johnny bit into the ham and egg sandwich, and quickly rose to the top of the organization.
johnny had what it took. it was all about the organization. the organization came first.
he was tough but fair. if you played ball with him, he would play ball with you.
he was loyal. as he climbed the ladder, he took old sarge, cookie, and mrs worth with him.
old sarge was his bodyguard and chauffeur, , cookie was his chef and valet, and mrs worth was his secretary.
johnny traveled all over the world. his name was never in the media, but he rubbed elbows with anybody who was anybody.
it looked like he was on tap to take over the organization, when mister a retired.
and then it all came crashing down.
big as he was, johnny had an open door policy. it had always served him well.
the humblest supplicants from within the organization and even from without, could come into his office, and plead his case, if they could get past old sarge and mrs worth.
a guy came into the office, one rainy afternoon..
a big guy, a little out of shape, but looking like he used to be in good shape. not dressed too sharp, but not like a bum either.
his red white and blue tie was neatly knotted.
old sarge was in the waiting area, reading ring magazine.
remember me? the guy asked old sarge.
can’t say that i do, pal, old sarge replied, barely looking at the guy. old sarge was asked this question many times, often more than once in a day.
you sure about that?
and something in the guy’s voice … set off a distant bell in old sarge’s brain, maybe from back before he was old sarge, when he was just a little fellow running barefoot in the dust trying to catch snakes under a yellow sky…
what can i do for you? he said, looking right at the visitor for the first time.
i would like to see your boss. i think he would like to see me.
all right, then, go through that door. the secretary might let you through. then again, she might not.
thank you, the visitor replied. he went through the door, where mrs worth was waiting for him.
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