Wednesday afternoon
Andrea Cross looks up from her desk as her best friend and former college roommate walks in, dressed in golf gear carrying his clubs.
"I'm off for my..." the phone rings.
Andrea holds up her hand to stop Stephen Wellington from walking out while she answers the phone, "Wellington Financial, how may I help you today." a brief pause, "Let me check and see if Mr. Wellington is available, Mrs. Wellington."
Steve is frantically shaking his head and arms side to side while mouthing, "No, No, No."
"Mrs. Wellington, I'm sorry, but Mr. Wellington does not seem to be available."
"Yes ma'am, I am new, but I do realize you are his mother."
"No ma'am, I didn't realize he has been avoiding your calls for two weeks" Andy points and the phone and give Steve a look that says, You don't pay me enough for this. "No ma'am I am not sure of his schedule, it appears he is out of the office for the day."
"If you hold ma'am I will check his calendar. No ma'am he doesn't have the fundraiser on his calendar for Saturday evening. Yes ma'am I am noting it as we speak. 7:00 PM at the Wiltshire Hotel" Andy lets out a little nervous laugh, "I don't know ma'am, I am sure Mr. Wellington is able to get his own date for the dance. That is true ma'am how could he get a date if he didn't have the event in his calendar."
Across the room, Steve entire body is shaking in mirth watching is best friend of 10 years and executive assistant of 1 week verbally handle his bulldozer of a mother. And while Mother was a bulldozer, his money was still on Andy and her unending calm and backbone of steel.
Looking up at Steve laughing at her, Andy says "Mrs. Wellington, I just had idea where you might be able to reach Mr. Wellington. Why don't you try the Club and see if he." Steve shots Andy a look, and reaches for the telephone, "Mrs. Wellington, it appears Mr. Wellington has returned to the office, please hold." Andy puts Steve's mother on hold with a satisfied smile. "Now, go talk to your mother and get it over with. I don't get paid enough to deal with her. No wonder you can't keep an assistant for more than two months."
"Andy, I can't keep an assistant because I was waiting for you. And I will kick you butt out if you try to ruin another tee-time by telling my mother I am at the Club."
Stephen goes back into his office, "Hello Mother. Sorry I wasn't here when you first called."
"No you are not Boy, you can't kid a kidder. You are just like your father. Running off to the Club for a round off golf and letting me run all over that poor girl. I thought you said that your college friend Andrew was going to be working with you while he decided where to go next in his journey to save the world."
"Mother, I said Andy, short for Andrea not Andrew. And I think she is doing a great job. Now exactly what did you call for?"
"Andy, your best friend Andy, is a female? The globe trotting nomad who is set to save the world, one third world country at a time, Andy is a female. Is that what you are telling me, Stephen Wellington? How is that this has never come up before?"
"Mother, do we really need to discuss Andy's sex, I mean gender. Andy is Andy. Now what do you want, as you have guessed I have a tee time."
"I wanted to remind you that Saturday is the Fundraiser Dance for the Children's Hospital. I also wanted to suggested a possible date for you to bring, but that won't be necessary now."
"And, why do you not need to suggest a date, you have been trying to get me married off since I finished my MBA."
"Stephen, stop being obtuse, you will bring Andrea with you to the fundraiser, of course. And in fact, I feel I should stop over on Friday and take her to lunch and dress shopping. I am sure after being in Africa or where ever she just came from, she needs a spa day. Just give her the entire day off and I will take care of everything. Now go and enjoy your golf game. I am sure you deserve it."
