ROSEDALE, MD—Barry Slacker, a dedicated employee at a local convenience store, expressed sadness Monday over the rapidly approaching end to his reign as employee of the month.

"Where has May gone?" asked Slacker, speaking from the store's break room, which is located between the mop pail and the extra deli bread. "I can't believe it's already the 19th. Before you know it, I'll be just another employee again."

After nearly seven months of unrecognized service to the store, Slacker was finally nominated for the prestigious award by store manager Marsha Michaels, who cited Barry's "helpful attitude" and "solid attendance record" on the Employee Of The Month recommendation form.

"I'd always dreamed that someday it would be my face looking down at all the guests from that plaque at the front of the store," said Slacker, whose family and friends celebrated the news by treating him to dinner at the VFW. "On May 1st, that wonderful day finally came. When Marsha announced it over the loudspeaker, everyone came running over to my register to congratulate me. I felt so special!"

After the announcement was made, Slacker was asked to report to the office, where he posed for a Polaroid photo that was slipped into the Employee Of The Month plaque that hangs near the store entrance.

"I had no idea I'd be getting my picture taken that day, or I would have combed my hair before I left for work," Slacker said. "How could I have known, though? It's just not the sort of thing you wake up in the morning and expect to have happen to you."

The tradition of employee of the month carries with it a rich history. Since regional management instituted the program in 1996, a different employee has received the accolade every month. The only time the award was not given out was August 1999, when the plaque was stolen by a group of teenagers and had to be replaced.

In addition to having his name and month of honor permanently engraved on a brass plate on the plaque for future generations to see, Barry received a coupon for a free drink, as long as he uses the white styrofoam cups provided.

Despite the fact that he "wouldn't give this up for anything in the world," Slacker admitted that being employee of the month "hasn't been all cookies and ice cream." The last three weeks, he said, have been a time of intense introspection.

"After all those years of wishing and hoping for something like this, the only place left to go is down," said Slacker, whose last honor came in 1969, when he was named Most Valuable Player for his high school football team. "You struggle so long to get that brass ring, and then, when it's in your hand, you get a sort of blank feeling. It's like, what now?"

Slacker, however, has made an effort to keep such feelings of doubt to himself and focus on setting a good example for his coworkers.

"When you become employee of the month, you're suddenly thrust into the limelight and an entire staff of 33 people is looking up to you as a role model. That's a tremendous responsibility," Slacker said. "They expect a lot from their employees, but those expectations become that much greater when you're employee of the month."

"Then there are those few jealous individuals who would just love to see you make a wrong step," he continued. "It's very exhausting to be on your toes every second of every shift."

Determined to prove himself deserving of the award, Slacker has tried to raise the level of his performance even higher. His efforts have not gone unnoticed.

"Barry even came in on his day off, in full uniform Monday, just hoping for a chance to milk as much as he can out of this, said Marsha."

LAST MAJOR UPDATE: July 07, 2003