Thought I would bring this back to the front since Tis the season...
A Christmas NOTHING tale with apologies to Mr. Dickens!!!
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times......
Deep in his dimmly lit cave of an office, Ebeneezer Dispatcher sat at his cluttered desk concocting ways to keep the firms beleaguered drivers out over the Christmas holiday, with phone receiver in one hand the, dreaded, red pen in the other and with a sinister growl "I'll show these fools, Christmas Bah Hum something or other!" As he scribbled in loads for delivery on the most joyous day on the calender!
One by one the drivers were given the bad news and if one ever so much as complained, well that person was doomed to sit at a Flying J for almost an eternity(which for some is more than 8 hours)!
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...Just as Ebeneezer thought he had finished his dirty deed a name jumped out off the page like a flashing neon sign... Cobb Ratchet.. Ebeneezer scowled, spat in disgust and grumbled. "I'll make your merry very unmerry Mr. Ratchet!"
With fingers, much like sledge hammers, pounding the keyboard the evil old **** sent the hapless Ratchet the Qual-Comm from Hell, noon delivery Christmas Day to the Hunts Point Market in the South Bronx.
The Qual-Comm beeped in the ragged Freightliner our hero was driving, as Cobb looked at the screen his smile turned to a frown as he threw the screen to the floor. His hopes for a holiday off were crushed beyond recognition as the lyrics to an old holiday classic danced in his head "I'll be home for Christmas"
Ratchet knew it was useless to argue and or protest swallowed his pride and drove on to the appointed pick up point.
Meanwhile, satisfied with a job evily done Ebeneezer hobbled off to his travel trailer parked behind the main office. This home on wheels was nothing short of a rat nest with minimal electricity, running water or, many other creature comforts.
Ebeneezer sat down to his usual dinner, cold pizza(bet you thought it was Gruel) and flat Pepsi. After his dinner the evil old **** drifted off to sleep only to be rudely awakened by a slap in the head.
Jumping from the chair Ebeneezer found himself facing a person, dressed somewhat like Captain Jack Sparrow with an after glow....