July 22, 2005
Week 13 - Everybody's A Critic
Episode 5
The senior staff of Fiddle and Burn have a meeting.
“Okay, let’s get going…” Harry says. “Celeste, have you got the mockup of the new cover yet?”
“Hmm?”
“Have you got the design for the new cover ready?”
“Oh… Yes, certainly.” She pulls it from a folder on the conference table and holds it up.
Harry looks it over. “Good… very nice. Rantz, does this meet your exacting requirements?”
Rantz nods. “A straight forward figure in front of a plain background. That’s what we need.”
“Wonderful!” Harry says. “Lovely! Complete concord and agreement, like one big happy family! Let this be an example to the squabbling peoples of the world… all right, what about internal art for the article?”
Celeste gently rubs her front teeth. “Hmm?”
“Stay with the program, woman! What about inside art? Maybe you could use your Coyote howling at the giant moon idea…”
“I believe I have a toothache…” Celeste says quietly.
“What?”
“Yes… My teeth are suddenly in terrible pain… I’m afraid I’m going to have to leave now and make an emergency dental appointment…” She gathers her folders and steps out of the conference room.
The rest of the staff quietly watch her leave.
After a moment, Harry shakes his head. “Toothache, my tuchis…” he mumbles.
“What?” Rantz asks.
“She doesn’t have a toothache,” Harry says. “That’s just an excuse to go back to the dentist to get more sweet gas…” The staff stares at him. He shakes his head again. “Whatever… don’t worry, let her go… Now…” He looks at Powell, the Associate Editor. “It’s time for our boy wonder, ace reporter to prove he’s worth his salary!”
“Um… what?” Powell asks.
“Tell me what you've found out about Coyote Man.”