Masonry Magazine June 2001 Page. 27
Curt snaps up the last envelope. Siah has again drifted off into deep thought; chagrined over not having the proper Chianti for tonight's much-anticipated Beef Wellington dinner. Meanwhile, Hackney opens the final proposal. It's from T & J Construction. Now, it just so happens that Ted from T & J has been seated next to you throughout the letting recording the results on his laptop. But you've noticed from very early on that something isn't right. From the moment Hackney began reading the proposals, Ted hasn't looked well. "Maybe it's the heat," you think.
Hackney peruses the final bid... but pauses momentarily before reading it aloud. Then, he adjusts his glasses and announces, "base bid: $188,000!" You notice a hint of a smile forming at the corners of his mouth.
Siah looks up from balancing his check book with renewed interest in the proceedings. A soft gasp rises from the room as everyone does the math. T & J's alternate bids are then announced... and they also appear to be the low for the day. Hackney thanks the bidders and members at the table ... and adjourns the session. As the throng rolls out of the room, you turn to Ted to congratulate him. But he doesn't move. The room continues to empty and soon it's only you and Ted in the audience. Ted is still-motionless-staring straight ahead.
Suddenly, with a technique best described as catatonic, he springs from his chair and to his feet. Ignoring you, he tucks his laptop up under his arm and looks poised and calm as he approaches the head table, by all appearances, a man confident in his bid and his abilities. "Congratulations, you're low!", greets Hackney, arm outstretched and wrist bent suspiciously downward. "Boy, you really saved the day. I don't know what we would've done without your bid!" The other members of the table file past Ted as he returns the handshake, but Siah remains standing behind Hackney - grinning abrasively.
"Thanks," says Ted.
You're still seated in the back row. You watch as the trio spends the next few minutes exchanging information and soon Ted turns to leave. After a few steps, he pauses and takes a seat in the front row apparently to record some notes on his laptop. Your shirt is soaked through with sweat and when you get up, it sticks to the back of the chair. You make your way cautiously up the aisle, but you're sensing it may not be the best time to approach Ted. You stop a few feet behind him as he's plugging his mobile phone into the communications port of the laptop. As you watch over his shoulder, you see him log onto the NET. "Well, he seems to be taking this pretty well," you think. "Boy, If I just left $150,000 sitting on the table, I'd be a wreck!"
But Ted remains cool and confident as you watch him serenely type into his browser: "http://www.bankruptcy.com"
Steve S. Saucerman is a full-time commercial construction estimator/project manager, freelance author and lecturer for the construction industry and also teaches Building Construction Technology at Rock Valley College in Rockford, IL.
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