I'll make some croissants later. [The BlackBerry starts ringing.
Using Britney Spears's "Womanizer" as its ringtone.
Brax isn't startled by this choice of song; he just answers the call.]
Irving Braxiatel speaking. [pause, and then, warmly] Charles, I was wondering if you'd ring. [pause] No, postpone it. I'm not coming in today. [pause] I'm sure you don't mean to imply that I'd forget. I've been double-checking the equations and quite frankly, if I don't correct them, we'll have more to worry about than financial troubles. Or does a small nuclear explosion not register that high on your list of concerns? [He holds the phone away from his ear, because ow, that was a loud shout.] Your gift for calm dispassion never fails you, I am so pleased to see. Please try to control yourself. My wife is in the room.
[Braxiatel briefly glances up at Chang.] My dear, Charles says hello.
[And then back to the mobile.] Now. Listen to me very carefully. Tell them that we will have to put off the meeting for two days. We're in a very delicate stage of research, and we can't, in good conscience, give them a complete report until we're through. Say that we could report if we must, but that you'd feel very uncomfortable giving them potentially inaccurate information. And give them some figures and equations to look at, business people always like those.
It will be fine, Charles. Don't worry about a thing. I have it all under control. [A longer pause as Brax listens, and then the geniality is in full force.] Exactly. Good man. I'll explain everything tomorrow. See you then. [And he clicks off the mobile, triumphant. Caller ID gave the number and name of the institute. He can use the power of Google now!]
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[Spam in the House of Chang]
Date: 20/1/11 11:14 pm (UTC)From:Using Britney Spears's "Womanizer" as its ringtone.
Brax isn't startled by this choice of song; he just answers the call.]
Irving Braxiatel speaking. [pause, and then, warmly] Charles, I was wondering if you'd ring. [pause] No, postpone it. I'm not coming in today. [pause] I'm sure you don't mean to imply that I'd forget. I've been double-checking the equations and quite frankly, if I don't correct them, we'll have more to worry about than financial troubles. Or does a small nuclear explosion not register that high on your list of concerns? [He holds the phone away from his ear, because ow, that was a loud shout.] Your gift for calm dispassion never fails you, I am so pleased to see. Please try to control yourself. My wife is in the room.
[Braxiatel briefly glances up at Chang.] My dear, Charles says hello.
[And then back to the mobile.] Now. Listen to me very carefully. Tell them that we will have to put off the meeting for two days. We're in a very delicate stage of research, and we can't, in good conscience, give them a complete report until we're through. Say that we could report if we must, but that you'd feel very uncomfortable giving them potentially inaccurate information. And give them some figures and equations to look at, business people always like those.
It will be fine, Charles. Don't worry about a thing. I have it all under control. [A longer pause as Brax listens, and then the geniality is in full force.] Exactly. Good man. I'll explain everything tomorrow. See you then. [And he clicks off the mobile, triumphant. Caller ID gave the number and name of the institute. He can use the power of Google now!]