The Search

COLD CASH

 

'Damn, it's hot in here!' Johnny Toledo, foreman at Halman's Elite Air Conditioning, Inc., paces back and forth, sweats like a pig. The thin coarse hairs on his balding head make him look like an aging swine. His arms flail in anger, desperation,  as he pushes the meeting alarm. Silent words wait anxiously on his lips for the gathering. The loud mike stirs the bewildered staff. 'All officers, personnel, assemble by 10:10 a.m. Malingerers will not be tolerated and will be out of here pronto!'

 

Johnny wipes the sweat off his forehead, tries to smile, and starts the meeting. 'Ladies and Gentlemen: Does anyone here have a clue as to what is going on at Halman's? Can you understand the consequences if our dilemma isn't cleared up today? Not tomorrow–but today, NOW!' His anger, fear, are evident. He addresses Laura, 'Bring in a few pitchers of ice water and glasses, not waxed cups, –that is if we have ice. Step on it, please.'

 

He starts without Laura. 'Do you men and women realize that Halman's Elite Air Conditioning, Inc, has been for twenty years, the very best AC company in Gainesville, until today. Nobody can hold a candle to us for prompt service, A1 workers, fair prices, free check-up twice a year. Anybody besides me sweating your rear off?' There is no laughter as every hand goes up.

 

'OK, Guys, let's check again. Are our compressors compressing properly? George and Sylvan stand to say that they personally went over the compressors several times. 'Johnny, their smooth, workin' like a dream.' 'Who checked, double and triple checked the refrigerant?' Harry, a fairly new mechanic at Halman's, announces  he is almost willing to taste the stuff. It is clear and the pipes are filled.'

 

'Don, what about, all vales humming, coils clear of dust?' And so th meeting goes. No problems can be found but yet the AC is not running efficiently. Johnny accepts the load and hopes to placate his employees with a bit of a recess. 'Well,' he says to all. 'We're not going to stay in this hot house much longer. Let's go for lunch down the street at Calendar's, on Halman's, then back to the sweat shop, more checking, more going over and we will find the trouble. Right?' Every employee, including management, leaves as one. Johnny locks all the doors, checks the windows, sets the burglar alarm, and brings up the rear as Calendar's arranges and re-arranges their space. Deep breaths of cool contentment upset Johnny but he doesn't mention his pleasure, his business yet.

 

The ladies put on lipstick and make a quick stop in the loo. The men don't even thank Johnny for lunch and  return to Halman's. The thermometer in the lobby is kept at 71 degrees but reads 82. 'Every man here is to re-do his inspection right now! Don't miss a tack, a crack, an unlit bulb, a leaking copper line. Whoever finds the problem by four p.m. and is able to fix it, will receive a $500 bonus. Goods luck!'

 

There is no question staff is inspired. They hurry to their places, use high intensity lights to delve into, under, around all possibilities and even places that are so far out of the picture, they just cannot exist.
Johnny himself is on his knees, crawling from station to station. He cannot concede to failure but finally has to let the help leave at five, before they broil to death.

 

There is no one left at Halman's except Johnny. He has a small electric fan aimed at him as he re-thinks every possible thing that can be disrupting the AC. His watch shows six. The temperature, even with the fan, is 85, when the phone rings. He lets it ring itself to a stop but it starts again. 'Halman's Electric Air Conditioning Inc.' he says.

 

'Granpa, Granpa, where are you? Granma is worried,' Len says. 'Are you coming home soon?' 'Yes, soon, Len. There's a little problem at the plant, but I'll be home before long.' 'Granpa, do me a favor, will you?'
Johnny asks what the favor is. 'I lost the two Mexican coins you gave me last week and think they may have rolled under that big, noisy condenser in a place you told me never to go to. I'm sorry, but I went anyhow. Will you try to find them for me?'

 

Johnny promises Len, hangs up and almost flies to the condenser. His hand goes under it and comes up with balls of dust–and two thin old Mexican coins. There is a deep grinding sound, then a chugging and the condenser starts working, the entire plant is operating again.

 

Oh the joy in Johnny's heart. He calls all of the managers, legal staff, everybody. As he heads for the door, he stops, goes to the safe, puts in the combination and removes five never- used hundred dollar bills, puts them in his pants pocket, sets the building alarm and goes home to hug and unabashedly kiss his grandson.