Part Eight: The Resolution

That night, Sara sat at her vanity table in her bedroom, fixing her hair. "He
knows I'd love to love him. But, if I keep going at it zis vay, he'll let me
down everytime. In his mind, he's no one's lover."

There was a knock on the door. Sara got up to answer it. "Oh, Carmen. Please
come in."

"Thank you," Carmen replied. "But a fine mess this is, Sara. Now, I have a
suggestion."

At the monthly Acme dance, Valerie and Armando were seated at a table,
talking quietly.

Tatyanna watched them. "Can you imagine caring so much about someone and
never telling them how you feel?"

"I can't," Zack answered. "But I think we know someone who can."

Another date wasn't going so well.

Harold Angel held out a bouquet of roses. "Sara, will you go to the the
theatre with me?"

"Harold, get real."

"I am." Harold blushed. "I've been trying to ask you for a week."

"Maybe I vill go. Vhat play is it?"

"Krakatoa, West of Java. The movie was wrong." Harold continued. "Interesting
cast--Lily Marlane and Roger Keller."

Sara shrugged. "I remember zee last time I vent to a play. My sweet
sprrrocket and I vent to a production of Troilus and Cressida."

Harold frowned. "I don't believe that really happened."

Sara glared. "VELL, IT SHOULD HAVE!"

Nigel sighed and tucked the book away. He was back in the Emergency Ward.

"McWHIRTLEY!" Jacob screamed from his office. "THIS COFFEE IS TERRIBLE! IT'S
TOO WEAK! AND IF YOU MUST KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING I HATE MORE THAN WEAK COFFEE
AND INEFFICIENT EMPLOYEES!"

"I'm so sorry, sir." The timid assistant ran toward the cafeteria.

Nigel groaned. He turned to see his colleague.

"What are you doing here?" Heather asked. "I just finished my shift."

"Um," Nigel struggled to get the words out. "I had to pick up an old
textbook." The Cockney accent wavered.

"Oh. I wouldn't be working now. You know Jacob."

"Excuse me," McWhirley passed by, carrying a silver tray with coffeepot,
porcelain mug, sugar bowl, and creamer.

Watching him go, Heather commented, "McWhirtley used to be my neighbor back
in Denmark. Interestingly, he was a lot more confident then than he is now.
Anyway, Nigel, I have two tickets for the new play, Krakatoa, West of Java
tonight. Would you like to go with me?"

"I'd love to."

"McWHIRTLEY! THIS COFFEE IS TOO WEAK! IT TASTES LIKE WARM WATER THAT'S HAD A
BROWN CRAYON DIPPED IN IT!"

"Oh? It's not to your liking?" McWhirtley could be heard. "I suppose you want
another cup brewed. WELL, GET IT YOURSELF BECAUSE I QUIT! I'M TIRED OF
JUMPING AT YOUR EVERY WHIM!"

"YOU DON'T HAVE TO QUIT! YOU'RE FIRED!" Jacob retorted.

McWhirtley walked out of the office, head held high. "By the way, you two
make a cute couple."

Nigel turned. "We'd better go, before Jacob goes ballistic."

Heather agreed. "You know how he gets without coffee. I don't know how
Valerie can stand him. Remember the time she imitated him to his face?"

"How could I forget? He couldn't tell if he was the boss or she was!"

The couple burst out laughing and walked away.

The end.