Challenges

I was working in the Customer Service Orderly Room, or CSOR.  In CFB Halifax we had two main Orderly Rooms (OR's) and my job was to keep them stocked with Paper, Pens and Stationary (PP&S).  I worked with the companies who serviced our business machines, the photocopiers, fax machines, printers and computers.

A large part of my day was spent on the phone, taking orders from the CSOR's and placing orders with the suppliers.  As well, I was responsible for maintaining my own stock.  I also spent a fair amount of time out of my office, due to my other administrative duties.

My supervisor, who had just been transferred from a submarine, Petty Officer Perry Scope, (not his real name), did not appreciate my after hour activities. It got to the point that to say the word "Klingon" in my office was to be a chargeable offense. 

For a time, the members of the SonchIy used code words to talk about events and event planning.  I had to make it sound like I was taking stationary orders from the different OR's.  Sue would sometimes help organize events from her office, dealing with those who didn't understand or have time for the codes.

Petty Officer Scope would tippy-toe around the office.  On more than one occasion, I would sense his presence behind me.  When I would turn around, he would be there eavesdropping, listening to my end of a phone conversation.  He was waiting for me to say  the secret word, "Klingon" so he could yell "You're Charged!".  it was a fun game - for a while.

After an event one day, Sue and I had a conversation with my liaison Cheryl, the Director of the Children's Wish Foundation in Halifax.  My frustration levels had peaked, and what started out as a conversation between Sue and myself soon included Cheryl. 

Cheryl's position had her dealing with the sponsor's and major contributors of the Children's Wish Foundation.  When she heard about the conditions that I was working under, and how I was coordinating our events - she just laughed.  It was bizarre at best.

Cheryl asked if there was anything she could do. 

"Tell my boss what we do for the Children's Wish", I told her.

And so she did.

I was out of the office when the Base Commander and his entourage came looking for me.  When I was back in the building, people started telling me that the Base Commander and the Base Chief  were looking for me.  I was not expecting anything from Cheryl, that was a conversation that I had forgotten about. 
My first thought was, "This can not be good".  The only time a Base Chief looks for you is when you're in serious trouble.  Anything less than serious is delegated.  The presence of the Base Commander did not scare me as much as the Base Chief.   I also knew this was more serious than me saying "KLINGON " in my office. 

I made my way back to my office, expecting to be met by a waiting Military Police escort.

Instead, Petty Officer Perry Scope was waiting, with a copy of the letter. 

He looked like he had just sucked a lemon.  It had been delegated to him by the Base Commander and Base Chief to pass on their personal thanks to me for a job well done.  I doubt Petty Officer Perry Scope was as eloquent or as convincing as Capt(N) Mack would have been, however it was a dish served cold watching him choke out the words.

"KLINGON" was back in my dictionary.