This is a short story I wrote awhile back.
Constructive criticism is always welcome.

The Never Ending Work Day

This is a fictional account of a creepy experience. Hope you enjoy!

"This place is going to rack and ruin!" Deb Fuller paced the length of the production floor.

Women in their hair nets and blue work smocks stood at their stations, packing product coming from the several big green molding machines. Men in dark blue, the mold techs, kept everything humming along at a rhythmic pace.

Deb wrung her hands while she surveyed the scene.

The place was a pig sty. The walls needed a fresh coat of paint, product and oil had been allowed to collect under the machinery.

In all the twelve years Deb had worked at The Timmerman Toy Company, she had never seen it get this bad. She wondered why the owner Timothy Timmerman had let things go. He used to run such a tight ship.

Deb's job was in the office. She kept track of production. She had always loved the job and looked forward to each days new challenges. When had that changed?

The owner of the company, a big beefy man with a red face, came charging out of the office.

He had in tow a couple of the women. He was explaining that one of their customers had return five pallets of bad parts and that they would need to rework them and ship them back.

Good Lord! Deb was scandalized. We never had this problem with quality when Mr. Timmerman ran things!

Deb suddenly remembered that Mr. Timmerman wasn't here any more. This new man had taken over some time ago. He made a lot of changes. None for the better of the company apparently.

Deb hurried after him. Any matter concerning production was her responsibility.

As she hurried along she saw many unfamiliar faces.

Where had everyone gone?

All her good stable women were replaced by this rag tag lot.

Was that an earring in that young ladies eyebrow? Tim Timmerman would have a stroke. What was the world coming too?

Deb was appalled when she saw the tall towers of boxes to be gone through. She would have someone's ass for this!

The owner opened one of the boxes and showed the women what was wrong with the product.

Deb also peered down into the box of small white bottles.

The owner explained that some of the necks were warped. These would have to be discarded.

The only person who acknowledged her presence was that loony Connie Penny. She nodded at Deb, as they huddled over the box.

Deb heard snippets of conversation among the others. They thought this Connie Penny was a real crackpot. Deb also realized sadly that Connie was the only one these days that didn't just blatantly ignore her. The woman had tried several times to speak to her, but Connie was not Deb's type of person so she normally shied away. The woman babbled stupid things like 'Go toward the light.'

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

Connie Penny was just as balmy as everyone said she was. This new owner obviously was sloppy when it came to hiring personnel. It seemed he just let any old person walk in off the street and gave them a job!

Deb looked down into the box of bottles. She suddenly felt confused.

What are these bottles from? When did we start making plastic bottles? The Timmerman Toy Company made dolls. This new owner is determined to ruin things!

Deb decided that bottles or doll parts, it really didn't matter. What she needed to focus on was over seeing the rework and getting it done. The important thing was to make things right with the customer.

The owner walked away leaving Connie Penny with a new hire.

Deb determined she would stay right here with the women and see that they did the job right.

Timmerman Toys had a reputation to keep up and she cared even if that man didn't.

***********************************

Alex bent down over the boxes of bottles. She was nervous because it was only her third day.

She was also scared because the 'crooked neck' as they called it was subtle and hard to see. What if she repacked any? It amazed her that such a tiny flaw could cause so much trouble.

Someone hoovered really close to her shoulder watching her work. It made her uncomfortable.

Alex was shy and had a bigger personal space then most.

She could feel the anxiety from this person over the parts.

Alex turned to see who it was. Much to her surprise no one was standing behind her.

*************************************

Connie Penny had been sorting her parts directly across from Alex. She had seen Deb Fuller standing over the girl, wringing her hands in agitation. It surprised her when Alex felt the presence and turned to see who was standing behind her.

Ever since she was a child Connie had the gift (or was that curse) of seeing those that have gone on. Some were aware they were dead, others like poor Debbie did not.

Since Deb did not seem to want to tell her story, Connie had done some research to find out who the pretty blonde woman in the pink suit was.

Looking up old newspaper articles at the Springer Public Library, Connie learned that the young woman had worked in this building years ago when it had been The Timmerman Toy Company.

Today this building was known as Imperial Tool and Mold.

Poor thing, Connie watched as Deb chased after the mold techs when the alarm on six went off. She must have really loved her job with the toy company and can't figure out what's going on. If she would only listen to me I can put an end to her never ending work day and bring her some peace."