"zzzzz... zzzZZZZ... ZZZZZZZZZ!"

"WELL, IT'S TIME TO GET UP!... WHERE'S THE COFFEE?"

"On the stove, Dear."

WHAT'S FOR BREAKFAST?"

"French toast, just the way you like it."

"AWW! I WAS PLANNING ON PANCAKES THIS MORNING. IN FACT, I WAS JUST DREAMING ABOUT THEM – A BIG TALL STACK WITH FRESH MAPLE SYRUP DRIPPING DOWN THE SIDES AND HEAPS OF FARM-FRESH BUTTER."

"Well, keep dreaming. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but it's French toast, or make it yourself. And don't yell so early in the morning. My ears aren't awake yet."

"SORRY! Uh, err... sorry."

"Aren't you late for work? You barely have time to grab a slice of toast and a swig of coffee."

"YOU KNOW, YOU'RE RIGHT! I'D BETTER GET GOING, OR MY BOSS AT THE OFFICE WILL HAVE A FIT."

"It's not like he won't notice you missing."

"WHAT'S THAT, HON?"

"Nothing. Now get moving."

"ALRIGHT."

At the office

"MORNING! FOLKS!"

"Good morning, John."

"AHH! I DIDN'T SAY THERE WAS ANYTHING GOOD ABOUT IT, DID I?... JUST KIDDING!"

"Hey, John, the boss wants us to draw more plans for the Springfield library project. We have to meet with the town library board and the manager at 9 am this morning."

"THANKS FOR THE HEADS UP, FRED. I'LL GATHER UP MY NOTES." John then proceeds to feign singing opera,

"LA, LA, LA, FIGERO, FIGERO!" The rest of the office tries to ignore him, but not without embarrassment.

"You won't have time for that. The boss wants you and me to get coffee and bagels for the big meeting. If we leave now, we should get back just in time before everyone arrives."

"OKAY! I'LL DRIVE."

"You're not taking your Vette are you?"

"SURE! WHY NOT?"

"Just go easy around the corners. You know what happened the last time."

"NO, WHAT HAPPENED?"

"You almost spilled a whole box of hot coffee."

"ALMOST! THAT'S THE OPERATIVE WORD. YOU DON'T THINK I'D MESS UP MY LITTLE HOT ROD. DO YOU?"

"I guess not. We better get going, but not too fast."

"YEAH, YEAH. I GET IT."

John peels out of the parking lot in his Corvette with his coworker in tow, grabbing the door handle for dear life.

SCREACHH!!!

"Take it easy, John. You want the boss to hear you?"

"AW! HE WON'T KNOW IT'S ME. LISTEN TO THE ROAR OF THAT BIG V-8! I JUST HAD IT TUNED UP LAST WEEK!"

VROOOOOOM! SCREACHH!!!

"HERE WE ARE! TIME TO GET THE DONUTS!"

"Bagels... and coffee."

"OH YEAH. I FORGOT. BUT, I LOVE DONUTS!"

"What'll it be?"

"TWO BOXES OF COFFEE AND A DOZEN BAGELS, PLEASE. CREAM CHEESE ON THE SIDE."

Moments later, the two coffee and bagel gofers arrive at the office just in time. John loudly slurps his coffee as the meeting is about to begin. The rest of the day is uneventful.

One week later at the office...

"Did you hear?"

"Hear what?"

"Big John died over the weekend."

"Wow! Really? Did he go quietly?"

"Did he ever do anything quietly?"

Story Copyright © 2023 by Michael DeFrancesco