Will This Do, Mr. Avery?

[Cindy C.]

Cindy drew a ragged breath, her trembling fingers clutching the 
wobbly door knob.  She tried to turn it slowly, but it spun 
pointlessly in her sweaty grasp.  

The door swung open abruptly, stirring the air in the dusty 
hallway.  Avery stood framed in the doorway of his corner office, 
his face fixed with a contemptuous sneer.  "What do *you* want?" he 
demanded.

"It's my -–" Cindy gulped audibly.  "It's my catalogue.  I'm 
finished, Sir," she said.

"Well, what on earth *took* you so long?  Do you think I can wait 
*forever* for this catalogue?"

"No, Sir.  No.  I don't think that, Sir.  Not at all, Sir."  Cindy 
took a step backward, shaking her head vigorously from side to 
side.  "No, not at all.  I know you mean *business* here, Sir.  So 
I'll be starting on another message block immediately, if that's all 
right."

"Excellent." Avery's scowl turned into an easy smile.  

"Just  -- just one more question, Mr. . . . uh  -– Mr. Avery -– is 
it all right if I call you Mr. Avery?" Cindy whispered, wincing.

"Go on," Avery said impatiently.

"Eileen.  Eileen finished her message block too, didn't she?"

"Yes, she did.  And she will be rewarded handsomely for her effort," 
Avery said.  "What's your point?"

"Well, Eileen finished message block 28,001-29,000.  But I finished 
message block 25,000-26,000.  So my message block is *Bigger.*"

"So it is, so it is."  Avery nodded with approval.

"Well?"  Cindy held out her hand, which shook slightly.  She did not 
meet Avery's penetrating gaze.

"I guess that means you get your own reward as well as Eileen's.  
Here you go.  That's *two* sticks of gum for you, Cindy."

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

Cindy -- sending out an enthusiastic welcome aboard to Marina and 
Kimberly (moongirl)