Story 199: Reza Shadey and the Fishy Business Venture
Okay, snuggle down tight, little ones. Let me tell you a tale about Reza Shadey, the magnificently fluffy Persian cat of Catford, who believed that every problem in the universe could be solved with a comprehensive plan, an emergency board meeting and, preferably, a biscuit.
One bright morning, Reza sat on his velvet cushion and announced a new business venture.
"Today, we enter the gourmet delivery market! Shadey Industries will revolutionise the movement of fish."
Penelope lay beside the lavender bush like a sensible snowdrift. Ginger Tom sprawled along the garden wall, hoping breakfast might fall from the sky. Little Tiger bounced about, whispering "vibes" to the morning air.
"What does that mean?" asked Tiger.
"It means", said Reza, "that I have a brilliant idea."
Reza paused, waiting for applause.
Ginger Tom yawned.
Penelope knew it was the beginning of a very long day.
The idea had come to Reza the previous afternoon, when he met a small squirrel near the Catford Cat, the enormous black sculpture grinning above the shopping centre.
"I'm trying to find enough food for my little ones", the squirrel explained. "My name's Hazel, and it takes me all day to collect enough."
Reza's emerald eyes gleamed.
"Then I have an opportunity for you!" he declared. "Mr MacKerel, who runs the fish stall, needs someone to deliver parcels to his customers. Shadey Industries will organise the deliveries, and you can be our delivery partner."
"And how will I be paid?" asked Hazel.
"For every parcel you deliver successfully", said Reza. "Mr MacKerel will pay Shadey Industries a delivery fee, and we'll pay you an agreed amount for each parcel. The difference will cover our excellent management services."
He gave a little smile, as though the words excellent management services explained everything.
Reza produced a contract. It said Hazel would be paid only for successful deliveries. If a customer wasn't home, she must try again without extra pay. She would also have to provide her own basket and pay for any fish that was lost or damaged.
"It's a flexible arrangement", Reza assured her. "And, naturally, Shadey Industries reserves the right to change the rules whenever necessary."
Hazel looked at the contract. She didn't understand every word, but she understood that her little ones needed feeding.
"All right", she said quietly, and signed.
"Welcome to Shadey Industries!" cried Reza. "Together, we shall scale new heights."
The next morning, Hazel collected parcels of tuna, salmon and sardine from Mr MacKerel's fish stall. She hurried through gardens, squeezed beneath gates and scampered along fences, delivering every parcel she could.
By lunchtime, she had completed six deliveries.
"Wonderful!" said Reza, studying his clipboard. "Your productivity is excellent."
"How much have I earned?"
Reza showed her the total.
It was barely enough to buy a few hazelnuts.
"But I've worked all morning!"
"Indeed. And you've gained valuable experience."
"My little ones can't eat experience."
"Not directly", Reza admitted. "But it looks splendid on a future application."
Ginger Tom wandered over and sniffed the basket.
"Funny business, this. She's doing all the running, and you're doing all the sitting."
"I am managing the operation", Reza replied.
"Looks like sitting to me."
"It is strategic sitting."
Ginger Tom helped himself to a stray sardine.
"Well, strategically, this is delicious."
Over the next few days, Reza made the job harder. He added more deliveries, shortened the delivery times and introduced a new rule: any parcel returned to the fish stall would earn Hazel nothing at all, even if the customer had gone out.
"The business must become more efficient!" he declared.
Hazel ran faster and faster, but her earnings hardly improved. She was tired, her paws ached, and her little ones were still waiting for enough food.
Then Reza announced his latest masterpiece.
"Introducing Shadey Express! Customers will pay extra for urgent deliveries."
"Will I earn extra too?" asked Hazel.
"The additional money will support the company's growth."
"But I'll be doing the extra work."
"Think of it as an opportunity to demonstrate commitment."
Hazel put down her basket.
"I'm a mother, not a machine! I work all day, but your rules mean I hardly earn anything. I can't keep doing this."
Reza blinked.
"Let's not allow emotion to interfere with operational delivery."
That was the wrong thing to say.
Hazel stamped her little foot.
"I'm going home. You can deliver your own fish!"
She turned to leave.
Penelope stood up beside the lavender bush. Tiger stopped bouncing. Even Ginger Tom put down his sardine.
"She's right, Reza", said Penelope.
"What exactly are you doing?"
"Leadership", said Reza.
Ginger Tom looked at the clipboard.
"Could've sworn that was a piece of paper."
Tiger nodded vigorously. "This whole thing is giving terrible boss vibes."
Reza ignored them and turned to Hazel.
"But you signed the contract!"
"Because you said it was a good way to feed my family. Every time I work harder, you invent another rule to take away my pay."
Penelope picked up the contract.
"Rezzi, this isn't fair. You can't hide behind company rules just because you wrote them yourself."
"Company policy is company policy", Reza insisted.
"Then change it", said Penelope.
For once, Reza had no clever answer.
He looked at Hazel walking away. He thought about his fish stall arrangement, his grand new delivery service and the mountain of parcels that nobody else was going to carry.
Then his eyes brightened.
"Wait! I have a proposal for a strategic realignment."
Hazel stopped.
"Will I actually be paid properly?"
"Yes. A clear fee for every delivery, with no surprise deductions. If a customer isn't home, you won't have to keep returning for free. And Shadey Industries will provide the basket."
"And the extra money for urgent deliveries?"
"We'll share it fairly."
Penelope raised an eyebrow.
"Half each", Reza added quickly.
"And no more changing the rules without telling me?"
"Agreed. All future changes will be clearly explained in advance."
Hazel considered this.
"All right. I'll try again. But if you start those tricks once more, I'm leaving."
"A perfectly reasonable pilot scheme", Reza announced, as though the idea had been his all along.
The new arrangement worked much better. Mr MacKerel prepared the fish parcels on time, Hazel was paid fairly, and customers received their deliveries. Hazel earned enough to feed her little ones, while Shadey Industries made a modest profit.
"An outstanding example of stakeholder-led business transformation!" Reza declared. "By introducing fairness, we have unlocked new opportunities for growth."
"You mean you pay her properly now?" asked Ginger Tom.
"That is an oversimplification."
"Sounds simple to me."
Tiger bounced around the garden. "Fair pay! Good vibes! Fish for everyone!"
Reza quietly selected a fine piece of tuna from the communal plate.
"What's that for?" asked Penelope.
"Executive tasting."
"Put it back."
Reza sighed and returned the tuna. "Fine. We shall call it a team-building exercise."
That evening, Hazel packed her share of the fish into her basket and hurried home to her little ones.
"Thank you", she said to Penelope. "I can finally work without worrying that all my effort will be wasted."
"You deserve to be treated fairly", Penelope replied.
From the other side of the garden came Reza's voice.
"Team! Tomorrow, Shadey Industries expands into premium biscuit distribution!"
Ginger Tom sprang to his paws. "Now you're talking."
Tiger began bouncing again. "Biscuits! Biscuits! Biscuits!"
Penelope closed her eyes. "Oh, no. Not another venture."
Then Mrs Higgins's warm voice floated through the open kitchen door.
"Reza, you silly sausage. Stop bothering everyone and come inside."
The garden settled into its ordinary evening quiet. The lavender was lavender, the fish was fish, and Reza padded indoors to his velvet cushion.
"A highly successful joint venture", he murmured. "Tomorrow, we scale — with a fairness framework."
He closed his eyes, entirely satisfied with his performance. He had not admitted that his original contract was unfair, but he had acquired a reliable delivery partner and a profitable business model.
As for Hazel, she went home with enough food for her little ones, looking forward to tucking them safely into their nest.
For tonight, at least, there was enough.
Night night. Sleep tight.