Day 3: Enter The Fixer

Day 3: Enter "The Fixer"

Some time during the third day, when the dead fish really begins to smell, the clerk finally summons the owner who, in turn, calls in an outside specialist. This "Fixer" arrives on the scene and pronounces the fish legally dead. The owner, in complete denial, scolds the Fixer for not employing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. When the Fixer points out the futility of such an action, citing the fish's odor, the owner then commands him to "fix the fish problem."

What does this mean?

• Banishing the odor?

• Keeping any more fish in the tank from dying?

• Working with suppliers to get healthier fish in the first place?

• Finding someone who wants to buy the dead, putrefying fish?

• All of the above?

Knowing that the owner does not yet know what he wantsand that his idea of "fix" will probably change a few times before the Fixer is donethe Fixer rolls up his sleeves and gets to work. In the meantime, business continues to fall off.

No one can ignore the odor, and customers are staying away. Rumors spread throughout the bazaar that many fish in the store have died and were surreptitiously thrown away. The Cassandras are abuzz with "I told you so," and employees are putting as much distance as possible between themselves and the dead fish. The owner assures everyone that the Fixer is working on the problem and will soon have a solution.

Meanwhile, the Fixer is up to his elbows in stinking fish guts, feeling dirty, lonely, and desperate. The owner tells him what a prince he is. Because this is not the first time he has been called in on a "dead fish" problem, the Fixer is mildly upset and concerned about the extent to which he is being "managed." But he knows that to be successful, he must keep his head down and solve the problem.