Epilogue

Two weeks later, I was back. I hadn’t received my last paycheck, which I was counting on more than usual since I planned to head for the Midwest to settle unresolved issues with Miss Havisham. I marched into the Boston DO and walked down to the Assistant District Manager’s office.

I closed the door behind me. The ADM smiled.

“I figured you’d come in.”

“What happened to my last paycheck?”

“You’ll want to be sitting down for this. Remember how you used to work 30 hours during the week and four or five on Saturday?

“What of it?”

“Well, it turns out we paid you time-and-a-half for those Saturday hours when it should have been straight time. So you were overpaid – let’s see – by $215.”

“I never got no check for $215.”

“Very funny. Since the check for your last two weeks equals $200.10, we’ve recovered it against your overpayment.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Never kid a kidder, my father used to say.”

* * * * * * *

   To Whom It May Concern:

   I, John Redmond Carroll, authorize Michael Scott (or any reputable Union representative) to represent me in the matter of alleged overpayments to me. In my absence, I authorize him to take whatever action is necessary to reasonably resolve this alleged problem.

There was no one to waive the overpayment for me, so they kept my last paycheck.  I went to the Midwest anyway and stayed for six months. I never saw Miss Havisham once.