.

      CARTER sat at his desk, holding the latest toy prototype for the Christmas catalog and let out a gust of frustration. At this point, he almost preferred the cat disaster.

      Almost.

      “This is what I pay you guys to come up with?” Carter turned the twelve-inch doll over. “An action figure that cleans?”

      Paul Simmons, the former assistant head of the toy team, newly promoted to head designer after Jim’s quick exit earlier today, sat back in the opposite chair and gestured toward the skinny, apron-clad male figurine. The doll carried a feather duster in one hand and a blue spray bottle in the other. “That’s not just any action figure. It’s SuperClean Man,” he said, clearly proud of his team’s creation. “He can sweep a floor in one fell swoop. Leap over three filled water buckets in a single bound and stop a speeding muddy dog with his bare hands.”

      Carter held himself back from rolling his eyes. A good CEO would show support for his staff. Get right behind them with window cleaner and a good rag. “I thought we decided to come up with a toy that would make little boys aspire to big things. A role model of sorts.”