From: ekho@cybernet.cse.fau.edu (amanda rothman)
Subject: Re: Computer, open a channel to a.c.
Organization: Cybernet BBS, Boca Raton, Florida
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 15:13:43 GMT

PJCHC@CUNYVM.BITNET (Philip J. Comins) writes:

> 
>     I'm Home!
>     Philip walks through the door wearing a reasonably light jacket. He takes
> out a stack of ones and lays them in front of Mike, attempting to spread them
> out like a deck of cards. He fails miserably. Mike turns to the teapot but
> Philip waves him away from it. "No, Mike, no tea right now. I've already had
> three cups this morning (I just finished doing volunteer security work at the
> New York Horror Convention. It was full of ... well ... horror). What I'd lik
> right now is a Gin and Tonic."

  "Aaaaaaaaarrghhhh!  The horror!"  Amanda snickers, "A volunteer, you 
say?  Hmmmmmmm..."

>     A few seconds later, drink in hand (and to mouth), Philip turns to the
> companions whom he has in the last WOW, TWO MONTHS, come to know and respect.
>     "Hi. Yes, as I said, I'm back. My college opened up today (the professors
> needed a break) so I'm back on line. It's amazing how much I've missed in the
> last week-and-a-half. Took me four hours to catch up with it all!

  "I know exactly how you feel..." Amanda sighs happily.

>     A special and very personal welcome to our newcomers Jammer and Bi-Bulb .
> um, I almost tripped over one of your er ... legs ... arms ... whatever that
> was coming in. Hugs, handshakes, high-fives, low whatevers to both of ewe.
>     The (small) masochistic side of my nature cries out to see Amanda and the
> ogre against Ekho. I may just have to stand in the doorway (or maybe, I'll
> come in, though you never know just what side I'll be on ...)

  Ekho studies Philip thoughtfully.

>     "Well, anyway, I was forced to go with family to midnight mass Christmas
> Eve, and the priest serving the MASS wasn't even named CHRIS." Philip sips on
> his drink and keeps a straight poker face that even Riker would be hard put t
> calling the bluff. As the peanuts start to fly, Philip makes no attempt to
> try to hide from the launchers. He just takes it. When the hail dies down a
> bit, he holds the empty glass upwards to the light and says to it in a very
> calm, soothing tone, "When you break, you want to do so UPWARDS, not OUTWARDS
> and you at the save time want to sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the two people whose
> birthdays we missed yesterday due to school retention ... er, prevention.
> DEBBIE and DAN'L. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you both. Many more, HOPEFULLY.
> Ladies and Gents, you saw those bills I put on that there counter ... line up
> drinks ..." pause (Did I say pause?) PAUSE "...oh all right; Drinks ARE on me
>     And with that, Philip steps away from the counter so the rush for the
> beverage orders can begin. Philip spots Ekho (not so much lurking as keeping
> out of the way. He steps near and whispers as softly as possible, "I'd like
> to talk about what I said above. Not so much a team as a ah ... silent partne
> thing ..."

  "Indeed?  Talk away," she motions him to a chair, "But keep in mind 
that I play fair against those who deserve it."  She looks over at Amanda 
who is over at the bar, happily welcoming the Didi Sprite home, "I have 
found that the people here are very deserving."  A slightly mischevious 
smile grows, "Deserving of what, I am not prepared to say at this time."

           Yours in Time and Space