T.J. looked around wondering how exactly everything had spiraled out of control. Things had been fairly ordinary. Until the gate closed and everyone had to wait. That wasn’t bad. After hours past, though, things turned silly.

The usuals weren’t the problem. Coming everyday, getting feisty meant jeopardizing their jobs; this was the best thing going. Those working short jobs, however, were pushing, shoving, honking.

Clack! He flicked his wrist; the extendible baton sprang out. T.J. left it pointing downward. Everyone stopped.

“Now, I really think that you all need to knock it off and be more patient.” No one disagreed.

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“Well, First Sergeant, it was like this. We had the thing, but it really wasn’t working right. I mean, the blades were all backwards. There were two up and one down. So I thought that I would…I mean it needed sort of a re-engineering, in a way…So I…Well, it was more of a manufacturing defect.” He paused. “And the metal hanger was insulated. How was I supposed to know it would short out the outlet? And the whole trailer to boot? There was rubber insulation on it.”

The First Sergeant looked at him with a blank stare. Where to start?

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