26Time was running out and so was my patience. The hotel lead had proved as disappointing as most of the broads I'd met since the ex and I had split. And that was pretty disappointing. It was a long way back to the office, but I decided to walk. Maybe that would stir some fresh thoughts. At the least it would save cab fare. I stopped for a quick lunch halfway back and had a liverwurst and mayo on rye, washed down by coffee so bad that even the patrons at Ma's would wince. That didn't bring any fresh thoughts either. My mood was so rotten that I told a Salvation Army Santa what he could do with his lousy bell. When some old busybody told me that I should be ashamed saying that to a Santa, and in public at that, I gave her worse.
The office was lonely without Dotty. I missed all that I had
