Whatever Comes

“He’s out in New York.”

“I know that.” Wally scowled at her.

“You suggested this, didn’t you.”

“With the US magazine cover we could bounce back with the article and have a neat little thing going here.” He smiled beguilingly.

“How can you ask it of me? I thought you were my friend.”

Wally observed critically, “The tremble in your voice is touching. You do that well.” But then he warned, “If you let a tear leak out, I will insist on a personal interview with Sean, if you have to pretend to be a bellhop!”

“Wally!”

“Even Chris is excited about this!”

“I’m going to apply for the space capsule.”

“Fine. Right after you do the concert. Then we can work in something about unrequited passion on your part and milk this dandy little incident as far as we can go.”

“I don’t see how you can do this to me.”

He shrugged and said the obvious, “Circulation.”

“You are a nasty man.” She glowered at him.

“Coming to dinner Friday?”

“I believe Chris should divorce you. I doubt she has ever suspected what you’re really like.”

He smiled. “You’re a reporter. You’ll do it because you know it’ll make good copy. We got a glossy of the picture. We’ll rerun a copy of the cover, then the US cover and then your story. Hot dog, this’ll be one for the books.”

She smiled in an icy manner. “I want a raise.”

“Mab, don’t get hostile on me.”

“Do you realize the reason I’m going to Indianapolis is to speak at a Women’s Seminar? Then I’m to go to Fort Wayne and witness a Rock concert! Tell me this can’t tarnish my credibility as a serious woman.”

“There are a great many serious people who enjoy Rock and heavy metal. There are people who enjoy jazz. Not everyone listens only to a single kind of approved music.”

He stood straight and looked at the wall as if he was seeing it for the first time. “This would make an interesting series! A spin-off from your Rock article!”

He turned back to Mab. “We could interview all sorts of people whose tastes vary...on the kinds of music... The ramifications of Sean’s cover story has Roots!