“Tell you what,” said Nick. “We pull this off, I’ll take you there myself.”
“A date with you to Las Vegas?”
“Of course, you’d have to leave your patients for a few days.” “Well, Mr. Harris, if you pull this off, I wouldn’t have a lot of
kids to leave behind, now would I?”
“That’s the spirit. Hey, why are you still working?”
“Not really working. We’re showing a film to the kids in our new theater, and I volunteered to take them there and bring them back to their rooms. A new Friday night tradition for Doris, Doc Wall, and me. We’re pushers for the wheelchairs.”
“If you ever need some help, let me know.” “Well, next week is right around the corner.” “Then put me down as a pusher.”
“Thanks, Nick. And you can show Doc Wall you’re a team
player.”
“I am a team player,” said Nick. “Sometimes I don’t know what team I’m on, but I am a team player.”
“Good night, Nick,” Shelly said with a laugh.
Nick got up in time to see his dad’s car pull into the driveway across the street. As Sal and Tanya walked toward the house, Sal looked back and spotted Nick peering through the window. He gave him a big wave and a smile, turned, and followed Tanya through the front door.
Nick waved back in shame, mumbling to himself, “She’s young enough to kill you, Pop.” He checked the lock on the door and headed back to the study to start work on his speech. He popped “Nights in White Satin” into the CD player, grabbed a legal pad, and sank into his dad’s leather chair.
*****
Jerry was waiting for Nick in the front office Monday morning.
“You know about the meeting, right?” “What meeting?” asked Nick.
“Oh, you don’t know. Bongero wants updates on all our
accounts. So what’s happening with UPS?”
“Honestly, Jerry, I only have a small layout. Nothing to present
or anything. Why?”