While I was busy having fun, I called to find out about the Teddy Bear Patrol’s annual kick-off fund-raiser. They assured me my name will be on the invitation list. I don’t know how many teddy bears ten thousand bucks will buy, but it should be fun to find out.
Then, a week or so ago, right after Big Al came back to work on a part-time basis, the phone rang in our cubicle at work on a rare sunny Monday morning.
“I’d like you to be my guest at the Rep auction,” Alexis Downey’s unfamiliar voice said. “I’m sure the Bentley will go for a ton of money and I’d like you to be there to see it.”
I tried to stammer my way out of it, but Alexis wasn’t taking no for an answer. Finally, reluctantly, I agreed.
“At the white elephant sale last year I bought an old picnic basket,” she continued. “I was wondering if you’d like to help me break it in? I do great picnics.”
It sounded to me as though Alexis Downey should have been in sales. Come to think of it, she is in sales. Before I told her good-bye we had a date for the following Saturday afternoon.
“Who was that?” Big Al asked when I finally put down the phone.
“Trouble, I think,” I told him.
“Not bad trouble, I hope,” he said.
“No, good trouble.”
I went on the picnic with Alex Downey and it rained like hell, but we had a good time. We didn’t walk far, because my feet were killing me that day, but she’s a fun, interesting lady. For a few hours I was able to forget all about the Seattle Homicide Squad, and that’s good for me. Now, I’m even looking forward to the auction. I may rent a tux.
According to Ralph Ames, having fun is something I need to do more often. Maybe I’ll fire up the fax and tell him thanks.