Char was standing at the open door of
Dickie’s truck while he cleaned his dash talking about the fact that Dave had
called in sick today when Kelly walked by. Excitedly, Char said to Kelly, “Dave
called in sick today.”
“Yes
, I’m sure, Char said. “I was doing address insertions when Marcia took the
call. Dave called in sick. He has the flu and won’t be in today.”
“You
know,” Dickie said, “if Dave called in, he’s hurtin’ pretty bad.”
At
the time clock where people waited to swipe in at 0640, the erase board
indicated that Banick would be doing Dave’s route. Rudi asked if Dave was off
today.
Russ
was handing out equipment on the other side of the counter said, “No, Dave
isn’t off. He called in sick today.”
Big
Wayne said, “He’s been coughing and sneezing all week.”
“Calling
in before the New Year holiday means Dave won’t get sick pay,” Karen said
dispiritedly. “That’s not right, Dave never calls in.”
“Standing
in line, Lil Wayne turned to Donna and said, “Great, I know they’re going to bone me
with Dave’s Marilla stops. It always happens when you try to get out early.
This place sucks.