The council sat very quietly, waiting for the notorious Queen of Steam. Fingers thumped on the table, thumbs twiddled, and impatient eyes glanced down at their watches.
Suddenly, a voice came floating out of one corner, “Well, hell, is she comin’, or what?”
Burt Partridge stood at the window. “Here she is now, gentlemen,” he said, and then looked back at them with a smile on his face, “and does she look fine.”
The mayor motioned for him to sit down. “For God’s sake, Burt, keep your hormones in check. We’re here on business.”
“You’re here on business,” Burt said, “I’m here to check out the famous Queen of Steam.”
A few minutes of deep-throated laughter traveled around the table until everyone gradually quieted down to complete silence. Each pair of eyes looked expectantly toward the do
