In search of the niche
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– But anyway someone needs to work and meet the schedule. No one will wait for you for three months.
– That's exactly what I'm talking about. I'll call in six weeks and say that doctor took an X-ray and demanded another two weeks. In two weeks I will call again. And this way I could sit quietly on my temporary disability for 3 months. The insurance covers 75% of the average earnings, which is not so bad. Honestly, I need some time for rest. I'm so tired of all this pressing.
– You was under the pressure even less than two weeks. I thought you were rested enough over a three years. Or you expected this beautiful life will be forever?
– Why are you tease me all the time?! I told you everything as to friend, honestly, didn"t hide anything, and instead of compassion you...
– Sorry, I'm silent. What leg did you break? I hope this is not a right leg?
– No. Luckily. I broke the left one. I mean, I can drive a car.
– So what's the problem? After six weeks, go to work. No one will start push poor semi-disabled man.
– Why do I need this? I have already calculated everything: taking into account price of gasoline, amortization of the car, time in transit, etc., I will earn almost the same money in the end.
– OK, I got it. You want not to work for 3 months, but stay on the project.
– Yes. Eventually you got it.
– Hm-mm. It's certainly not my business, but all of it somehow stinks. Once you certainly can play this card, but the second time they will crack you down and you will be thrown out. I would do it.
– But I'll say - it's a doctor. I wanted to return, but doctor do not allow me.
– Brilliantly, as in the fifth grade. Only I wouldn"t play this game. Maybe one time you can do it, but no more. People not stupid.
Six weeks flew very fast. Nobody was taken to mechanical department. From time to time Grechko called Koifman and asked him to go to the mechanical department and tell people how hard he is living with a broken leg, how he takes morphine, does not sleep at night, but his heart with his colleagues. In parallel, he phoned his colleagues directly and told the same stories, but with much more details. At the same time he scolded "stubborn" doctors who did not allow him to return.
The day before the end of the glorious six weeks, Nilolay, as was planned, called to the head of the mechanical department and said that he needs two more weeks. Boss, who by that time barely coped with the accumulated volume of work and had already planned something for the missing designer, squeezed his teeth and told a neutral OK, and hung up with a big disappointment.
Two weeks later the situation was completely repeated, with the only one difference - the head of the department asked Grechko to send him an official e-mail, which he joyfully did.
At the end of the working day Nikolay"s boss came to Koifman"s office and without even saying "hello", exasperatedly asked:
– Nick Grechko, your friend, is he a "smart-ass", man with protection or just an idiot?
– What happened? I hope he didn"t solicit you or asked for the date?
– Leo, who knew Mechanical Department Manager for many years from his previous job, tried to laugh it off.
– Leo, listen, I'm serious. A man is over fifty, and he behaves like a kid. What kind of games he is playing here?! He thinks that I do not understand that he wants to stay on temporary disability as maximum as possible? Or does he think that he's so clever and all the fools around?
– What can I say? I told him... And he just plays down. Oh, I feel so bad, oh I'm taking morphine, oh, doctors do not allow me...
– You understand, he is really weak designer, but he even doesn"t want to work. Anyway, if I understand correctly, your friend wants to sit at home for 3 months, until he will receive temporary disability.
– How do I know? I told him my humble opinion three times already, but he still cries how he feels bad.
– OK, don"t be offended, but I will take your friend off the project. Management will transfer him to another project, but I"m not interested in this guy at all.
Koiftman decided not to tell anything so "sick on his leg" man. Maybe management will not be able to find a person to replace, maybe another big project will start, or maybe the boss will change his mind... or maybe another miracle will happened.
Grechko continued to call every two weeks and sing the same song. However, in all subsequent times the boss was very kind to him and always wished him a speedy recovery. And in the mechanical department a new designer already started to work.
Pain, morphine intake and permission of the doctor ended for Nikolay exactly the day before the end of temporary disability, i.e. in three months sharp.
Grechko appeared at work with a wand and a mournful expression on his face. Putting five boxes in the fridge and turning on the computer, finally returned "disabled", began a leisurely round of all colleagues. Strongly lame he approached everyone, and slowly, in details began to tell how everything happened. How he slipped on the slippery stones and how did he hear the crunch that still hangs in his ears... How he was transported by ambulance, and how was he sure that he would not survive. How he recalled the children and the colleagues... Everybody expressed full compassion, asked additional questions, which he was even more than pleased to answer, recalling more and more details.
Having finished in his department, Grechko smoothly continued to visit other departments. At last, somewhere before lunch, he came to visit Koifman.
– Oh! Look at you... Almost a Jesus came from the sky. I thought you would not appear at all... You look good, lost weight...
– Ha, lost weight there. I scored another 7 kilos.
– It was a joke. I saw that you added to your superfluous 30 kg, another 10 kg. If I would in your place, I would begin to lose weight, because all this extra weight falls on your injured leg.
– Yes, you are right, but I'm not too limping. Tomorrow probably I will be without a stick.
– Well, have you already been given a job?
– The owner of the office asked cautiously.
– Not yet. The head of the department is not in place, so I've talked to the people so far.
– There, at mechanical department, one more man was taken, - again from a far began Leo.
– Yes, I saw. Pleasant guy. By the way, he broke his leg three years ago. Do you know what happened?
At this time the telephone rang and Nikolay, waving goodbye, left the room. However, in ten minutes he returned without a stick and without a smile of happiness on his face.