The Baker, The Butcher and The Brewer, Part Four – The Brewer 22
It was quite a work out carrying all the eighty-five pieces. He had calculated one extra in the batch of paintings for a special threat. He could not wait to leave the storage. He liked it when there was no one there. The staff was pacing around clearing some empty rooms. He did not like the staff, they were too stiff and mortal. He always greeted them, they just nodded and walked away. Especially a really big guy with a tangled mustache similar to his at the time. He was as far from immortality as humanly possible and the only sound he would ever make was a grunt.
The Brewer would never have to go back there. He was less than an hour away from drop off. Followed by half an hour unloading. The battle would be won. Positive attitude was crucial. As he drove away dreaming of success he felt proud to be on an orthodox path to the top, which he could see all the way through. He steadily built a momentum to the columniation of his endeavor, unnoticed in the thick shadows of corporate America.
He backed up in the loading dock in the rear of the museum. It was deserted. There was an intercom on one side and he proceeded to use it as his heart rate accelerates. He pressed the button and waited nervously for a response.
‘Good afternoon this is the delivery department how may I help you?’
‘Hello there, I have a delivery with the name of Mr. Porter on it.’
Pause. ‘Hmm, I don’t have it in my list. Who is it from?’
‘It is from the Baker. That’s all it says one name like Madonna. Aha, it is also dated back two days. It is late, I think they mentioned it’s part of a bigger shipment.’
‘That makes sense, I’ll send someone to sign off for it and take it in. Just a few minutes please.’
‘Thank you.’ The Brewer was rejoiced.
In a few minutes the door started opening and he saw the feet of a common worker, which gave him peace.
He was pushing a four-wheeled cart.
‘Hello.’ He said as he opened the back of the van.
‘Hi.’ Said he. A young looking fellow, a kid. An intern, not concerned with logistics. Just pushing the cart. Fate was kind to the Brewer. He was competing against time. The faster and more mechanical was the transaction the better. He took the first pieces out on to the cart and invited the kid to help him carry them out and stack them up.
‘Be careful.’ He said, ‘I am told that these are extremely valuable. With our salaries you don’t want to damage them.’
‘I don’t even have a salary.’ Said the kid.
‘Are you doing some sort of an internship?’ He kept casual but distant.
‘Yes I am. Just to get some experience. The problem is that I have to work my way up from the bottom so I do that kind of work a lot, the rest is very helpful though.’
‘It is good to start from the bottom. That way you learn the entire organization from the roots and can be a better leader when you reach the higher layers.’
‘I guess you are right. So these are the Baker’s?’ Took initiative the kid. That was the last topic the Brewer wanted to talk about.
‘That’s what it says on the invoice.’ He pointed out to the physical evidence. ‘He is a famous fellow, isn’t he.’
‘One of the biggest of them all.’ Said the kid. ‘I admire him greatly.’
‘Are you an artist as well?’ He tried to shift the topic as he loaded the last piece onto the cart.
‘Not really I am not very creative.’
‘Everybody is creative.’ He preached. ‘You just have to crack your inner safe box and puzzle together what’s inside. And then you will know your field of creativity.’
‘Ok, thanks.’ Said the kid as he pushed in and they waved their goodbyes.
‘Don’t forget to sign the invoice.’ The Brewer handed him the clipboard feeling in control over that lucky weak opponent. The kid did. He detached the document and handed it back.
Euphoric ecstasy filled his mind as he drove away. He did not attribute the smoothness of the drop off to luck but to his preparation and skill. His confidence ballooned.
He was filled with positive energy from the success. He looked down to the people on the streets. He walked among them but he was not one of them. The halo effect of the success produced smiles, light step and slight condescension to the rest of the world. For a brief moment he was the very edge of time, peeking outside of it.
Stay tuned for next week’s installment of The Baker, The Butcher and The Brewer – Tuesday, June 21st
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more by PETER ODEON
photograph by Israel Sundseth
