“No, it’s like this,” I managed to say while maneuvering myself into a chair with both hands full and my right shoulder straining to hold my Treo firmly to my ear, “I told the guy some time ago to call on me if he ever needed my help. Now he needs my help.” I dropped into the chair and dropped the bags I’d been holding. Once they were down I relaxed my shoulder and let the phone slip into a free hand.

“And you can’t reschedule for another time?”

“No,” I replied. “I’m on his clock.”

There was a rattling of noise nearby; Michelle quickly escaped from its direction, walking briskly towards me with an oh my god look on her face.

“Geez, you think the guy would need to travel with an entourage or something,” she remarked as she plopped down in the seat beside me.

“I hear a woman’s voice. Who is that with you?” […]