There Must Be A Mistake Ch. 33

"Gordon, it's supposed to be, 'well in hand'."

"Trust me dad, I have this situation well 'under' hand."

"That's our boy. Now where were?"

"Exactly where he is I believe."

"Even if he's not Jennifer, we will be there shortly."

Jennifer screeched to high heaven, as I began tickling her. She became all arms and legs as she thrashed around our bed attempting to get away from my fingers. When she was finally on top of me, I stopped. She looked down at me with foreboding eyes, as I rubbed her flanks. She pushed her lips against mine, and tried to pull the hair out of my head.

"I hate you with every fiber of my being Even. My life would have been so much more uninteresting without you in it. I could've gone from day to day, sunrise to sunset, without a care in the world, watching my boy grow up to become a man. Why couldn't you have taken the next flight?"

"The next flight to Fairbanks was in two days. I didn't have my pajamas with me."

"Are you ever at loss for a smart answer?"

"With my wife's breasts pressing down on my chest. Her lips inches from my mouth. I'm happy to get any answer out I can. Do you want to lead or shall I?"

"Even when I start out leading, I wind up following."

Jen kissed me and our mating ritual began.

**********************

"Gray, I'm going to the hospital I'll be back in an hour."

"Is everything all right baby? Do you want me to go with you?"

"No, I'm fine. I'm just keeping a promise to a good friend."

"All right, I'll take care of the kids. They'll be washed brushed and dressed when you get back."

************

Delicious walked in the main entrance of the hospital and asked, "Where is Nurse Spencer working."

The lady at the reception desk was not polite when she said, "We are not allowed to give out that information."

"Really, where is your name tag?"

"I must not have put it on this morning."

"I suggest you put it on now."

The receptionist did as she was told.

"Mrs. Luxor, I'm going to ask you again, where is Nurse Spencer working today?"

"Madam, we are not allowed to give that information out."

"Who told you you're not supposed to give out that information?"

"The director of the hospital."

"Jemma Zabo has a regulation that says you cannot say where people are working in the hospital?"

"Yes ma'am."

Delicious called Jemma and asked her if what this receptionist said was true. Jemma said, "Of course, it's not true."

"Do you want to fire her Jemma, or should I?"

"Was this her second offense?"

"Yes it was."

"Then it's your choice, warn her, or get rid of her. I'll talk to you later Delicious."

"Later Jemma."

"As you heard I just spoke to the administrator of the hospital, and do you know what she said, there is no rule against telling a person where someone in this hospital is working. You made three mistakes this morning. First, you were not wearing your name tag, which I am overlooking. Second, you were rude when you addressed me, which I am not overlooking. Third, you told out- right lie twice, which I am definitely not overlooking. Jemma gave me two choices, I can fire you on the spot, or I can warn you about being a better more informed employee. Don't turn on the waterworks, because that will do nothing to change my mind. Why should I keep you on at this hospital?"

"I took a $28 an hour cut to get this measly $11 an hour job, because it provided health insurance for my family. If I'm not happy with it and it shows, I'm going to have to improve on it. This is my sixth day, and I have not fully read all the paperwork I was given. That is my own fault. In a normal corporate structure, you are not allowed to tell where anyone else works without authorization. I thought that would work here also. Apparently I was wrong. I apologize."

"I take it you were downsized."

"I was downsized even though I had more time, and a higher grade than four others in my department. They were kept on. If I had the money I would sue the son of a bitches, but they know I don't, so they are safe. I'm going to go through the EOOC, but that will take forever, and I have to feed my family in the meantime. I'm going to have to sell my house, and almost everything else I have just to make ends meet."

"Where is Nurse Spencer working?"

"She's on the third floor, east wing."

"Good, stay here I'll be right back."

Delicious walked to the nurse's station and nearly bumped into Gloria Spencer.

"Hello Gloria, do you remember me, Delicious Thyme? You gave me one of your patented late-night counseling sessions a few years ago."

"I'm sorry Miss Thyme, in the past few years I've seen a lot of patients."

"I bet you that you only had one patient promise you a house free and clear, when she was leaving the area for good."

"I remember that you just had a baby."

"Teddy."

"A boy how wonderful for you."

"Teddy is a girl."

"She must be a mama's girl by now."

"If you mean does she run the household, yes she does. But that's not why I'm here, I came to give you this. Here is the deed, and the title to the house. You own the land and everything underneath it. If they strike oil, it yours. If they strike sand, it's yours. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Sometime next week call this number. He is a lawyer friend of mine. His name is Rod Laver, and he will take care of anything else needed to transfer you onto the tax rolls of the county. There will be no charge for services. Everything else is done, not a penny will have to come out of your pocket.

All you have to do now is sell your house, and your eight minutes away from work."

"How do I thank you for a gift like this?"

"You thanked me in advance, remember? My head was so screwed up I didn't know which way to go, and you helped me go in the right direction. How do I say thank you for that? I have another lady waiting for me downstairs, and I want to help her too. I haven't got much time left here on earth, and while I'm here, I want to do all the good I can."

"I think you have been doing it Delicious. Both yours and your husband's names are all over the hospital as benefactors. The new YMCA building going up downtown as your name on it. Our Women's Cancer Center's wing is being built by your father, brother, and you. This town used to be a dust spot on the map. It won't be anymore. Goodbye, and have a very long trip."

"Gloria, it will be so long you can't imagine it."

*******************

"Mrs. Luxor, what is your first name?"

"Elizabeth."

"My name is Delicious Thyme. I'm a senior scientist with the 'Deep Space Science Project." In other words, the people across the highway, who are going to launch a ball into outer space tomorrow. I am going to be on it, along with my family, my parents, scientists and friends. 64 of us in all. If I say it can be done, it can be done. Are you willing to listen to me?"

"I have nothing to lose by listening."

"I need someone to take over your position. Who is normally your relief?"

"I only get 30 minutes. One of the officers normally stands here while I'm gone."

"Good."

"Officer, Officer, come here now."

"Yes ma'am how my I help you?"

"This is your position for the rest of the day or until you are relieved. Do you understand? I am taking this woman to see Mrs. Zabo."

"Yes ma'am."

As they walked by Jemma's secretary, Delicious said, "Tell Jemma I borrowed her office."

"Yes Mrs. Thyme."

"Tell me about you Elizabeth."

"I'm a Black female 37 years old, divorced with two children. I have a BA out of Memphis State, and a Master's Degree in Economics from the University of Tennessee. I've had two jobs. The first was with the Army Corps of Engineers, and I was recruited out of there by the Malitronix Corporation in Dallas Texas. I worked there until four weeks ago. I was supposedly let go as a part of a reduction in force, but four people in my department with less seniority than me were kept on. They were white and they were male."

"What does this corporation do?"

"It's a main subcontractor for the military. It also serves friendly militaries around the world."

Delicious smiled. "I think Rod is going to love this."

"Who's Rod?"

"Rod is an attorney friend of mine."

"I can't afford an attorney."

"There won't be any charge."

"Is he that bad an attorney?"

"Rod has never lost the case, never. Let me make a phone call."

"Hello."

"Hello, Mr. Laver, this is Delicious Mark. I'm in the hospital, and yours is the only name I could remember. They say I banged my head against the door, and I have amnesia. Are you the one that squirted whipped cream all over me, because if you are I'm coming to get you right now?"

"Oh God, Delicious, what are you up to?"

"You didn't buy my amnesia story?"

"If you had amnesia I would have run down to the hospital taking you out to the desert and left you there. What do you need Delicious?"

"How would you like to take a bite out of a corporate giant?"

"Do you mean I would get paid for being a lawyer again?"

"Yes, no more flying back and forth to Washington just to file patents."

"Give me the particulars."

Delicious gave Rod what she had written down and waited.

"She doesn't need me, she can go to the University of Texas law school graduation and take the last graduate. He could win this case for her."

"You and I both know he wouldn't win, because they would buy him off, and she would get nothing. I want Elizabeth to come out of this like a knight in shining armor. Not only did they fire her, but they fired her for reason. I'll bet you she was coming close to something they didn't want found. If she was the senior budget analyst in her office, what better way to stop an investigation than to make her part of a reduction in force?"

"Tell the Elizabeth I don't work for free, she is my secretary starting next week."

"$95 an hour how wonderful Rod."

"I didn't say that, you did."

"You're going to pay her health benefits too?"

"If I see you between this instant and tomorrow before liftoff, so help me God I'm going to shave your head."

"I told you that you were going bald."

"I am not going bald."

"Delicious, what are you doing to my husband now?"

"I was reminding him of the old days. However, I did get him a wonderful client to keep him busy and out of your hair while you're attending to the children."

"That's wonderful, but I guess Rod didn't give you the news yet. It stutters while it comes out of his mouth."

"Oh no, this could only be one thing Rosalynn, grandchildren."

"Rod, she guessed it."

"She better leave tomorrow or I'm going to kill her. I'm not going to let her near those children. Not in the same city, county, state, country, or hemisphere. She has to leave."

"Delicious for some reason or another, I don't think he wants you near his grandchildren."

"I got that same impression. Does my father know yet?"

"We are going to tell him when we pick up Richard and Holden this afternoon."

"I don't know who to feel sorrier for, Rod or my father?"

"They will both break down and cry. Don't you realize Rod was never supposed to grow up? Now he has to and he has to face his own mortality."

"When we are near the microphone tomorrow I'm going to say to my dad, "Did you see all the gray hair on Rod's head?" If the Dallas Cowboys were playing, they would hear his scream in Irvington."

"Delicious someone else has to grow up."

"You must remember Rosalynn, he was the first man I was allowed to have fun with. Every other man was an enemy. I will never forget Rod for giving me that chance."

"I'll remind of that every now and again, and watch him smile."

"Goodbye Roz."

"Goodbye Delicious."

"Elizabeth, here are Rod's address and phone numbers. I guarantee you no corporate lawyer has ever heard of him, and they will probably try to brush him off. Whatever happens, and this may take years, you are going to win. It will be a substantial amount of money. I am talking eight zeros. Rod will not settle for less. Then the government get involved, and that company will be out of business afterwards. Think back to today when it happens. If it had been anybody else but me today, you would been fired. It's hospital policy. Two strikes and you're out. Wear a smile from now on. People are not your enemy, they will help you if you give them a chance."

Okay Maybe One More Chapter!

The End

THERE MUST BE A MISTAKE

BY

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