“Ah, Mr. Perkins, how are you this fine morning?”
“Quite good. Quite good, my dear Mr. Jeffries. A fine Monday, this.” The rotund man plopped into a chair at the conference table. Mr. Jeffries was already seated and waiting.
“Indeed, but aren’t they all?”
Mr. Perkins tented his fingers and leaned onto the table. “Did you have a good weekend?”
“Dreadful. And yourself?”
“Positively the same. Say, did you hear about Leonard? Manager from the shipping floor?”
“No, I’m afraid not. He’s a good worker as I recall.” Mr. Jeffries frowned.
“Excellent worker, very productive. Heart attack. In the cardiac I.C.U. the better part of the weekend.”
“Back today?”
“No, his wife called in for him. Said if he pulls through he won’t be in for at least a week. Likely longer.”
“A week? No, no, no. That
