Part 7 (2/2)

-I'm afraid I just dialed your number and spoke to a young lady who proposed to have me pay her for hurting me.

-We're having horrible mix-ups with our phone lines, is all. Have you-?

-No, unfortunately no. There are in addition, we find, one unfindable resident and one staff member.

-Pardon?

-Twenty-six missing, now.

-Sheesh.

-Have you been able to contact your father yet, Ms. Beadsman?

-His line's been busy. He talks on the phone at the office a lot. I was just about to try again. I'll have him call you, I promise.

-Thanks ever so. Again, please allow me to say just how sorry I am.

-OK, go ahead.

-Pardon me?

-Look, I've got a call waiting, I can see. I have to go. I'll be in touch.

-Thank you.

-Frequent and Vigorous.

-What are you ... wearing?

-Excuse me?

-Are you ... warmer than average, shall we say?

-Sir, this is the publis.h.i.+ng firm of Frequent and Vigorous. Are you trying to reach Cleveland Dial-a-Darling?

-Oh. Well, yes. How embarra.s.sing.

-Not at all. Shall I give you that number, though it may not work?

-Wait a minute. What are your own thoughts on pudding?

-Goodbye.

-Click.

-What a day....

-Stonecipheco Baby Food Products.

-President's office, please, Lenore Beadsman calling.

-One moment.

-... At least it's not busy.

-President's office, Foamwhistle.

-Sigurd. Lenore.

-Lenore. What's goopin'?

-May I please speak to my father?

-Impossible.

-Emergency.

-Not here.

-s.h.i.+t on a twig. twig.

-Sorry.

-Listen, big emergency. He had someone ask me to call him right away. Family emergency.

-He's really unreachable right now, Lenore.

-Where is he?

-Annual summit with Gerber's. It's August, after all.

-Rats.

-Trying to mess with the old creamed-fruit demand curve.

-Sigurd, it could literally be life or death.

-Phoneless, sweet thing. You know the rules. You know how Gerber is.

-How long?

-Not sure. Not more than a couple, three days.

-Where are they?

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