Parker

Chapter 8

Ten minutes later Rodger held his weeping his son close to him as he sobbed. "I'm sorry dad I'm so sorry that I'm such a bad kid."

"Shhhh you're not a bad kid." Rodger said as he patted the boy's back.

Parker looked at him in shock. "How can you say that? I've disappointed you two days in a row now."

"I know son but that does not make you a bad kid." Rodger said in a loving tone.

"Doesn't make me a good one either." Parker said.

"But you are." Rodger said and saw the confusion in his eyes. "Have a seat."  The two sat on the couch and he said "You are a good kid Parker."

Parker studied the floor. "I don't feel like one."

"I know." He said as he looked at him in pity. "But you are a good kid but you just make bad decisions."

"But why?" He sniffed back the tears. "Why do I keep making such stupid choices?"

"Because you are sixteen and its part of growing up." Rodger said. "And its my job to show that wrong choices have consequences. Even quite painful ones."

"What is going to happen to Ken?" Rodger asked.

"He's going to have to face the consequences of his actions." Rodger replied.

"Are you going to fire him?" Parker asked. Don't fire him dad he was just trying  to be nice. I'm the one at fault not him.

"No." He said as he stood up. "I'm not going to fire him."

"Are you going to tell Mister Sellers what he did?" The thought made him cringe.

"Don't you worry about Ken, he will be fine." He then lifted the boy's face up by his chin. "All you need to worry about is not disappointing me again."

"I won't."

"I hope not." Rodger said as he rubbed the top of the boy's head. "Now you will stay here for twenty minutes to compose yourself." He pointed at the clock on the wall which was similar to the one in his office. "When the twenty minutes are finished go wash your face and then go to my office."

"I thought I couldn't be trusted out of your sight." Parker wiped his eyes.

"Prove me wrong." Rodger said and gave him a small tap on the cheek with hand. "Come straight to my office  understand me."

"Yes dad."

"I'll see you in a bit." Rodger said and then walked out closing the door behind him.

Parker laid on the couch burying his face in the cushion.

Rodger walked into his office. Ken stood as he said "Mister Cole I am so sorry I got Parker in trouble."

"Parker got Parker in trouble." Rodger said. "Just like you got yourself in trouble." Rodger walked around his desk and sat down. He then motioned to the seat across from. "Have a seat."

Ken walked over and sat down.

"What were you thinking Ken?" He asked. "You know better than to take a non employee in one of the cars for a joyride."

"I know but I thought it would be okay since he was your son." Ken said.

"But it wasn't." He then pointed at him.  "And you know that."

"Yes."

"So why Ken?" Rodger asked.

"I don't know." Ken shrugged. "Looked like he wanted to take a ride so I took him for one."  He then sunk down in his seat. "I guess it was pretty stupid."

"No it was very stupid." Rodger said. "And I expected better of you Ken. You've been here for six months, you know the rules."

"Yes sir." He said as butterflies formed in his stomach. "I guess I'm fired."

"No." He shook his head. "But I am writing you up and sending you home for the rest of the day."

"Okay."

Rodger pulled out a sheet of paper and wrote on it. He then slid it over to him. "I need you to read this and sign it."

Ken read the paper. It said he was being written up for driving off the lot with an authorized person in the vehicle. That he understood any further violation may result in termination.

Ken signed it and then handed the paper back to him.

"I am truly sorry Mister Cole." Ken  said as he stood up.

"I know." He said. "And I accept your apology." A look of relief crossed his face. "Now go home."

"Yes, sir." Ken said and then walked out.

Rodger then walked through the side door, through the conference room, and then into the showroom. He walked up to the desk where the three managers sat and an annoyed Justin said "Where the hell have you been?"

"I'll tell you later." Rodger said as he sat down. He looked out on the sales floor. Three of the salesmen were out with customers, another two had cusrmse at their desk and the sixth greeted a couple as they walked in.

He then saw Todd sitting at his desk looking at his computer.

"How is Todd doing?"

"You would know if you had not disappeared thirty minutes ago." Justin said.

Rodger ignored him and asked Charlie "How is he doing?"

"Not so good." Charlie said. "He made five calls, sent three emails." He said as he looked at his computer that showed Todd activity. Each time they tried to contact a client they logged it into the system. "But to no avail."

Rodger looked at him sympathy. For some reason he could not just get people to come in like the others.

"He spent time with a walk in while you were out but it went nowhere." Charlie said.

"Of course it did." Justin said. "The guy is incapable of doing anything right."

"Maybe its because you keep chiping away at his self confidence." Rodger said.

"I'm here to sell cars not be build self esteem."  Justin said..

"But evidently you think is your job to destroy self esteem." Rodger said and Justin gave him a dirty look.

The sales named Randall who was taking pleasure in Todd's pain walked over to him and told them that his clients were ready.

Rodger got up and then walked over to the desk to greet Randall's clients. Todd looked at them defeated.