"Good morning Mary,"
Allen said to his secretary as he entered his
office.
"Good morning Mr. Anthony,"
Mary responded,
"how's it going on
hump day?"
"Well Mary,"
Allen responded while walking into his office,
"let's just
say that the week is almost over."
Allen entered his office to find a pile of messages and a stack of
papers on his desk from the day before. He sat his briefcase in the
empty chair and proceeded to return calls and sift through the papers.
While Allen went through the messages, he noticed that there was a
message from his father. Allen took a moment to think about the nature
of the call. He wondered if it was the news about the test results or if his
father was just calling because Allen had forgotten to call when he got
home like he promised.
At any rate, Allen decided to return the call.
Knowing that there was a three-hour time difference in Chicago, Allen
thought that he should call his father at work, but when Allen phoned
his father's job, he was informed that he was not working today. Allen
began thinking that something may be wrong. He dialed his parent's
home on the speed dial and listened to the phone ring over the
speakerphone while he worked.
"Pop!"
Allen spoke surprisingly.
"What are you doing at home today?"
"What, I can't take a day off every once and a while? Hell, I've been
working for the airlines for over thirty years."
"That's why I'm wondering why you're at home, cause you've been
working over thirty years."
"Well, I just decided to take a few days off until things get back to
normal around here."
"How are things going there Pop?"
"Well you know, all we can do is pray, and trust me we are doing a lot
of that. Day and night we are praying."
"So I take it that you haven't heard from the doctor yet?"
"No, not yet, we are still waiting."
"How's Mama doing Pop?"
Allen asked with a low tone.
"You know ya mama, she won't let this get the best of her, no matter
what the result is."
"Yeah, you have a point there."
"How are you doing Pop?"
"I'm doing son, I'm doing."
"So how are things there with you son?"
"Things are great pop, I will probably be back in Chicago sometime in
June."
"Well if you do come, let me know well in advance because you know
how fast the bulls tickets sell out at playoff time."
"I will, but I need to start work now, I'll talk to you soon Pop. Tell
mom I love her and I'll call her next week."
"I will Son, and I will keep you posted on the other situation too."
"Thanks Pop," Allen said as he hung up the phone.