Monday Drive (Socks CXII)

Christner got back to the table, "We can go, I signed the tab, Essex is buying."
In the car Gina kept leaning over from the passenger seat and talking in Christner's ear while he tried to drive. They both laughed, the music was loud, and she had his pants undone. She gave him directions.
"The next left," moving her hand in his crotch she would say, "This way."
"Down shift," as she mimicked a gear shift, making engine noises.
"Next driveway on the left. Park in front of the garage."
Gina got serious, "Before we go in, some ground rules."

Monday's Lies (Socks CXI)

Lar and Rar talked with the shoes, heard the music, smelled the beer leaking from Christner's pores. Most of this was familiar. Then one foot came out of the slip-on, stretched across, and stared rubbing on Rar.
"Lar, there's a callous on this big toe."
Lar laughed, the slip-ons laughed, Rar didn't laugh. This was becoming intolerable.
Christner went into a small room and stood facing the wall, making humming noises. He stepped from the wall, took out his cell, and punched buttons.
"The meeting's going longer than expected."
*
"Sid wants us to go to his office."
*
"Don't wait up."

Monday's Ankles (Socks CX)

The twins were under the table across from a pair of brown, open-toed slip-ons. The shoes were nice enough, but not too bright. They gabbed on about the places they had been, sidewalks, carpets, wooden floors, stair cases. It was all boring, but that part was tolerable.
Every now and then the pants would ride up and the ankles would show. Unlike the smooth ankles of Pretty, these were a bit chubby and unshaven. This part was also tolerable.
Someone put money in the jukebox, the boys thought of Nick, and they could no longer hear what was being said.

Monday Teachings (Socks CIX)

As the others were leaving, Gina said, "Grab your folder, let's get a booth so they can clean up."
At the booth Gina said, "I need a drink, a whiskey sour, a double."
"Were still working."
"OK, we'll put it on the Essex tab."
"We can't drink on the..."
"On what? The clock?"
"Yea."
"Did you punch a clock today?"
"No."
"Let me tell you how this works. You're on a new level now, not all of the rules are applied equally."
"But Frank..."
"If Timmy and Megan hadn't been there, Frank and Sid would have had two or three."

Monday Meeting (Socks CVIII)

"OK, everybody's here. Let's eat, I'm starved," said Frank.
After the meal Tim put a flip chart on an easel, "We picture a mainly TV campaign, using cable supplier's ability to target specific demographics and..."
Tim droned on, Megan droned on, then Sid took the floor.
"That's as far as we can go today, we'll meet again in two weeks ."
Gina said, "I have some ideas I'd like to run past our new ad man. Can I keep him here, Frank?"
"Sure, I'll ride back with Tim and Megan."
"You rode with me," Sid exclaimed.
"I'll catch a cab."

More Monday (Socks CVII)

The phone rang. "Of course you can ride with me, Frank."
The ride to the restaurant was different than the ride to work. No loud rock music, accelerating and braking was smooth, and no other drivers were castigated.
"It will be pleasure to work with you again, Sid," Christner said.
"You can thank Frank and Gina. They recommended you to get your shot in the pilots seat," Sid confided.
Gina put her hand on Christner's shoulder, "When I heard your name, I knew the campaign was in capable hands."
The only two members of Christner's team, Tim and Megan, arrived.

Monday Continued (Socks CVI)

All started normal on that fateful Monday, jack rabbit driving, cell phone calls, horn honking, and berating fellow drivers, but by the time the twins got back to their drawer, Christner would have a new moniker.
First thing that morning Frank had Christner and his team in for a meeting, neither Randy nor Karen were there.
At the end of the meeting Frank said, "Don't forget, lunch-meeting at noon with Sid and Gina from Essex. It should take most of the afternoon."
Christner went to his desk, shuffled papers, typed, and made calls.
Lar noted that the clip was gone.