Thursday, March 09, 2006

The phone call

The telephone rang incessantly for like 15 rings. Tony was getting impatient. He was thinking to himself, "There is this invention called answering machine. You connect it and after 4 rings it goes to it. What's so difficult?" It was 9:00PM. The usual time when Tony places such calls. The one that he hated the most. Atlast the ringing stopped and somebody from the other side, a little groggily answered-

"Hello!"
"A little too early to be drunk, don't you think?"
"Who is it?"
"Its me! I left you a note with that butcher of yours. He didn't give you?"
"Oh! sorry Tony. He said you'll call me, didn't say anything else. I had something to take care.....big boss had asked me to. Out of town gig. Didn't sleep in 2 days"
"Listen, I have news for you. I thought I should tell you since I've known you for a year now and all the good times we had"
"What is it?"
"You are out"
"What do you mean?"
"Boss doesn't want you no more"
"I thought he liked me. I thought that's why he gave me the other gig. Where is this coming from?"
"Listen kid, I like you, so I'm telling this. Don't fight this"
"I need to know why. What did I do wrong? I was loyal to you guys"
"It has nothing to do with that. You know that. If we need somebody in the future, you'll be my man"
"I was doing fine Tony. Money was good. I had a stable job. And now this?"
"I know kid. Listen, something will come up in the future. Don't worry"
"How is it going to go down?"
"Sixth or seventh schedule"
"That means in the middle of it? I wasn't even supposed to be in until the fifth. So I get what like 2 may be 3?"
"Yeah, on a trip to Long island. In the turn pike. Boom!"
"Don't tell me that. Can't you do something about this?"
"When I go out on my own, if you are still around, I'll help you. But now, I only take orders"
"yeah yeah, don't give me that!"
"Listen, don't take this personally. You know this business, thats how it operates"
"I want to talk to the boss"
"I won't suggest that, he is in a foul mood for the last one week"
"Why?"
"His mistress"
"The blond?"
"No, the other one"
"What's the problem?"
"He is 58, she is 24. What do you think?"
"Oh! So there is no way I could get to him?"
"Listen, you didn't know this from me. This other mistress, has a brother. He wants in"
"So I get wacked for that!"
"I'm sorry kid, Wish I had a better news, but got to go now. Tell your prayers and go to bed"
"Like it will help! You are telling me I'm gonna get killed and you want me to be happy!"
"Sorry kid, that's it now!"

The line went dead........

PS: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/08/AR2006030802088.html