Casey Crane

Mountain View was quite a prosperous area. As it's name suggested it was nestled at the bottom of the start of a large range of white capped peaks that went on into the distance.

In the valley, the factories and shipping centers laid out like sprawling blocks covering the flat plane to the bank of the river.

Fushan river was wide and slow moving with a deep birth.

The banks had shallow areas, but the center was deep.

It was a main travel hub for ships carrying ore and minerals out of Mountain View and into the smelting plants down the way.

Off to the side of this area, nestled at the bottom of one of the smaller mountains, well away from the river and the main city, was a small suburb.

This was Cheapside.

As it's name suggested, it was the poor neighborhood.

In one of the many cookie cutter box homes, next to the land fill, was a small run down house.

Shingles were peeling off the roof. Siding was falling down.

The grass was all but dead.

The driveway had a small, beat up four door sedan with most of the bumpers being held on by duct tape.

Inside this house came the sounds of angry yelling "CASEY GET YOUR NO GOOD USELESS ASS OUT OF THIS HOUSE AND GET YOUR ASS TO WORK!"

"You want breakfast? HERE!" a cereal bar came flying across the kitchen slapping Casey in the face.

Casey was average height. A little under weight. And wearing a worn, patched, second hand suit.

Casey had short black hair, a kind face and eyes, a little bit of a three o clock shadow on his face, and large bags under his eyes.

He was still young, but looked haggard.

The one who had thrown the bar was his mother in law.

She was wearing an old stained nightie, with plastic rollers in her hair. A cigarette dangled from her lips that she ashed onto the floor. "GO make me some money you lazy good for nothing!"

"Yes Ma'am" is all he answered with a smile, walking from the home.

He got into his beat up sedan, turned the key over, then over, then over, until the car finally started.

He backed up slowly, and then left on his way to work.

Casey's wife had passed away two years ago during child birth, the child was still born.

Even so, he still took care of her parents, regardless of how much they treated him badly. He would never show them an unkind eye, or say a harsh word to them.

Casey worked at the shipping and receiving section of the dock. He was waiting in long traffic, watching car after car fly passed him.

Eventually he made it to work.

One of the logistics centers had a line of trucks honking and blowing their horns. Seems there was some sort of hold up causing the traffic to build. At the very front of the line, there was an elderly attendant trying to help a trucker get signed in.

The trucker had no papers, no invoice, and no registration in the system.

The elderly woman was trying her best to talk to the man "please sir. Can you pull aside till you can find your paperwork?" The elderly old woman was saying. She had wrinkles of age on her other wise dignified appearance.

This old woman held a bearing that seemed like she had never had to work a day in her life. But here she was, working the check in point of the logistics center.

The trucker was getting angry "just look it up ya old bitty! I am not moving" he said slamming the gear shifter into park.

The woman was getting worried. Sweat was dripping down her brow. Just as the woman was about to make a phone call, a average sized man in a worn second hand suit walked into the office door.

He walked over to the elderly woman, he smiled and asked her very kindly "hello ma'am, what seems to be the trouble here?"

The elderly woman let the receiver click back down on the phone. She looked at this worn ragged looking man, but noticed the kindness in his eyes. She wanted to see if her could help.

She was dressed in a simple , plain, older black business suit that seemed to show some years of use but was well tended.

Her hair was fair with bits of blonde mixing in the silver bun pulled up on her head.

Her eyes had wrinkles at the edges, but the bright green of her eyes was vibrant and full of life.

This woman was Doris Hemingway, the current owner and CEO of International Fare, one of the largest logistics companies in the world. And the owner of this hub.

Doris was getting up in years, she had spent her entire life working and building her empire.

This, however, did not leave any time for family. Now here she was, almost seventy years old, without any children or living relatives left alive.

Doris had been given an idea, and that would be to find her best employee, and make them her heir and CEO. Doris did not value money, nor brashness, she valued kindness and patience.

Doris had not made it to her standing without both of these.

But Doris did not want to select a push over.

This hub was the highest rated hub in her entire empire.

Doris figured if her best employee was anywhere, it would be here.

Today she had elected to work the entry desk for trucks.

Doris had never done this before and wanted to give it a shot. She loved trying new things.

That excitement and enjoyment had quickly been squashed when this one truck refused to follow the rules.

Doris had been about to call someone to remove him when Casey had walked in asking if he could assist.

Doris looked Casey over, and then in her best elderly voice she said "yes son, this trucker has none of his paperwork or an appointment, he refuses to make way or produce them"

Doris motions to the trucker.

Casey looks up at the trucker. He smirks.

"Paul, stop being mean to the elderly, do you have your papers or not?" Casey quickly asked.

Paul smirked. "Damn man, I was just giving the new lady a hard time"

Casey was having none of it "Paul, giving her a hard time would not have backed the line up three blocks. You stepped over the line today. I am going to have to fine you".

Doris was quite shocked, this man was so nice to her, yet he was firm when needed. Doris smiled.

Paul scoffed "aww come on man, I will move right now, please don't fine me! I only have two points left!" He pleaded.

Casey looked at him and sighed. He looked at Doris and smiled at her.

"Ma'am, I have known him for a long time, he does not mean to be a pain in the ass" Casey said.

Doris was quite shocked.

He chastised this man and then went to bat for him?

Casey then looked at Paul "apologize!" He says to him sternly.

Paul quickly says "I am sorry ma'am it will never happen again"

Casey nods "now pull around to the back of the line Paul. I won't fine you this time but if you ever pull this shit again I will make sure to take your permit!!!"

Paul nods "Yes Sir!" And then he pulls along out of the way.

After Paul pulls off Casey turns to Doris "I am sorry ma'am, truckers are their own breed. Don't take it personally and forgive him for me would you?"

Doris smiled "ok sonny, I will let it go this time. "

Casey quickly helps Doris work their way through the line of trucks.

Casey was nice and polite to everyone. He smiled, and knew most by name.

Doris was very impressed by this man.

After the line was mostly worked down, the door to the gate house slammed open. "CASEY!" a loud obnoxious voice shouts out.

Casey sighs. "Excuse me ma'am" he says politely to Doris and walks toward the voice.

A very short very round man in an expensive looking suit and polished shoes was walking up to them.

His face red and sweat beading down from his bad comb over.

"Explain yourself!" He shouts at Casey.

Casey smiles at him. "One of the trucks misplaced his forms and we had to help him. Eventually I asked him to pull around"

Casey answered honestly, while also covering for both Paul and Doris.

Doris was listening intently from the background while helping the next truck through.

"I don't give a rats ass! You are worthless trash! Why we even keep you around I don't even know! If I couldn't train someone to replace you fast enough I would fire you right now!" The short round man snarled.

Casey simply smiled and took the lashing. "Yes sir" is all he says.

The short round man scoffs "I am docking your pay for the delays. Now get back to work and don't let me have to come here again!"

He then looks at Doris who was eyeing him angrily. "What are you looking at you old bat?! Get back to work!"

He turned around and left.

Casey walks back up to Doris. He went to open his mouth.

Doris stopped him "listen son, if you are about to justify that arrogant young fools actions, don't"

Casey simply chuckled "of course not ma'am, you sure don't hold back do you?"

Doris smiled "when you reach my age, you don't have time to beat around the bush"

"Yes ma'am " Casey answers. He was starting to like this old woman.

"Is this your first day? I have not seen you around before. " Casey asked.

Doris smiled again. "I just transferred in. I was hoping this would be a better place for an old woman like me than my last position. "

Casey nods "you thought entry would be easier than where? We're you on the docks previously?"

Doris laughed. "No sonny, I was in the main building." She said honestly.

Casey whistled "the main building? And you chose to come down here?"

Doris nodded.

Casey smiled "I am Casey Crane. Current supervisor for entry and registration". He offers his hand politely.

"Doris Hemingway " and takes his hand shaking it softly.

"Pleased to meet you Doris"

Doris then asked "who was the fatty?"

"That is Stephen the general manager" Casey answered.

"I do not like him" Doris said.

"Me either" said Casey.

They shared a laugh together while getting back to work.

The rest of the day was fairly uneventful.

However before the final bell was sounded, Stephen waddled his fat ass back into the office "CASEY!!!!!!!" he shouts out loud.