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Disclaimer: Any resemblances here to real people, places, institutions or events are purely coincidental. This is somewhat a work of fiction.

Fos continues...

Chapter 9

Great Grandmother called for a break. There was a river nearby, about 2,000 quivers away. We all went down there for a couple of twinkles, had a good time. Food was plentiful and we made lots of future baby rats. This year we were also watching out for the mosquitoes--we hear they are causing some problems, but we do not understand.

When we returned from the break, Great Grandmother called us to order again. "Who is up next?" she asked.

Riu came to the front. "What do you have for us?"

"Well," Riu started, "I was once in this mill where the top big thing was often visited by another big thing, seemed to be his boss.

"This other big thing came from far away, many quivers..."

"Yes, go on," said Great Grandmother.

Riu continued, "The big thing from many quivers away wanted some things."

"What kinds of things?"

"You know, fancy writing instruments, briefcases, things like that."

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"So what?" said Great Grandmother, "Big things are stupid, they always want what they don't have. What is new about this?"

Riu said, "The boss big thing made the other, the top big thing, buy these things for him!"

Great Grandmother: "With his own silver?"

"Well, he may have thought it was with his own silver, but the top big thing was not about to do that."

"So what did he do?"

"The top big thing expensed all these things on his expense reports."

Great Grandmother, "Then what happened?"

"In something called an audit, they were discovered!" exclaimed Riu.

"Was top big thing in trouble?"

"Actually, no, but the big thing from far away was."

"Did he lose his job?" asked the Great Grandmother.

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Riu replied, "Well, he would have, but he already had another job lined up, so it just looked like he left for a better opportunity."

"Is he still in the business?"

"I think so, but I think now he is just on something the big things call 'boards of directors.'"

"What is that?" asked Great Grandmother.

"It is a group of friends who sit around and act like they know what they are doing for lots of silver."

Great Grandmother exclaimed, "How do I get one of those jobs?"

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How many times have you seen a less than honest performer running out the back door as the investigators are coming in the front door? It happens quite often.

Be safe and we will talk next week.

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