The plan

Dale Hoffman then had a plan for me.  He was going to take early retirement in a couple of years and sail around the world on his boat.  He could make sure that I would be the new store manager of this store in Franklin Park.  He wanted it to be in good hands.  Now this was more interesting.  There was no guarantee, but a strong suggestion.  Bill Gardner was having a hard time as the appliance manager.  He was going to retire in the next couple of years.  I could become the appliance manager until Hoffman retired.  This was a plan that made some sense.  In the meantime, I would be an appliance salesman since I already knew enough about furniture.  I went from this lunch feeling that things had turned around for me.  Somebody wanted me, even if it was back at Montgomery Ward.  At least, I would have a steady income.  Still, there was the problem that Hoffman might not be able to deliver on any of these promises.  It was ten years since I first showed up at the Franklin Park Ward’s store to discuss my future with Dale Hoffman.  Now I was doing it again.  It all seemed strange.  Have you ever considered going back to the place where you once worked?