After the Safety Meeting, Eddie prepared another memorandum indicating the acute need for a better training program and an increase in maintenance personnel. Shortage of qualified technicians was chronic.
At four twenty-five, the night supervisor phoned in to say he was having engine trouble with his new car and would be delayed until about six o'clock. Eddie agreed to wait for him.
Eddie dialed home to let his wife, Lois, know he would be late again. A modulated low-frequency note told him the home phone was out of order.
Ray Morely, one of the night-shift engineers, came in with coffee. "You still here, Eddie?"
"Yeah, until Wheeler makes it. His car's down."
"Market hit a new high."
"Yeah. I guess you heard about the meeting today?"
Ray sipped coffee. "Budget again? I missed the day crew. I got hung up in traffic and was a little late."
"A pay cut goes with it, this time."
"You're kidding?"