Inwardly Brian winced. He knew he would have to shape up. He knew it, yes, but actually doing so was the problem. In previous jobs he had been able to slide by in certain areas because of tolerant bosses who also did a lot of frowning but never took action. Ms. Roya Malek, he was coming to believe, was not such a boss. Although pleased with the quality of his work, which was generally very good, she had mentioned several times now her displeasure with tardiness, procrastination, and general untideness. He had only had the job for a few months and had already received three such warnings and a note in his file.
He really did want to change, particularly since he needed this job to support his painting. At 26 now, he figured that he’d better get in line before he was an unemployed failed painter rather than an employed aspiring one.