the air. When they finished, the band started over. When it ended, there were thunderous cheers. JL came up to Sandy as the room started to quiet a bit. "By God, Sandy, you were right! If we don't beat last year's numbers by the end of next month, some people here are dead! And I sure don't think they are!" Cliff came up and gave his bride a big hug. "Honey, that was marvelous! I didn't know you could sing." She hugged him tight and whispered in his ear, "I didn't think I could. That's why my fingers were crossed. Did it sound all right?" "All right? Honey, those men worship the ground you walk on. But what caused the change? I knew what was going to happen, but you stood there in the bikini looking so happy and proud, when you used to be so down on yourself and your appearance. What caused the change?" "You did. I guess I finally decided I glow with love for you so much, maybe I am pretty. And you've been brainwashing me, besides. Darling, maybe I am pretty good at motivating people to do the things you figured out they could do. How's that for a division of labor?" -- +----------------' Story submission `-+-' Moderator contact `--------------+ | | | | Archive site +----------------------+--------------------+ Newsgroup FAQ | ----