Date: Wed, 25 Sep 1996 19:54:09 -0600 (MDT) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Theresa - Chapter 21 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Chapter 21 Business and Pleasure Although Theresa sat calmly, she was still a nervous wreck inside. It had been years since she had last had an interview. Now, on Monday, November 1, 1999, she waited, worried how her interview would go. "Miss Brookner?" a secretary called her attention. "Mrs. Stewart will see you now." "Thank you," Theresa said gratefully as she stood up. She entered the office gently and closed the door behind her. There, sitting at a mahogany desk, was a lovely lady about forty years of age. The woman's attention was focused on a computer screen. "Please, sit down," Mrs. Stewart bid Theresa without moving her eyes from the screen. Theresa obeyed, thanking her. She waited, seemingly patient, while Mrs. Stewart continued to view the information on the computer screen. A moment later, Mrs. Stewart shut off the screen and turned her attention to Theresa. "Miss Brookner, I understand you're an artist. What kind of experience do you have?" Theresa hesitated. She really didn't have experience in art, except in high school. She took a breath. "I received several awards for my art, including one in a national contest." "And these awards were received when?" "When I was seventeen years old." "You were still in high school?" "Yes, ma'am." "Interesting. And when did you graduate high school?" Theresa became a little nervous. "I haven't graduated high school, Mrs. Stewart. I'm currently taking classes to earn my GED." Mrs. Stewart looked at Theresa firmly. There was annoyance in her eyes. "Let me get this straight. You have no college education, no high school diploma, and no immediate experience in the art world and you expect to get a job in art? Miss Brookner, I don't see how that is possible." "Mrs. Stewart," Theresa said, gaining some courage from her annoyance of her interviewer's opinion, "you have seen my work. I believe that I can fulfill the requirements of this job." Mrs. Stewart leaned back in her chair. "Miss Brookner, I have seen your work and it is good. But it isn't experienced. I suggest you get your GED, take a few art classes, and then come back to me. Maybe then I'll consider you for a position." "I see," Theresa said softly as Mrs. Stewart stood up. Theresa stood up also. "Don't worry," Mrs. Stewart told Theresa as she opened the door for the latter. "You have a lot of talent. You just need a little more time and practice." "Thank you for your time, Mrs. Stewart," Theresa said politely before leaving the office. She stopped in the hallway and took a deep breath. *It's not working*, she thought. *I knew this was a mistake*. The minute she thought this,, she regretted it. What was she thinking, expecting it to be easy? The incident only confirmed his belief that life was hard. Still, to give up was worse than to fail. With renewed resolve, she went on to her next interview. ******************* It was Tuesday afternoon. Thanks to Chris's work, Sam and he had to delay lunch together for a day. They sat at Jeff's and Chris's usual table at the Olive Room, Sam watching Chris silently eat a plate of pasta alfredo with broccoli. Sam had ordered a cheeseburger (hold the tomato, extra onions - just the way he always liked it) but had hardly touched it. His concern for Chris was affecting his appetite. And Al had yet to come for the day. "Hey, Jeff. You okay?" Chris asked with concern. "You're supposed to be the talkative one, not me." Sam smiled. "I'm okay. I've just got a lot on my mind." Chris put down his fork and wiped his lips with his cloth napkin in his lap. "Well, then, let me take some pressure off. Suzanne and I have been thinking about what you've been telling us and we've decided that you're right. So, I've made an appointment to see Doctor Retter for when we return from our honeymoon. Is your mind at rest now?" Sam smiled. It was exactly what Sam wanted. Chris was going to see a doctor. He nodded. "Yes," he told Chris. "Thanks." "Hey, I should be the one thanking you," Chris told him. "Especially since you're paying for lunch." He smiled at Sam as he picked up his fork and continued to eat his lunch. Sam also ate, confident that he'd accomplished his mission and that he'd leap soon. However, despite his confidences, Sam found himself later returning to Jeff's office with now sign that he'd leap anytime soon. ************************ Al was sitting in his office, looking over the new yearly budget. The complex had just received it a month ago, a month early, allowing Al the time to review it more thoroughly. Being administrative manager had its good points and its drawbacks. The good points included complete freedom in operating the complex as he saw fit. The drawbacks were operating the complex - period. It meant reviewing the budget; setting vacation times, making sure there were enough food supplies in the cafeteria, office supplies, electronic supplies, etc. Basically, it was a ton of work and Al was grateful that Donna took some of the work off of him. "Hi," a familiar voice said from his office door. Al looked up to the voice's owner and grinned slightly. "Hi." "Problems?" Tina asked, indicating the paperwork on his desk. "New budget," Al answered. Tina walked up to his desk. "Any chance of suggesting a break. You've been at that since five-thirty." "What time is it?" "Quarter 'til ten," Tina answered. "So?" Al smiled. "What kind of break were you thinking of?" "Well," Tina said as she walked around the desk, "I was thinking we might go see a late movie, maybe grab a little something to eat and then..." She paused. "Who knows?" Al laughed. "That's a lot better than your 'Al, you're working too hard for too long' speech. All right," he told her as he shut off his computer and put his papers away. "You win. Again." He stood up and slipped on his jacket. "Let's go." Tina smiled in delight as she led Al out of the office. "Admiral?" Gushie's voice interrupted into Al's and Tina's romantic thoughts as they opened the door. "Oh, nut," Tina muttered. Al smiled at her reaction. He shrugged. "What is it, Gushie?" Al asked. "Dr. Beckett has changed history, Admiral," the computer programmer told him. "For the better, I hope," Al put in. There was a hesitation in the answer. "I wouldn't say that," Gushie finally said. "What would you say?" "I'd say you'd better get down to the Control Room right away." ************************** Theresa had an eleven o'clock flight back to Albuquerque which had now been delayed by an hour. It was almost midnight and Theresa was finding herself very tired after her day of interviews, even after resting for a couple of hours in her hotel room. She had wanted to leave earlier but her eight o'clock flight had been canceled due to poor weather conditions. Shortly after she arrived, a storm had started to brew. After one o'clock on Monday afternoon, the storm became more intense, making it one of the worse storms in New York City's history. Which meant Theresa was now still in New York. "Flight 289 for Albuquerque," a female voice came over the airport's speakers, "has been canceled. Flight 289 for Albuquerque has been canceled. At this time, all flights leaving New York City have been canceled. All flights have been canceled until further notice." "Terrific," Theresa muttered. She picked up her luggage, went to the reservations desk to get a refund, and returned to her hotel. Fortunately, she was able to check back into her old room. Having returned to the room, she dropped her bag and immediately began to change into a pair of purple silk pajamas that Al had bought her before she left for New York. She washed her face and slipped on a plain white terry cloth robe. Feeling much more comfortable, she looked at the time. It was nearly one o'clock. Which meant that it was nearly eleven o'clock in New Mexico. Theresa was thinking about calling Al to let him know what was happening. However, she considered the time. Al was probably asleep by now. And probably with Tina. No, she understood the need for privacy. She would wait until morning. In the meantime, Theresa had a night's sleep to catch. ************************* "Okay," Al said as he and Tina entered the Control Room. "How has Sam changed history?"" "Well," Gushie said uncomfortably, "Chris Raj-ad-Allah no longer dies of a seizure." "That's great! Sam convinced him to see a doctor?" Al said more than asked. "Yes, he has an appointment to see his doctor," Gushie started. Al hesitated. "I can hear a 'but' in your voice." "But," Al continued as Al thought, "he won't make it to his appointment." "Wait a minute," Al put up his right index finger. "I thought you said he doesn't die of a seizure." "He doesn't. He dies in a car accident. Along with his wife and..." Al closed his eyes sorrowfully, knowing instinctively the rest of the sentence. "And Jeff Sterling," he finished the sentence. "I'm afraid there's more," Gushie put in sadly. "Later, the autopsies show that Suzanne was two months pregnant, which apparently she never told Chris." "Oh, Gushie," Al said sadly. "How long until the accident?" "Twenty-seven hours," Gushie answered. "Ziggy's still digging for more information. She's still not sure exactly how the accident happens." Al took a handlink. "Well, I'd better tell Sam," he said, walking to the Imaging Chamber. "As if he needs more bad news." ************************* Sam called in sick from work. Not that he was really sick. He had a slight cough but it was enough to give him a reasonable excuse not to go to work a job he had little to no experience with. He instead spent his day grocery shopping and cleaning the house. He was occupied with washing the dishes when a voice came from behind him. "What are you doing at home?" Sam turned to find Jennifer standing at the kitchen table, placing her purse on one of the kitchen chairs. "Hi," he said. "Umm... I called in sick. I wasn't feeling very well." "But you were well enough to clean the kitchen and do the dishes?" she asked. "Pretty weird to me. Or are you just playing hookie?" she smiled. "Tried and convicted," Sam confessed with a shrug. Jennifer laughed. "What am I going to do with you, Mr. Sterling?" "Well..." Sam started. "Hmm. Very nice," another voice put in. "You know, you're going put Mr. Clean out of business," Al told Sam, teasing. "Listen," Jennifer continued over Al's voice. "I just came home to pick up a file I left. So, I'll be back in about three hours and then..." She came closer to him and kissed him on the lips. "... I'm going to give you a night to remember." "Mmm... Sounds interesting," Al commented, looking at Jennifer with raised eyebrows. "See you later," Jennifer told Sam as she left the kitchen and went out the front door. "You have all the luck!" Al told Sam as he watched Jennifer leave. "Where have you been?" Sam asked. "I haven't seen you since Monday." "I'm sorry, Sam," Al told him, "but you're not my only obligation, you know. We just got the budget for next year and I've been trying to organize our resources for approval by the committee. I would have come in sooner but, since history hadn't changed then, I figured you were okay without me." "History's changed?" Sam asked. "Big time," Al answered. "You were able to convince Chris to see a doctor so we don't have to worry about his dying of a seizure." "That's great, Al!" Sam exclaimed. "But," Chris continued, "Chris doesn't live. And neither does Suzanne and Jeff." Sam hesitated at Al's words. "What do you mean?" "In about twenty-seven hours, Chris and Suzanne will be killed in an accident," Al told Sam. "And so will Jeff." Sam sighed and closed his eyes at Al's words. -------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 22 next. 6 chapters to go. Kat