Incompetence Compensation Competence by Ralf Lisch

Author:Ralf Lisch
Language: deu
Format: epub
Publisher: Solibro
Published: 2017-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

Frequent Flyer

They almost did not recognize each other. Billows of smoke swirled around their heads. From the ceiling, the air conditioning system blew cold air at full power into the room and yet, it was not able to clear the dense fog. Frank Stone and John Walker were both standing at one of the small round bar tables that furnished the smoking lounge at the airport more sparsely than comfortably. It was not intended to make people stay longer than absolutely necessary.

Both Stone and Walker held a cigarette. With the other hand, they played with a cigarette pack that they alternately stood up or laid flat on the table trying to find yet another position before starting the whole procedure anew. Regardless of how they turned the pack, the grim pictures were always visible: smoking kills! But that could prevent neither Stone nor Walker from smoking. Lost in thought, they stared at the embers of their cigarettes and watched how the heat devoured the tobacco turning it into ashes that they nervously flicked into an overflowing ashtray. At times, some of the ash landed on the table. They would then blow it carefully onto the floor or else lick their fingers before picking it up and dropping it back into the ashtray. A moment later they took another deep drag on their cigarettes and pressed the smoke into their lungs before letting it gush out of their nostrils and mouths and dulled their senses. No, it was not enjoyment but habit that made two seasoned managers stand in this hazy smoking lounge. It was a ritual that was supposed to shorten the waiting time at the airport.

Only when Frank Stone accidentally looked up did he recognized his colleague at the neighboring table. Who would have expected to meet a colleague in a befogged locale catering to addicts? You don’t want to be seen dead at places like this although afterwards everybody could smell where you had been. Now it was too late. Turning around and leaving the room was not an option. That would have been even more embarrassing. The only choice was to resort to small talk.

Hello John! On another business trip? John Walker was equally surprised to meet a colleague here of all places. Hi Frank, he replied and immediately regretted entering this smokers’ den. But it would be a long flight so it was better to have a quick cigarette before taking off. Ha ha, it’s a small world, he said. John was the born salesman and never at a loss for words: we never meet at the office so we meet at the airport instead. Have you joined the frequent flyers’ club too? Where are you off to?

I’m on my way home, said Stone. He was the controlling manager and had taken part in a one-day meeting at the airport hotel. Stone preferred to abstain from mentioning that his business trip had been anywhere more exotic. He was well aware of how much Walker travelled. It was not possible to impress him with a short trip.

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