– John, isn’t it time for you to retire?” the young boss suddenly asked his gray-haired deputy.
It seemed that after such words there should have been an uncomfortable long pause in the deputy’s office, but it happened quite the opposite.
– It’s time, Victor! The time has come! – exclaimed joyful John, and immediately rushed to hug his boss. – How good that you told me that now! – hugging, John opened his arms, and cheerfully asked: – Well, then, I’m going?
– Where? – asked the stunned boss.
– To retire, where else? – laughed the deputy. – How subtly you hinted to me, Victor. You know how to talk to subordinates! Well, that’s it, I’m taking my cup, my diary, and I’m going to register immediately. Ugh… How timely it all happened… How timely…
– Wait, wait, John, what are you doing? – the boss was even more confused. – I didn’t say that to retire you today. It’s all in perspective, so to speak… You know that we have received a decree from the top to increase the salaries of employees. And where will we get the money for this increase? We will have to fire someone. And whom to fire? So I thought, you are now of retirement age, maybe I should talk to you on this topic… But I thought inaccurately… And I talked inaccurately… I repent.
– You don’t have to repent, Victor. It’s all right.” John was already standing there with a cup in his hand.
– Are you crazy, John? – Victor grabbed his deputy by the sleeve. – I can’t let you go yet. You are the most experienced person here at our enterprise. You know our work better than me. I can’t do it without you.
– Cope, cope, – the deputy smiled. – If you hinted to me that it’s time to go, then you have a suitable replacement for me. You don’t just say such words to deputies. I already know that very well.
– Well, on my word of honor, John, I don’t have a replacement for you today.
– Then why did you tell me about retirement?” John was confused.
– Well, I thought maybe I could transfer you to a part-time job, – the boss suggested. – Huh? How would you like to work half-time, John? After all, you are already in years, health is not that…
– Unfortunately, my dear chief, – the deputy smiled bitterly, – although you are right, and sometimes I have dizziness on the ground of fatigue, but it’s easier for me to retire. Moreover, I have been waiting for it for a long time. As they say, the word of the boss – that is, your word – it is not a sparrow, it will fly, it will fly!
– Stop it, John!” Victor nervously interrupted his deputy, “I urge you, no, I’m just begging you, please put your cup back immediately and continue working as you were.
– Are you out of your mind, Victor?” John clutched the cup to his chest, “How am I supposed to continue working? You have just opened the door to happiness for me. Do you want to close this door again? No… Now I will retire on principle…
– Well, John, stop being offended. – The boss, like a child, furrowed his pleading eyebrows. – I beg you, forget about our conversation. I just wanted to scare you. Stupidly. Especially since your salary will be raised next month. Here.
– Yeah?
– Yeah. You yourself read this unfortunate decree on raising wages.
– And how much are you going to raise the salary?” John asked casually.
– How much? You know everything very well.
– Only by how much?
– What do you mean, only? It’s – wow – what money!
– If you raise it more, I’ll stay, – the deputy said.
– How much? – the chief’s eyes popped out of their sockets.
– Well, at least 2 times! And so – do not even persuade.
– Are you, John, in your old age…? Where am I going to get the extra money? From where?
– I’m not that…, Victor, but on the contrary – I’ve become wiser. And if you want me to really put the cup back, agree to my condition.
– So, John, are you going to set conditions for me? – the chief suddenly tensed up.
– Of course! – John smiled. – I tell you again, the word of the chief is not a sparrow. And the word of the deputy chief – even more so. Once he said it, you can’t put this figure back in the cage. Well? – John brought his cup to the nose of the chief. – Here it is, my working cup, still in my hand. I’m getting ready to go somewhere far away from here. But if you say “yes”, it immediately returns to its workplace.
– And if you don’t?
– Then the cup together with the deputy chief leaves the office and goes to the personnel department to be registered.
– Well, John… – the boss shook his head sadly – Maybe a little less?
– No, Victor. As a famous character said: “Bargaining is inappropriate here!”
– Well, all right, God be with you… – the boss shook his head gloomily… – But on the condition that now you will rack your brains, where we can get money for people to raise their salaries…
