Carole's Courtship

We were all assembled as the manager began to speak. “Tomorrow, the district manager will visit our store so I want everybody to be ready. Today, I want all department managers to make sure that their departments are neat and well stocked. I don’t have to tell you about the reputation of Charlie Bear, the district manager. You all know that he is nearly a legend at The Fair Store. So be on your best behavior and we’ll get through this inspection.”As I looked around the room, I could see fear in everybody’s eyes. Charley Bear was truly a Fair Store legend. He was nicknamed the “Grizzly,” or Charley the Grizzly Bear. He earned that nickname because he was a man eater. Three, sometimes four, The Fair Store’ employees would be out the door after one of his visits. Nobody in the room wanted to be one of his victims, so everybody was scared. I was especially scared, a single mom earning an exciting $3 an hour. My rent plus $25 equaled a fourth of my salary. With babysitting fees that eat up half my salary, I needed this job. It made me independent of my awful parents. Of course, I liked working at the Las Cruces, New Mexico Fair Store. The Fair Store liked me too. I had started out as a $1 an hour saleslady, and now I was overall manager of the first floor. Not a lot of money for a high school grad, but sufficient to get me by in 1977. I thought to myself that Charlie Bear, the Grizzly Bear, may be a man eater, but he also was credited with recognizing good people at The Fair Store, and pushing them along. Maybe, I’ll be one of those he pushes up The Fair Store ladder, instead of out the door. The meeting had been going on for 20 minutes when it was suddenly interrupted by a customer walking into the room. The manager turned to him and said, “This is a private meeting for The Fair Store’ personnel only.” The stranger wore blue jeans, a blue jean shirt with a beautifully inlaid turquoise bolo tie. A cowboy belt encircled his jeans with a large turquoise belt buckle. He was only average height with his hair slicked back in a ponytail. He looked like an Indian just off the reservation. “Sir, if you’ll wait outside, we’ll deal with any complaint you might have.”  The stranger turned away from the store manager and faced us, the department managers. He spoke in a quiet but forceful voice. “Folks, my name is Charlie Bear. I’m The Fair Store district manager from far off Albuquerque.”  Those sitting in a slouch, or those who were inattentive, suddenly sprang to attention. “I’ve been in your store for a day and a half, just looking. This store has a few problems, but we, working together, can easily fix them. The Fair Store has always been a family to me and I’d like to be part of your family. Remember, there is only one way to do something, the right way, The Fair Store way. So, if the manager is done, go back to work and do the excellent job you have always done for The Fair Store. I’ll be around to talk to you so have a great day. Oh, who is the manager of the first floor?”

Everybody turned to look at me. I stood up, “Sir, Mr. Bear, I’m Carole Belleser, the manager of the first floor.” “I’d like to see you after the meeting and we’ll walk the first floor together.”My hands started to shake. Sweat started down my forehead. He singled me out first because the first floor must be a mess. I’m out the door, fired. Why else does he want to see me first? I’ve worked my ass off to get the first floor in shape. I didn’t see anything wrong with it, but obviously the Bear did. I thought, if he fires me, I’ll apply for unemployment the next day. I raced up to the front, and almost with a stutter, I greeted him. “Glad to meet you, Mr. Bear. I’ve heard so much about you.”  I shook hands with him, but it was obvious my hand was shaking. Please, please, Mr. Bear, don’t fire me. I need this job. Oh, God, do I need this job, I thought to myself. Please Lord, don’t let him fire me.