"Life in the office" - chapter 11

It's May and it's time to prepare the schedule for upcoming holidays.

KATE         Hello Charles. I am preparing this year's vacation  schedule and I would like to know what are your preferences.

CHARLES    Preferences? What are you talking about?

KATE          When would you like to take your vacation?  Didn't you get my mail two weeks ago?

CHARLES      Oh! Yes I did... of course.  I was thinking about the end of June.  Let's  say .... the 20^th? Is that all right?

KATE          Perfect.  Nobody wants to go at that time so you are more than welcome to take your vacation then.

CHARLES     Super! So it's settled.

KATE          Yes, it is. Thank you.

Few minutes later.

KATE            Mark. I am calling about this year's vacation schedule.

MARK           And ....?

KATE            Didn't  you get my mail?

MARK           I don't know.  I am getting dozens of mails every day. Was that something important?

KATE            Well! if you receive a mail from this office with a note  that it is important, then yes ... it should be important for you.

MARK           Ok! So! ... What's so important?

KATE            When do you want to take your vacation?

MARK           In July.

KATE            In the first two weeks?

MARK           No, the second half.  From the 15^th.

KATE            I am sorry, but you can't take it then. Mary has already reserved that time for her vacation.

MARK           So ..? I don't see any problems.

KATE            But I do! You can't go at that time. I am sorry. At a given time of the month only one person can take his vacation. We are talking about the management of course, not about workers.

MARK              We were always taking vacation at the same time and nothing has ever happened.

KATE               Not anymore. New policy, Mark.

MARK              But I have to have it at that time!  I have already booked a trip to Turkey.

KATE               I am sorry Mark but you should have read my mail and you should have told me about your plans earlier.

MARK              You must be kidding! What the hell am I supposed to do now? Why can't Mary take her vacation at a different time?

KATE              Mark, I've just told you that she sent me the note about her plans a long time ago. As a matter of fact she was the first one.

MARK             Oh! I know what you're doing! If I had known I would have done that too! That's not fair! You are all friends back there at the office.  You always favour  Mary.

KATE            Mark, come down, please. I sent the  e-mail to everyone two weeks ago. Mary replied immediately. That's all!

MARK           Of course she did! She is always that perfect one!  Who's responsible for that stupid policy anyway?

KATE           Robert!

MARK         Of course!  Who else? I bet he is talking his vacation whenever he wants.

KATE          He is not going for any vacation this year. He's got too much to do here, so please, come down.

MARK         What am I supposed to do now?  Help me please.

KATE          Call Mary and talk to her. Maybe she doesn't have to take her days off at that time. Talk to her.  That's all I can say.  And read my mails next time!

MARK         Ok. I guess, I don't have any other choice, do I? I will call her immediately.

KATE          Let me know as soon as you know .

MARK          Of course. O! I am sorry for flaring up in anger like that. I shouldn't have.

KATE           No problem, Mark. Call me.