Life after Benson, Happiness?

The cycle had begun yet again, I was being way too nice to Benson, and he was starting to take advantage......... It's a never ending cycle. I get too nice, let him show up late a day or two, take an extra day off here and there to handle personal business, and then he starts just not showing up for days on end, or coming to work at 10am. for no good reason at all....(he's supposed to be here at 7am) Then I clamp down, and he gets worried about losing his job, so turns into the model employee. It's a cycle that has been going on for over 4 years, but when he works he is unmatched among the gardeners here at the estate. In John's words he "runs hot and cold."



As I said, the cycle had begun - Ben was taking 1 - 2 days off a week and regularly showing up late, John was getting mad. Then out of the blue Benson stopped coming to work at all. I tried phoning him, no answer, and I had this weird feeling that something had happened to him. Finally he came walking down the drive one afternoon. It seems he had been involved in an accident on his bicycle, and was badly hurt. His right arm and torso looked like they had been in a meat grinder, and he couldn't move his arm without severe pain.



I weighed my options, should I tell him that John (and myself as well) had finally had enough just prior to his accident, and had been planning on letting him go, or should I take pity on this poor injured soul who was so worried about his job, and tell him to get well, that his job would be waiting? Of course I chose the second. I told him to go home and get well, and then contacted the contractor (Mr. Clean) who supplies workers for the mine asking for a temporary worker.



He came yesterday, his name is Happiness. (Actually that's what it translates to, I cannot pronounce it in Kaonde) He is young, eager, and working hard but....................he is definitely no Benson. Over the years I have come to believe that Benson has a laser level built into his eyes. Give him a pair of hedge trimmers and he can trim a hedge with the precision of a machinist, flat as a table top with sides so vertical and straight you would swear he used a level, and all by eye. He, using only a shovel, will edge the flower beds into perfect islands of beauty. He just seems to have a knack for tidiness and putting things into order. When he has, as he calls it "maintained" the yard, it just looks so clean, neat, and serene. Now, with Happiness it's another matter all together....



Happiness tried to trim the hedge yesterday. To be honest it looked better before he started. It's a sad sight indeed. I just keep telling myself that it will grow back, and Ben will be back to trim it. Today Happiness is trying to edge the grass and flower beds, but the work is uneven, and he is taking out way too much of the grass - at this rate I will have larger walkways than grass areas. John says I just need to adjust, that Happiness isn't Benson and things change. I don't want to adjust. I don't want Happiness. I want Benson back.