The office that processed all requests for donations of drugs occupied the entire eighth floor of Beckman Pharmaceuticals. The walls and cabinets were laden with awards and expressions of thanks. Mr. Houseman held the title of Vice President in charge of Philanthropic Services.
"He's in Africa," Miss Lovell said and then added with great pride, "Working with Bill and Melinda Gates and Bono. As an employee, you're allowed to request that one box of drugs be sent, at no charge,to a registered hospital or medical organization provided there's a physician on site. I can help you initiate your request."
"I'm a temp," Sheila said.
"Oh, dear," Miss Lovell frowned. "How long have you been temping for us?"
"About a year. You probably hear this all the time, but it really is a matter of life and death." She repeated everything, which wasn't much, that her brother had told her and then said, "My brother broke down and cried. He's a priest, but he's not a wimp. So the situation must be very serious."
After listening very patiently Miss Lovell said, "Well, you're practically a regular employee. And I like the idea of sending drugs to Colombia, Kind of like that old saying about carrying coals to Newcastle. Take one of the forms, fill it out, and bring it back. Maybe I can find a way to help, but please don't tell any of the other temps or I'll be swamped with requests from them."
"Is it okay if I fill it out and turn it in now?"
"That'll be fine. But you should know it takes about a week to verify the information you provide, to get your request approved, and for your request to reach the front of the shipping cue."
"Can it be sent fastest possible? I'm willing to pay the extra shipping costs."
"We always ship FedEx at no cost to the donor. Once it reaches the front of the cue, it will reach its destination in about three or four days."
"So it'll get there in about ten days? I hate to think of old people and children dying while bureaucratic wheels turn. I don't want to be the employee from hell-"
"Actually you're only a temp."
"You're right. I am only a temp. And I appreciate your willingness to bend the rules to grant my request. But I'm going to be rude and also ask if there's any way - any way at all - that you can speed up the process. If you can, I'll personally write to Rome to nominate you for sainthood and I'm sure my brother and all of his parishioners will remember you in their prayers for as long as they live."
Miss Lovell laughed, "Have you ever considered becoming a salesperson?" She picked up a form and held it out to Sheila. "Be sure to fill in your department and the name of your boss so I can send you a note when your box ships."
"I don't work in a department and I don't have a boss so that could be a tiny problem."
"I've never heard of anyone here not having a department and a boss."
"On my first day, Sue Bigatti in HR took me to this vacated office on the third floor and showed me how to scan hard copies of documents and turn them into digital files. After I scan them, I shred them. Simple as that. I haven't seen her or any other supervisor since. So I doubt if a communication sent through the mail room would get to me."
"I'll mail the postcard to the address you put on the request. The mail room is a whole other story. I cannot read the supervisor's handwriting."
"Neither can I! Someone needs to talk to Carl about learning to write legibly or to switch to printing. But since I'm only a temp, I don't think it should be me."
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