Loose Parts by Dave Blazek for April 29, 2024

So, is he being lined out??!!

I remember one year in school when my parents bought me a number 3 pencil. I kept ripping through my papers. The teacher asked me why I was pushing so hard. I said that I wasn’t. He asked me to show him my pencil. He noticed that it was a number 3 and not a number 2. So he made me get new ones. I grew up poor so I wasn’t sure I could get more. I did fortunately. The teacher checked the next day.

2B or not 2B

A Number 2 is … not too hard … and not too soft … It’s just right.

A solid number 2 should be left in the toilet

“But we just think you’re better at being a solid number two.” If I didn’t see the pencil, that statement could easily refer to something very different.

Would a mechanical #2 pencil have a better shot at advancement? (Maybe they can just erase this evaluation and start over)

There’s no substitute for Erasers on the ground to get things done.

That is one of the problems with American business. If you aren’t scrambling UP the corporate ladder, then you lack ambition, are lazy and there is something “wrong” with you.

Wanting to stay in a supporting role isn’t good enough anymore.

Meanwhile we will “pencil” you in for the next promotion.

The boss sees itself as a true fountain of wisdom. Sadly he is incapable of erasing any errors of judgement.

That was me. I wanted no part of the Boss Responsibility. Just wanted to do my job, make him happy and go home. Less stress.

That boss has more than a few blots on his own record.

A haven’t seen a fountain pen in ages.

Sorry Pencil, we don’t believe you th’ink enough.

Some folks desire a solid Number Two.

‘You are no longer my pen pal’

But do you know?

Not to put too fine a point on it…

That’s a pointed remark.

He’s just not the write fit.

We needed an extremely sharp point, with sandpaper on a 6h or harder.

Not to make too fine a point here…

Glad to see no one has made a joke about solid number 2’s.

Just stay sharp!

Pencil me in as a hard 3.

And always has great penmanship.

He has a point.

“Oh, you want a solid number two from me? I can arrange that…”

It’s a ball point pen company but the boss is still a fountain pen. Time to use your eraser.

Geez…how old is that Boss Pen? I remember my grandmother using that style of pen, and that was over 60 years ago!…(and I recall playing with it once cuz it had a little pump lever on it, and ink squirted all over a letter she had just written. She wasn’t in the room at the time, so I just gently laid the pen down on the ink and went to my room. Whew…there… I finally confessed 62 years later. Now I can get a good night’s sleep!)