Nickleson Corrugated Cardboard Inc.
was a factory outside of town.
One hundred and twenty people worked there,
it was the biggest employer around.
John Preston worked there every day,
he'd done so nigh on fifteen years.
Minimum wage with no benefits
sometimes brought John Preston to tears.
Employees were forced to work doubles,
for hours they didn't get breaks.
An airless, dirty, and unsafe place,
the supervisors venomous snakes.
It was way too hot in the summer,
in the winter they damn near froze.
But it was the only place to work,
and they needed their jobs I suppose.
Clark Nickleson was a millionaire,
and no wonder, for he didn't pay shit.
His was the only factory in town,
so Clark didn't care one little bit.
One spring day, two summers ago,
a fired former employee fed up,
took over the factory, hostages held,
to expose Nickleson as corrupt.
His knowledge of bribes to inspectors,
to keep violations down low.
Nickleson paid off the mayor,
there was proof the employee could show.
Some money would also help ease his pain,
for all the abuse he went through.
He'd take the bastard for all that he could,
maybe a million or two.
With a mask on and strapped with explosives,
he walked in and the workers all stopped.
Most of them ran fast for cover,
lest the bomb strapped in place took a drop.
"Listen up!", he loudly called out,
"I want everyone on the main floor,
don't make me do something awful,
by trying to head out the door!"
Then the nameless employee called the police,
with demands to get Nickelson there.
A hundred and twenty lives were at stake,
so arrived, the corrupt millionaire.
Through a bullhorn, he spoke to the crowd,
employees, police, and swat team.
All were told Nickleson was an ass,
that doing this had long been his dream.
"First off", Nameless said, "Bring in some food,
pizza and beer for us all."
"And maybe some of those moon pies,
once it's here, put it in the back hall."
"Watch what you do, my hand's on the button!"
"These folks don't want to go home in pieces!"
"One wrong move, one step out of line,
and the chance that will happen increases!"
Eighty pizzas, fifty cases of beer,
soda for those who didn't imbibe.
was brought in quickly for one and all,
by Nickelson, the food was supplied.
The employees, still fearful but hungry,
ate pizza and drank pop and beer.
Then Nameless said, "This is a party,
let's get us some music in here!"
The radio blasted Willie Nelson,
as he passed out some weed to the crowd.
Nobody was really afraid after that,
along with each song, they sang loud.
Hours passed in the stand-off,
then Nameless demanded the cash.
He said, "I'll send out two hostages,
to show good faith, two men I'll let pass."
Nameless then looked at John Preston,
and some other guy name of Bill.
"You two can leave, just grab your stuff",
but the two men, both just stood still.
"This is my first break in fifteen years,
and there's still lots of pizza and beer."
"Pick someone else", John Preston said,
"Cause I'm keeping my ass planted here."
"Screw this!", Bill said, "I'm not going,
this is the best time I've had in a while".
"Send two of the women out Nameless!",
the two women picked soon lost their smiles.
Nobody moved, arguments broke out,
on who would be selected to go.
Straws were drawn, two unlucky souls
were sent out, but reluctantly though.
The party continued, police were frustrated,
Nameless had a thought filled with delight.
He'd ask for 121 mil, one for each of them,
that sounded right.
The request was made, the money delivered,
Nickleson assured of its return.
The police said they'd never let Nameless go,
there'd be nowhere to go, he would learn.
Then Sadie, a cardboard box folder,
said, "You don't think that you'll get away?"
"You try to leave, they'll cut you down,
you'll be most likely dying today."
Then John Preston stepped up and he whispered
to Nameless, "There's a tunnel I know."
"No one knows about it, 'cept me,
come with me, I'll show you where to go."
The money secured in a duffle,
Nameless handed John Preston a note.
MEET ME IN THE MINERS OLD CAVES,
IN A MONTH and that's all that he wrote.
Well away Nameless was, when John Preston,
told police and the swat team as well,
that Nameless was gone, no one saw it,
into thin air from what they could tell.
Nickelson was angry, quite livid,
he thought the police so inept.
Later, mourned his loss of millions,
in his bed that night, Nickelson wept.
One month later to the day, John Preston,
met Nameless in the old miner's cave.
Honestly, John didn't think he would show,
he'd be gone, or somewhere in a grave.
Nameless then handed John the old duffle,
filled with cash he had gotten that day.
I'll trust you'll split it with the others,
then nothing more, he had to say.
The factory closed shortly after,
employees they all quit en masse.
Nobody stated a reason,
'cept to say Nickelson was an ass.
John Preston would recall fondly,
how Nameless treated them with respect.
The very first time that had happened,
and it had the desired effect.
