The Workers

Written by Marretta Plange

Frankie strutted his way up to the entrance of the Post Office.  He took his usual seat on the edge of the huge round planter outside the main entrance.  Since the planter held only one skinny little tree, it left plenty of room for an impromptu resting place.  The office would be open for business soon and so would he.

The opening clerk, Eugene, unlocked the front door and took the large flag outside to hang up before the start of business.  Everyone knew that when you spotted the large flag waving in the breeze you had found the Post Office.  Eugene had been following this routine for the last fifteen years -- he knew exactly what to expect:  A few senior citizens would be entering the parking lot to be first in line when the doors opened.  Never mind that if they only showed up a few minutes later, there probably wouldn’t even be a line.  It’s not like they had jobs to go to, most of them had been retired since before he even joined the Post Office.   On the other hand, at least one of the window clerks, usually Brenda, would come speeding into the employee parking lot leaving mere minutes to clock in.  He knew that Mr. George, the old veteran, would be waiting near the flagpole to make sure the flag was raised properly.  And he also knew that he would see Frankie at his post on the planter.  The employees joked that Frankie showed up more reliably than the paid employees.   He was like a raggedy security guard, arriving promptly each morning, knowing about everything that went on during the day, taking his daily ‘lunch break’, and then leaving shortly before closing time.  Maybe they should put him on the payroll -- if only there weren’t that whole "homeless" thing.

“Hey Frankie!  What’s up man?”  Eugene greeted Frankie and kept on walking; he didn’t want to give Frankie the chance to ask for any money, as he had lost any extra money he had at the Indian casino last night.  Maybe he would re-enter the building through another door, he thought.  He didn’t have anything against Frankie, but sometimes he just didn’t feel like being bothered.

Brenda, as expected, hurriedly parked her car, grabbed her purse and raced toward the employee entrance, dodging the emerging letter carriers and their mail-laden hampers.  Having been late once this week already, she didn’t need another tardy so soon.  She knew she needed to get up a few minutes earlier in the morning, but it was so hard to pull herself out of her cozy bed, especially since she usually stayed up much later at night than she should.  Those darn TV shows.

Brenda clocked in with not a second to spare.  “Thank You, Lord” she breathed to herself as she rushed to her locker to put her purse away.  Too bad there wasn’t time to stop in the ladies room to put the finishing touches on her makeup.  There was only enough time to log on to her computer and get her cash drawer in place before the station manager opened the front door.  Oh well, she would simply wait on a couple of customers first and then slip away to the ladies room.  Everybody else found excuses to wander away from the front counter.  Even before she finished the thought, her heart was convicting her.  She was supposed to work as unto the Lord -- sigh.

Mr. Gomez unlocked the front door to let the line of customers inside.

“Good morning.  May I help you?” Brenda greeted her first customer with no room for enthusiasm.  In her peripheral she caught sight of Frankie outside on the planter.  He was such a fixture that she rarely even noticed him anymore.  Not too many customers in line today, thank goodness.  “Thank you.  Have a good day,” Brenda chanted as she finished selling two stamps to the elderly man.  Who wakes up early and waits in line for two stamps? Shaking her head she chided herself for her unchristian thoughts.  For some of these lonely elderly people the most human interaction they would have all day came from their short conversations at the post office or grocery store.  She put on a smile and called to the next customer more pleasantly  “May I help you?”   As the white haired lady shuffled to her window, Brenda happened to catch sight of a familiar figure entering the lobby.  Brenda and her co-worker, Leanne, exchanged meaningful glances.  No one liked waiting on that lady.  She was always witnessing, which was all right; but even when you told her that you were already a Christian, she would not leave the counter until she actually heard you say that you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior.  She could be quite annoying and overbearing.  Now might be a good time to slip away to the ladies room.  Brenda hurried through the transaction with her customer, grabbed her make-up bag and slipped away from the counter.  Leanne glared at the retreating Brenda as the annoying lady walked up to her counter with a loud “God bless you, how are you today!”  Brenda knew she was going to catch it when she returned.  Leanne had fire in her eyes for being left alone to handle not only the annoying lady, but all the other customers as well.

Brenda meant to simply touch up her make-up and return to her workstation as quickly as possible.  But as she exited the ladies room, one of the mail carriers stopped to say good morning and the time just slipped by as they bantered and flirted back and forth.  When one of the floor supervisors cleared his throat loudly, Brenda looked at her watch and knew she was in trouble.  She hurriedly ended the conversation and hurried back to the front.

Leanne shot Brenda another scathing look as she rounded the corner. The annoying lady was still standing off to the side fumbling with her bags. She chatted loudly with anyone who was unfortunate enough to draw near.  As soon as Brenda had logged on to her terminal, Leanne plopped down her ‘WINDOW CLOSED’ sign and walked away with a final eye roll -- two could play this game.  Brenda simply shrugged and called on the next customer.  Two other clerks would be up to help out in a few minutes anyway.  Leanne could get on your last nerve sometimes.

The other two clerks, Bradley and Jonas showed up shortly.   Good thing they were there to help with the growing line. The nerve of Leanne leaving her all alone.

After the fellas started joking and wisecracking, Brenda and Leanne forgot their little dispute and joined in the fun.

While waiting for the present customer to finish filling out his express mail label, Brenda glanced up and was shocked to see the annoying lady sitting on the planter right next to Frankie!  She had never seen anyone get that close to him before.  Some people tossed him money or held it out at arm’s length.  The lady was looking Frankie in the face and talking earnestly with him.  He didn’t look the lady right in the face until she put her hand on his shoulder, then he gave a start and looked at her in surprise.  The lady handed him one of the little tracts she always carried.  She pointed out something on one of the pages and Frankie nodded his head.  After a few more minutes of witnessing, the lady patted him on the hand and left with a wide smile on her face

Shortly thereafter, Frankie got up to take his ‘lunch break’. As he walked away Brenda could have sworn that his shoulders were a little straighter and his head held a little higher.

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