Kevin and The Press Room

When Hillie approached Kevin to ask for a hurried favor, she found that he was sleeping while standing in front of his machine. Luckily, the C.N.C. machine he was running was completely encased, limiting work related injuries if he fell forward. ‘What a mess of paperwork that would be if he was on an open machine’, she thought to herself. "Kevin," she said too loud. He blinked a few times and his neutral expression changed to annoyance.

"Yeah?" Kevin grunted. He scratched under his armpit and took a wobbly step to the left towards the workbench to get his insulated mug, which was full of energy drink. He fumbled in his pocket and withdrew a small pill bottle that housed his painkillers. He watched Hillie's face as it turned to disgust. "What is it? What ya want?" he asked.

"What are you doing?" she said through a raised lip.

"Huh?" he asked.

"What are you doing?" she repeated.

Kevin knew what she was asking but refused to entertain her. Instead, he popped the pain pills in his mouth and looked her dead in the eyes as he sipped on his straw. She squirmed and he held back a smile. Anyone that had spoken with Hillie for more than a few minutes could tell she was on pills, too. The only difference was hers wasn't for physical pain.

"Anyway," she held her hands up in annoyance and sighed. Kevin leaned against his work station, steading himself. "You're needed on the presses in the press room."

"Huh?" He snapped. Hillie jumped. She did not know why he was so angry. "Where am I needed?" He barked as his eyes bulged and his lips tightened. Hillie's facade of a 'tough as nails' individual melted as she became a puddle. Without saying a word she raised a limp wrist and pointed to the press room. "What do you intend for me to do in the press room?" he asked. Kevin gripped onto the workbench, knowing he shouldn't talk to her or anyone in that manner, but he could not hold in his rage. Hillie shrugged as she backed away from him as quickly as an over medicated woman could. "You're just going to run away?" Kevin called after her. She ignored him and quickened her unsynchronized pace to the pressroom. She had barely told the lead of the department about Kevin's "unprofessional, overly aggressive, disrespectful behavior," when Kevin walked in. Everyone, including Hillie, stopped what they were doing.

"Would someone like to tell me what the hell is going on?" he barked.

"Kevin, you don't need to yell at us." Hillie said, hoping the three press workers and lead would protect her.

"I ain't talking to you, Hillie."

"Well, why not? Is it because I'm a -"

"Oh, hush," Kevin waved his hand dismissively.

The lead of the pressroom, Jon, rolled his eyes. "Goddamn, Hillie."

"It's because I'm a woman, isn't it?” she screeched. “That's why I'm not taken seriously around here, isn't it? Typical. Just typical." She slapped her hands on her thighs.

Jon rubbed his face and cleared his throat. "Hillie." He said in a soft tone. "I am not going to explain this to you again. Now if you would please, I want to hear what Kevin is saying."

She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Well, go on then Kevin." She popped her hip out and tapped her now dirtied, fancy shoe against the concrete floor.

"Lady." Kevin shook his head and looked at Hillie. "How can a woman in her, what, forties? You're in your forties, right?" Hillie's face twisted into hatred. "How can a woman in her forties still act like that? Good Lord."

"Kevin," Jon said, hoping to make peace. Kevin changed his gaze to Jon. The two had worked together for the past two decades and they both respected each other despite their lifestyles and many differences. Kevin and Jon understood each other and how both of them were trying to simply hang on long enough to retire. Kevin lowered his head and pulled at his shirt that barely covered his large stomach. He looked up at Jon and held his hands out and up. He rubbed them together, washing himself of the affair. "Alright," Jon said, accepting that was as good as it was going to get. "Kevin, we need the D-4 press set up."

"Why me?" Kevin asked, his shoulders starting to sag. He rubbed his lower back, hoping he wouldn't have to take another pain pill and fall further into his groggy haze.

"Because you're good at it." Jon said. "Because you're quick," He continued. "And because Hillie," she flinched, "messed up her orders and a job is due to be sent out tonight."

"No." Kevin said, tightening his lips in resolve. "No."

"No?" Jon asked, startled. "Why? Wh-what do you mean, no? It needs to be done. You're the best man for the job."

"I spoke with H.R. and Dick about my back. They told me I won't have to be moving around those dies anymore. So." He crossed his arms. "I'm NOT."

"Oh." Jon stared at the floor. "Hillie," he said."If Dick said he is excused from die setting, why weren't you told about it?" She straightened her shoulders. "You knew, didn't you?" She refused to answer and turned her smile towards Kevin.

"Oh come on, Kevin." Hillie said in her new tone. "Don't you want to be a team player?"

"Don't you?" Kevin retorted immediately.

She placed her hand on her heart. "I am a team player."

"If you were a team player you wouldn't mess up as much as you do and then expect us out here on The Floor to fix it like-" Kevin snapped his fingers. The other workers covered their smiles. "You need to go to the higher ups and tell them you messed up and we ain't coverin' for you no more." Her face flushed. She looked around for backup but no one looked at her. She flipped her hair and stomped holes into the floor as she went to see Dick, the plant manager.

"I wish higher ups would enforce her to tie her damn hair back," Jon grunted. "That's just what I want to see is her caught up in somethin'. Damn. They make you tie yours back, Kevin!" He waved his arm at Kevin. "She is really making me mad. Her spoutin' all that anti-woman shit. I got three daughters! They're grown and successful and don't pull that horseshit. Damn! You know the youngest is in the Navy! Middle one is a damn doctor! And Jessie is an amazing stay at home mom! I don't give a rat's ass what a woman does 'cuz it's their own damn life! Shit! Pulling that horseshit that we don't like women. I'm just. Damn! You know she tried telling my wife at the Christmas party that- nope. Nope. I'm done. I can't let her upset me like that." He closed his eyes and reached for the cross he kept in his pants pocket. The other workers watched as he said his prayers under his breath. Before he opened his eyes, Hillie was back with Dick.

"Hey, Kevin. Hillie here told me about the situation out here." Dick was in his early thirties and looked like he was in his early twenties. He wasn't disliked by the workers of the factory, but he wasn't liked, either.

"Yeah?" Kevin nodded his head up and down vigorously. "So I'm going back to what I was doing before?"

"Well. We need this job out tonight. I understand that there was a mixup with the paperwork but you're the best man for the job."

"I have a doctor's note." Kevin said in disgust.

"Yeah. So," Dick put his left hand in his left pocket of his business casual pants. "Since the doctor's note isn't from our doctor, it isn't recognized by the company. Legally we do not have to follow your doctor's orders."

"That's horseshit."

"Language, please." Dick raised his eyebrows. "If you would like, you can speak with H.R. after this job is done and we can get you scheduled with one of our doctors."

"And what are they going to do?" Kevin felt his chest get hot and start to heave.

"I am not exactly sure what they're going to do since I'm not a doctor, Kevin."

"Well my doctor, who IS a doctor, already sent over to H. R. why I shouldn't be setting up these presses anymore. And you," Kevin pointed at Dick, "said right to my face- right to my face!" He glared at him, Dick's face remained uncaring. "You said that you were going to respect that!" There was an awkward silence. Dick tskd his tongue.

"At the time, we were able to make those accommodations." Dick said. "However, at this point and time, you are needed to set up this machine. Since there is no proof from a doctor-" he held his right hand up, cutting Kevin off. "A doctor that was provided by the company, there is nothing stating you cannot setup this job. I remind you that your contract with us states 'that an employee of this company has to be accommodating and flexible on accomplishing jobs'. Right now Kevin, your job is setting up the D-4 press. If you don't, that is considered refusal to work and creating a hostile environment. Which is grounds for dismissal."

"I've been working here before you were born, Dick."

"I am aware."

"That's all you have to say?"

Dick looked at his expensive watch, then back at Kevin. The room was quiet except for the small sound of Hillie breathing out as she smiled big. Although she wanted to shout in joy over her victory, she held her head down to avoid possible eye contact with Dick. The air in the room grew thick as the silence spilled out of the room and spread to the rest of the building. Kevin did not say anything as he reached in his pocket for another pain pill.