By Shallowford <davidpwilcox@juno.com>
Rated G
Submitted November 2014
Summary: Lois gets an email saying Jimmy’s in trouble and needs cash fast. Response to Framework4’s Awful Vacation challenge.
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***
It was a bad day, even for a Monday. Lois’s Jeep was in the shop and it was raining. The copier was broken. She had three stories on hold waiting for sources to return her calls. Clark had disappeared after the morning meeting and someone had taken the last of the coffee and left without making another pot. She had work to do so she grabbed half of a plain donut and returned to her desk.
As she opened her word processor, her email program said she had a message from Jimmy. Jimmy would usually just leave her a note in her in-box. Unusual, but stranger things happened all the time. She opened the message and her eyes narrowed as she read:
***
Hi,
Just writing to let you know our trip to London,United Kingdom with my family has been a mess. We were having a great time until last night when we got mugged and lost all my cash,credit card cellphone It has been a scary experience, I was hit at the back of my neck with a club. Anyway, It was a brutal experiance but thank GOD we still have our lives and passport saved. I’m financiallly strapped right now and need your help. I need you to loan me some money, I’ll refund it to you as soon as i arrive home.Write me back so i can tell you how to get it to me.
Many Thanks
***
Smothering a mild invective Lois stabbed the Reply icon in her email…
***
Jimmy,
First…If you’re ever going to write professionally, learn grammar, punctuation and spelling. Then at least strive for some measure of verisimilitude. Get real! You’ve never been to New York, much less London. Besides, if Perry catches you goofing off in the email system again you’re going to be dead meat, mister.
More important, you haven’t paid me back for the pizza I bought you for your “stakeout” before last payday. What did I hear her name was…Jessica? And now you’re begging for more? Wrong answer, Buster! Superman might not be up to collecting for me, but you should know I’ve still got Resplendent Man’s number! If you know what’s good for you you’ll get your fanny in here and pay me pronto!
-LL-
***
Clark heard the reports of Lois’s keyboard as he stepped from the stairwell. Only Mad Dog Lane on a rant could make a keyboard sound like gunfire. He saw that on hearing the sound all of the staff except the new guy had already moved into their defensive positions. He himself took the safest route behind the cover of the coffee pot and poured two mugs while he considered. Not sure if their next big story was afoot or if HR had changed the expense report form again he took a chance and zoomed in on her monitor.
As he chuckled to himself the elevator opened and Jimmy stepped out…
THE END