“Thanks again,” Harry graciously added, “Rocky is the manager to take you all forward!”

Briefly subdued claps died down as Harry quickly shook hands one last time, leaving Rocky until last, before making his way through the open counter door.

“Take care,” Rocky warmly smiled and looked back at the eyes within the room.

“Thanks Harry!” Owen grinned nervously at Rocky.

“Cheers,” Davie chirped in, stretching his neck to watch Harry walking to the exit door.

“Dickhead,” Ralf yelped, louder than intended.

“Shh!” Marianne groaned, “don’t be so fu…”

“…Ha ha!” Harry mocked loudly on the way out the branch for good.

All eyes turned to Ralf’s reddening features, then to the angry stare of Marianne.  

“Nice one!” Davie chuckled, “you are a donut!” Davie added but watching Marianne.

“Unprofessional and petty!” Rocky lamented, still gazing through the open counter door.

“You didn’t need to say anything, he was leaving…” Owen began, guessing Rocky’s tone.

“… I meant to whisper it…!” Ralf defended while pulling his hands through his thick hair.

“…And why you never like him?” Marianne took aim.  

“…Cos he was a dickhead!” Ralf defended and fell in to his chair to rub his head.

“Ha ha, nice one!” Davie chuckled along with Owen, but not Rocky or Marianne.

“You are lazy! Why shouldn’t he tell you to get out the office and stop sitting around?” Marianne waved and angry arm at the open counter door.

Ralf looked to the silenced Davie and Owen while Rocky slowly nodded in agreement.

“Look Mary, Ralf’s a bit dumb, he says things before he…” Owen began but was stopped.  

“… You come in my office; complain he is unfair and moan about this and that…!” Marianne’s pitch was heightening with every word.

“…You know I don’t like him…” whispered Ralf to Davie, who decide to crank his further to view the exit through the open counter; avoiding the battle.

“…You shake his hand, then as he leaves, you say that, like a coward!”

“… Na!” Ralf grinned insecurely, still shaking his head.

“…You know, never do you say to his face what you say to me!” Marianne shouted before taking the few steps back inside her office, with the same arm raised in defiance.

“Nice one,” Davie whispered to Ralf’s lowered and shaking head, then consoled, “she’ll be alright,” in the faintest whisper.  

“Sit down and gather your thoughts, Marianne, OK?” Rocky comforted as her door closed.

“Look,” Owen was watching the tormented Ralf, “Ralf’s an apprentice and doesn’t think, so what’s happened here is a misunderstanding between a joke and…”

“…Thanks Owen,” Rocky quietly insisted with a half-raised hand and let the silence briefly settle.

Suddenly, Ralf stood up to look about furtively.

“Sit down Ralfie!” beaconed Owen, exchanging glances with Rocky.

“Ahh, sorry everyone,” Ralf groaned and fell back in to his chair to rub his head.

“I will say,” Davie began before looking to Rocky for permission and when the nod came, continued after a cough, “I will say, you had it easy with Nate-Dog and Harry…”

“…You hated his guts as well…!” Ralf obstinately retorted, which visibly triggered Davie.

“…OK, yeah?” Davie locked eyes with everyone to concede the point, “but, unlike you, I was professional enough to…”

“…Just slagged him off behind his back,” murmured Ralf but no one responded to the truth.

“…and, as I was saying,” Davie pushed through gritted teeth, “we worked well together actually, it’s called being professional!” Davie stopped to clear the froth from his mouth.

“…Look, Davie, Ralf was just…”

“…OK Owen,” Rocky interrupted quietly while watching Ralf pulling at his abundant hair, ignoring Owen’s look of disapproval, “you were saying, Davie?”