Winterfest at Duely Noted

[DoS Archive]

From: guyysavage@aol.com (GuyySavage)
Date: 25 Dec 1998 14:26:06 EST

A harried editor-in-chief glanced at the note sent to him by the printers. This wasn't how he'd planned to spend his holiday. He sighed and crumpled the note and picked up the phone thinking to himself "Seamus will have a fit if his seasons greetings don't get out today." The thought of angry Scot didn't do much for Guy's appetite.

The phone rang twice before being answered. "Hello, Tony and Sons Printing," a polite voice answered from the other end.

Guy took a deep breath before speaking, "Good afternoon, this is Guy Savage from the Duely Noted. We sent out latest edition down to be printed this week and there was a note this morning saying there was a problem?"

The voice on the other end hesitated. "Just a moment, let me let you talk to Tony."

Guy waited impatiently drumming his fingers upon the desktop. "Hello, this is Tony."

"Tony, this is Guy Savage at Duely Noted. I understand there's a problem."

"No, no problem. The stuff you sent down will be ready for delivery sunday just like we promised."

Guy sighed. "The current issue was supposed to be on the streets yesterday."

The other end was silent.

"Well?" asked Guy.

"Um, well, ya'know the boys really wanted to be home for a few days and seein' as how this was the holiday season an' all I figured 'what's the harm?'"

Guy couldn't speak for a moment. When he could his voice was tight. "So you are telling me that my bosses holiday wishes are going to arrive after the holidays?"

"Um...."

"Look, how much is ready to hit the streets? Can we put out a early edition that has most of the content? What's ready to go now."

"Um... well Alice is here. She's a doll. She's been keeping me company today, keeping things going ya' know. She's still working on a few of the ads and stuff and I think there's a couple more things over in the in-basket..."

"So in other words, not much of it is ready?"

"Um... yeah." The voice was subdued. "I mean whadda ya' expect, it's the holiday season after all. Ya' didn't want the boys to have to work did ya'?

Guy sighed. "Alright, is Seamus's front page ready? Put together whatever else is ready to go with that front page and send it out. We'll just have to release the rest when your boys get back to work."

"Right ya' are boss. Alice and I will get right on it."

Guy hung up the phone. His eyes caught the sight of the present wrapped in silver foil at the corner of his desk. Maybe he could make it over to his sister's in time for some turkey. Grabbing his coat as he got up, Guy retrieved the present and headed off for the elevators, shutting the lights off as he walked out. A light snow had started outside the window just behind Guy's desk.

((Author's Note: From the staff of Duely Noted, Happy Holidays! The current issue of Duely Noted is available at http://www.redgoblin.com/duelynoted. Or at least part of it is...the rest will be released over the next few days as soon we can possibly get it out. Sorry for any inconvenience.))