A First Time of Everything

Fem called Steve to accompany her to the port. Steve, now in his early 30's is a well built, mascular medium tall man who is mostly silent but very observant. He applied as a porter at the age of 23 after finishing his two year auto-diesel mechanic vocational course. When the former manager saw his resume`, it showed that he has knowledge and skills in cars so he was hired as a mechanic making his salary 50% much higher than a porter. Porter applicants are usually those who finished high schools and or out of school youths who are diligent in their work. Steve embraced work and interestingly, he has yet to meet his future life partner. He loved cars and can detect a vehicle's defect just by hearing its noise but he is also diligent in all he does. He was promoted as the Supervising Officer in the warehouse where all the delivery trucks and container vans are parked also. He recommends repairs of delivery vehicles and sees to it that every vehicle is in its top most condition. He also sees to it that the cargoes are transported carefully and every code of the goods are checked correctly. Eugene, his assistant applied for three months leave due to family concerns so it was quite a huge task for Steve to do all the things by himself.

Steve knocked lightly on the manager's door where the label "Manager's Office" was posted on it.

"Yes come in!" the sweet voice was heard. Steve entered casually. He heard that the manager was on leave but he has yet to meet the substitute one. At the sight of the lady infront of him, he was caught surprised at how young and beautiful she is! He expected an elder woman maybe much more older than him. This lady in front of him seems not even a graduate of college, a very young one!

Fem turned her swivel chair to see the man who entered. " Hi! I suppose you are Steve?" She smiled at the man. She only knew him by name through his profile.

"Yes miss. Sorry, but a...aaaare you the new manager?" He squinted his eyes at her as he tapped his nose.

"Yes, my name is Fem Law if you still haven't heard of this name. Any problem with my being the manager Steve?" She smiled as she asked directly seeing that the man had a complicated facial expression.

"Are you sure?" He said as if he was given the human resource department of the company. "Why are you so young? Ladies like you should be in the university campus." He added so as not to sound offensive.

"That's not your problem Steve. I called you because I want you to accompany me to the port then to the warehouse today. I hope you've some men under you to do your work load for today." Fem said.

"There are only a few people who can do my work well, but yeah, I will just double check their recommendations this afternoon. So it sounds we're going for an inspection miss madam?" his smile was reserved.

"Precisely! Let's go then! And by the way, if you're not comfortable with my position here, just call me Fem. Im turning 21 years old already." Fem smirked as she stood up from her seat, gathered her note pad and her black shoulder bag then gestured her hand to Steve as she strode towards the door. Steve followed scratching his head at the directness of this lady young manager. In his mind, he regretted sounding a bit calculating.

Steve drove the company car which was assigned for him. Fem got into the front passenger seat without waiting for Steve to open the car door for her. 'She's fast and independent.' Steve thought as he glanced at her buckling her seatbelt while he started the car.

Forty minutes later, Steve parked the car in the wide car park area where they could see the cargo lifters lifting the containers to each transporter truck after it passed through the security scanner machine.

WangCargo Express deals with figurines, ceramics, pottery and floor tiles. They're the biggest supplier of these products in the entire northern region including B CIty. The handling of these goods are extremely hard since they are very fragile. Porters and drivers are taking extreme safety measures to minimize damages especially that the travel from Southern province to Northern Province is too long and some roads are not really smooth. In Steve's five years of experience as a supervisor, there were atleast less than a sixteenth fraction of the goods that are labeled damaged by the inspectors

At 10:30, Steve drove Fem to the warehouse where each cargo truck was to unload again. Steve led her to the his office located at the upper corner of the long and huge bungalow style warehouse. The office was constructed specially for someone to watch the workers while doing his paper works. There is a mic beside his desk that is connected to speakers all around the corners of the warehouse to call the attention of anybody or announce any information he might need them to know. From where they are, Fem can see the uniformed boys unloading the contents of each truck that came in one after the other.

From her list of employees, there are 60 cargo employees divided into three 8-hour shifts. There are about 15 ladies among them who are specially assigned in repackaging and double checking. This morning, she expects about 25 to 30 employees since it was the busiest shift schedule. To the other side of the warehouse was the maintenance shop where the trucks and vans are kept checked by 10 mechanics and three electricians.

Fem wanted to meet everyone of them as it was her first time visiting in this site. She instructed Steve to call everyone's attention and inform them to gather infront of the office for a Christmas Lunch break. After all, its two days before Christmas day. While waiting for Steve this morning at her office, she managed to call for a catering service from a nearby catering restaurant. She expected the food to arrive at quarter to twelve which will allow them to set up before the employees are gathered.

Fem planned to announce them their 13 month pay and how she is currently solving their problem in excessive cash salary advances. She hoped that each one will get her point and be more cooperative.

Steve switched on the mic and his voice echoed around the warehouse. Every one stopped to listen to what the voice was saying. Each one was wondering what could have happened why the aloof supervisor suddenly wanted everyone gather at such time.

"Everyone, if I don't see your face later, I'll ask the manager to withhold your 13month pay." His voice was light as a joke but was threatening.

At 11:45, the food arrived and the caterers started to set-up a long line of table. It was a buffet style as it will allow everyone to move freely without feeling tensed if they are acting proper or not. Fem went down to give instruction to the caterers about the arrangement. All was set by the time twelve struck and the employees started to flock in.

Seeing the long line of food infront of them, everyone cannot help but smile in delight. What they expected as a tensed situation turned out to be a delightful feast for them. They did not notice the tall young figure of a lady in the supervisor's office standing as she watched everyone coming.

When Fem saw that almost all of the employees were around the food, she went down to join them. Standing beside Steve, she tugged his elbow to start what he should do. Steve on the other hand was caught unaware and went speechless. He eyed at her as if asking her what to say because his mind went blank.

"Well, aren't you going to introduce me to them?" She whispered in his ear. To the two of them, it was an superior-subordinate interaction, but to the employees, the sight of them was like boyfriend-girlfriend interaction especially that everyone saw how the lady tugged the man's elbow like she was nagging at someone close to her.

Steve chuckled as he came to his senses. He coughed a little with his knuckle over his mouth. "Well, ladies and gentlemen, you might be surprised why we are gathered here around these food all of a sudden. As they say, there's always a first time for everything. It is indeed our first time to eat together as employees. It is also the first time we celebrate Christmas together in this warehouse. All my 10 years of working at WangCargoExpress, it is my first time experiencing this and it is an honor to have gathered all of you here before my office. All thanks to our beautiful, young and generous manager! It is also my first time seeing her. Its is my first time seeing a manager as young, as beautiful, and as generous as her. Thank you for visiting us and showing your concern to us manager Fem." Steve spoke from his heart. He knew the effect of this act to his subordinates. This simple gathering of employees will communicate to them that they are valued and remembered as individuals and not just as workers who labor for a living without any emotional attachment. This will boost their morale and help them extend their perspective in their lengths of service.