I knew I wasn't the smartest guy, but I thought I did a good job. The manager before Mr. Boothe always told me I did a great job. He said I was the best dispatcher he knew and that I knew the business and the routes like the back of my hand. He was always kind and supportive. Unfortunately, he quit for a better job out of state and they promoted Boothe. Boothe was always so mean to me and I couldn't help but get nervous and flustered around him, which only made it worse.
I looked over the route papers and I found the mistake and corrected it in the computer system. It was a minor mistake and it only took him off route by a few miles. I don't think it deserved the treatment I got.
As lunch time came around, I picked up my brown lunchbag and the paperback book I was reading and walked to the break room.
"Don't let him get to you, Benji," Mona said as we walked down the hall. "But you know he's going through a divorce, so maybe cut him some slack."
'Yeah, sure. He doesn't cuss YOU out on a daily basis,' I thought.
I simply sighed. "I guess..."
Mona joined her boyfriend and the two of them sat next to each other and snuggled up together.
I sat at my customary table in the back corner, by myself. As always.
As I pulled out my peanut butter sandwich and slowly ate, a handful of drivers and warehouse guys came in for their lunch break. I listened to their loud conversations as I ate my sandwich. I was still a little hungry when I finished. Maybe I would get something from the machine. I looked in my wallet to see how much I had left for the week. Eight dollars. I decided to save my money. It was only Tuesday and I had to make it last until Friday.
I folded up my paper bag and put it in my back pocket to reuse. I picked up my book and started reading where I left off.
I was lost in my book when I heard the clunk of cowboy boots entering the room. I looked up to see Big Ben strutting in. He sat down by himself as usual and pulled out his lunch from a plastic grocery store bag and quickly dug in.
Even though Little Ben quit long ago, everyone still called him Big Ben, at least they did so behind his back. Ben's nickname was well deserved. He was indeed big. He was like an ogre. He was 6'6" tall and muscular, but not muscular like a body builder, but built big and thick and brawny. I'd guess he was in his early thirties. Ben was rugged and not what I would call handsome. Okay, he was downright ugly. He had big bullish neck, a squarish jaw and a crooked nose that must have been broken more than once. His bottom teeth were pretty crooked as well. He had a scar in his left eyebrow. He had dark auburn red hair cut into a 'high and tight' military fashion. He usually had a few days of beard growth because he didn't shave regularly. Ben also had a sweat problem when it was hot. The armpits of his shirts would always be stained with sweat and I could smell his BO when he'd come near. It was kind of gross, but I actually felt bad for him. He was quiet and kept to himself. He almost seemed shy. He always had a scowl on his ugly mug that made him look scary and unapproachable.
I always did his routes, so I would see him at my desk nearly every day. Unlike all of the other macho assholes that worked here, and despite his scowling appearance, he was actually kind of nice to me. The scowl would disappear when we made small talk at my desk and his voice would be quieter, though still deep and rumbling. I sometimes wondered if his gruff demeanor was an act to keep people away.
I glanced over at him and he was lost in thought, chewing his sub sandwich. I smiled to myself and tried not to giggle when I saw the blob of mustard on his chin. He was a messy eater. I returned to my book with a smile on my face.
