Ben's Project Gains Momentum, But...

Last Episode, Ben was still reeling from his last conversation with Tina. They were getting on well, and Ben felt his feelings looming back into top gear. Tina had told him very clearly, ‘Not tonight, Josephine!'

On top of that, he just had his first meeting with his old marketing partners. It was one of his more embarrassing moments. He got his first lead for the “Speak Up” campaign. He promised Jerome Gotagoodline a meeting to talk about it.

How will it end?

Does it end?

Read on … storm troopers!

  ******

“Thanks for meeting with me, Jerome! I am really pleased that you have decided to ‘Speak Up,'" said Ben, eager to engage with his first volunteer.

“Be careful,” came that voice in his head, “what was it that Doug referred to you as? – a ‘dumb-arse jellybean’ I believe," continued Calvernicus, barely able to hold back a chuckle.

“Shut up, you old fart,” Ben snapped back. "That wasn't him; it was you. I'll show Doug how valuable it is to get people to 'Speak up' for his culture survey."

“What are you talking about?” Jerome interrupted, looking confused. He couldn't understand how jellybeans, farts, and culture all fit together in one sentence.

“Nothing, nothing,” replied Ben, trying to regain his focus.

" I was thinking you have such a big heart for stepping up. You deserve jellybeans, just like when you visit the doctor for those exams. But that’s not important. What do you want to talk about?”

"Well, Ben, it might not be a big deal, but since I’m new here, I noticed a few things that seemed a bit strange. I checked with Mr T., and he suggested that he join us; he should be here in a minute,” explained Jerome.

Well, that sucks, thought Ben.  Here was my big break and now Mr T. is going to crap all over my parade like a flock of seagulls at the beach on a summer’s day.

“I’m not sure that is such a good idea, Jerome,” said Ben, desperate to try and change Jerome’s mind before Mr T. arrived. All I need is for that meddlesome Penny Promo to turn up a well and I will be totally screwed.

Ben believed that Penny was somehow involved in all the 'accounting misunderstandings.' After all, she did all of Mr T. and Glene E Baker’s receipts.

He was naturally suspicious. No, "inquisitive" fits better. Still, some, like Calvernicus and Doug, thought he was just plain stupid.  After all, it was how Ben got into compliance. He got a secret job to investigate the findings from last month's audit. 

Knock, Knock!!

“Well, let’s see,” said Jerome, opening the door.  Sure enough, there was Mr T. with Penny not far behind.

This will be fun, thought Ben.  He was somewhat pleased, though. Inwardly he complimented himself on having the honing skills of a crocodile sniffing out a rotting pig.

“Good morning, Mr Boa,” said Penny with a big smile.

"What the hell," thought Ben.  “What all this Mr Boa stuff, Penny? It's usually a hurtful term like "loser" or "scum bag."

“See what I mean,” said Penny. “He is just a nasty little man,” she added with a big smile.

Ben looked across at Mr T, as if he was going to do him any favours. He just sat there with a ‘told you so’ smile all over his face.

“Maybe you guys are right,” said Jerome.  “I need to do some more digging around Ben. Can I come back to you on, say, Wednesday?”

“Sure,” said Ben, feeling thoroughly defeated as Jerome, Penny, and Mr T all got up to leave.

He was even more convinced now that there was something going on.  People were hiding things, and others knew about it but were too frightened to ‘Speak Up’.

“Told you so,” said that voice in his head (Calvernicus).

 “You are asking people to do something that takes courage and commitment. There must be the right culture in a company where people feel comfortable speaking up. Otherwise, those who do either get ignored or get shot down. You need to focus on senior management. Get their promise that when people ‘Speak up,’ they will be heard and not punished.”

“For once you may be onto something, but you’re still an old fart; maybe a wise one, though. I have a meeting with Doug now, so I will talk to him first,” conceded Ben

Ben sat at his desk, somewhat deflated. It was so important that he made a good impression; he could really get used to this Compliance thing. He felt like he was contributing. He was surprised to open his email and see that 15 people wanted to talk about his launch meetings for ‘Speak Up’. 

Must have been the chocolate bribes I gave them. No, hang on, they were not bribes; they were prizes, weren’t they? What was a bribe now that he thought about it?  His thoughts were cut short because he had to go and see Doug.

******

“Come in,” said Doug with all the charm of a death adder; they had a love-hate relationship.

“Doug, you wanted to see me?”

“Well, of course I did. That’s why I asked you to meet me“ ('dipstick,' he muttered under his breath).

"Ben brightened up, saying, 'We’re getting responses to the ‘Speak Up’ campaign!' He wanted to share good news with Doug and prove his program wasn't cactus*."

“Whatever,” smirked Doug, clearly looking like he was ready to ‘spit the dummy’**.

"Well, that’s good, Ben; you can hone your senses for speaking up campaigns in the land of dragons,” said Doug.

“What?” said Ben, very puzzled.

“You and Tina, I need you two to go to China; I have some problems there I need to understand.”

"Problems?" said Ben.

“Yes,” said Doug, losing his patience, “You and Tina, China next week. Get a Visa, lose your computer. I hope you like rice!”

Ben didn’t like rice, but the thought of spending time away with Tina really excited him. Hell, he’d eat rat's poo if he had to! Then it struck him! Last time Tina went to China, she came back all strange, and he didn’t get to speak to her the whole time she was away.

"That’s OK. I don’t have any friends, so I will be fine!" He told himself.

“Well, go, go,” snorted Doug, "we will talk more tomorrow. Tell Tina I want to see her.”

Ben was off with the fairies, dreaming about his upcoming time with Tina. It didn’t matter if it was China or Mars; he was going to be with Tina. A long plane trip, taxis, dinners, meet-and-greets—his heart was beating so fast he felt dizzy.

Just then, there was a knock on his door. He turned around.

Great!

She filled the doorway like a sea monster. It was Penny Promo, his biggest rival from marketing. What did she want, he wondered?

Talk about going from a high to the bottom of the pit. She was a real whacker***.  

She was an example of everything wrong with Compliance. He was just about to let loose with a few choice words when he noticed something very different about her look. She was not the usual pompous git he had come to recognise. He decided to be nice, although he usually regretted this.

“Penny, what can I do for you?" he started, trying to force out a smile.

“Ben, I need to talk to you. I need to 'Speak Up.'"

Ben just about fell off his chair; he was ‘gob smacked’****.  Had he converted his biggest rival into a new way of looking at things? Had his “Speak Up" program been that successful in such a short period of time?

“Ben, I’ve always thought you were an idiot. I still do,” said Penny.

I knew it, thought Ben. I have been sucked in again. When will I ever learn? Some people just never change their spots.

He wanted to tell Penny he couldn't help, because he had a new top-secret assignment, but he decided not to say anything. Not even Tina knew about it yet.

 [A/n: * ‘Cactus’ - Australian slang for broken, useless; ** ‘Spit the dummy’ - Australian slang for getting upset; *** Wacker’ - Idiot, fool; **** ‘Gob smacked’ - surprised, astounded

Bon Boa PART III: "In The Land of Dragons" 

Episode 1: “Do I Need to Pack a Gun or a Bag Full of Money?’

 Till next time,

Calvin