A Man's Best Friend (pt.2)

At Burger Galaxy, Jerry's training was brief. It didn't take long at all for the trainer to realize that he was wholly unsuitable to work at the counter or in the drive thru. Jerry just wasn't good with customers, or anyone else. But the grill area was different. Jerry was a wonder at the grill. Orders could not come in fast enough to cause him to fall behind. 12-6 turn-lay rotation? No problem for Jerry. He just got into his zone and spread the patties, seared them, turned them, spread the next dozen, seared them, pulled the first twelve, and so on. As long as he didn't have to interact with anybody. It was enough that he had to acknowledge the numbers being called back from the front. Nobody liked to work with Jerry, but they didn't mind it either. It was nice never falling behind, especially during big lunch rushes. After his trial service period wound down, and unencumbered by a school schedule, Jerry went to work mornings, opening the grill for breakfast, and ending his day as the busy lunch rush ebbed. There were fewer co-workers during the mornings, and fewer customers. By now, even at minimum wage, Jerry's 40-hour work weeks in the fast food industry were providing him with enough money to keep him in all the beer and cigarettes he wanted. The morning manager purchased alcohol for him regularly, in an effort to keep his best employee happy. As though Jerry would ever, or could ever be happy. Jerry still wasn't satisfied though. He was still living at home, and was using the morning manager as a taxi service to and from work. He wanted a car, and he wanted a place of his own, where he wouldn't have to answer to anyone. Burger Galaxy did not offer that kind of income. Some of the employees rented places together, but that wouldn't work for Jerry. He had to find a better way. An opportunity arose one day when Jerry was picking up an eighth of an ounce of some marijuana and the dealer mentioned an open position at a local mill pulling green chain. The best part as far as Jerry could see was that it was the graveyard shift. More money. Fewer people. He had to get the job. So Jerry went to the mill office and applied for the position. He was interviewed immediately after filling out the application, and was offered the job that very day. He didn't give Burger Galaxy two weeks' notice. He didn't give them any notice. He merely called the store and said he quit. He took no small amount of pleasure in listening to his ego telling him that they were going to be lost without him. He didn't dwell on it though. He just didn't care. Jerry now had plans. Big plans.