Just when you think Val's helicoptering days are over, that her chopper is up on blocks, her boys having flown the coop and feathered their own nests... a situation arises.
The Pony had a workday from Not-Heaven.
"Today was a day from Not-Heaven! Someone (coworker, not rando) stole the keys to the route I was on's van. So I had to drive a crappy LLV [Long Life Vehicle] to Backroads. Which started smoking once I was there and started it up! And on top of that I rolled both my ankles (not badly, nor at the same time, but still!).
Plus I had to skip an entire loop of mail because four big waist high dogs were running loose. And I was not risking that with how this day was going."
"Yes. Avoid the dogs! What about the key? Just absent-minded, or up to mischief?"
"As in 'someone took the new van that this route is assigned and put the keys to the worst LLV in there.' Which is all I know."
"That would seem to be some kind of violation! Did you just drive it, or ask where the van keys were? Was it a regular, or a CCA?"
"No clue. Like I said, that's all I know. Managers were equally confused and didn't know who had it, and I don't have the number for this route memorized."
"So at least the managers know..."
First of all, my helicopter might be warming up, but I have no intention of getting involved. Not my monkey, not my circus. I just feel bad for The Pony getting stuck with a crappy LLV when he was due a new van. As he's said for the past 18 months he's worked there, the vehicle goes with the route, not with the driver. Whoever fills in on that route uses the vehicle that the regular uses for it.
I have no idea if somebody did it on purpose as a dig at The Pony, (or more generally a CCA), or if they just wanted a better vehicle for the day, not knowing who was getting shafted with the switch. When The Pony checks the schedule, he knows what route he will have. So it's not a secret who is on what route. That said, I doubt it's personal. Just somebody wanting a Cadillac instead of a Jed Clampett car.
I didn't ask, but I suppose the 'worst LLV' was an extra. Otherwise, you could just see what route THAT OTHER vehicle was assigned to, and figure who switched. So maybe the culprit shuffled some keys. You'd think management would be able to figure it out, what with all the tracking they do on the drivers. Then again, we're talking about government workers.
So who knows?
Not this old Val. That's for sure.
