Aint too proud to beg

I… Esteban swallowed hard. We… Carmelita and me… we were so sorry to hear about Miss Margot.

Be

Thank you. Be

Oh! Estebans eyes lit up. Excellent, Mr. Cummings. Thank you. Rodrigo, our oldest, is in his second year at the Rhode Island School of Design.

Hes getting straight As.

How fabulous, Be

Estebans eyes went wider. The man was obviously growing suspicious of the conversation, since Be

Computer animation, Esteban said, shifting his weight awkwardly, then shrugging. You knowcartoons.

Of course. Wonderful. Be

Estebans eyes narrowed. He shoved his ball cap into the front pocket of his jeans and motioned for Be

His head groundskeeper took a seat across from him, and Be

Esteban, I appreciate all your years of service.

The gardener fell back against the chair. Youre firing me.

No! No! Be

Esteban put his palms flat on the surface of the table, his face losing much of its earlier friendliness. What, then, can I do for you, Mr.

Cummings?

Be

I want your car, Esteban.

For a second, the mans face was blank. Then it lit up with amusement and he laughed. The /Buick/?

Yes.

But He stopped laughing. I hadnt really thought about selling the Buick, Mr. Cummings. Me and Carmelita are still using it because we gave our Jeep to Rodrigo, you know, to take to school.

Be

Estebans mouth turned to stone. He blinked. His shoulders went rigid. Why?

Be

Twenty-six years, Mr. Cummings, Esteban said.

Exactly.

And then what?

You put your Buick in Bay Number 6 and forget about it. You never even notice if its no longer there.

Esteban said nothing. He made no move toward the title. His eyes stayed focused on his employers face. The Escalade plus ten thousand dollars in cash, his groundskeeper said, his voice as flat as the tabletop. Trini, our daughter, is going to college next year. She got accepted to Prince ton. The money would come in handy.

Be

Esteban got up from the straight-backed chair and walked to the pegboard near the door. He snagged a key ring dangling from the top left hook, then came back and tossed it onto the table. You have to jiggle the shift when you put it in reverse, he said.

Be

AndIm not going to lie to you, Mr. Cummingsit needs a new alternator.

Doesnt matter.

Esteban looked down on his boss, smirking. The gardener picked up the paperwork, sca

Two hours for the cash, right? Esteban asked.

Actually, I said three hours.

Make it two.

Be

Will you already be gone?

Be

Get well soon, then, Mr. Cummings. Esteban waited till he got a few yards away and added, And have a safe trip.

Oh, I guess I just fell asleep reading, Josie said aloud, pulling into the first parking spot she found near Dolores Park. No. She didnt like the way that excuse soundedtoo flippant.

Drinks were /last/ night? Oh, my God! I thought it was /next/ week we were getting together! No, she hated how snooty that one sounded, like she had so many obligations that she couldnt keep track. Besides, no one with an iPhone could get away with that, not when alarms were going off every fifteen minutes to remind you to call your mother, or stop off at the grocery after work, or to start your period every fourth Sunday.

Josie cleared her throat and gave this one a try: I am so sorry. I should have called you guys. I think I got food poisoning from a bad batch of eggplant.

Yuck. Besides, her recipe had a bad enough rep as it was.

With a sigh, Josie got out of her Honda CR-V and fetched Genghis from the back, hoping a perfect excuse would come to her spontaneously. She spied Bea and Ginger waiting at the top of the hill, and prayed her spontaneity would be the instant kind.

This is ridiculous, she mumbled to herself, gathering up the leash. Shed just tell them the truth. Sure, theyd be hurt and angry, but theyd get over it. Eventually her friends would have to be happy for her.

Suddenly, Roxie was at her side, joining her for the walk up the hill.

Genghis tried to give Lilith a friendly sniff but the muzzled she-devil growled.

Morning, Rox. How are you?

There was no response. Josie peered closer into her friends face, her chances of getting any information severely reduced by the oversized dark sunglasses.

Rox? You okay?

By that time, Ginger and Bea had reached them at the hills halfway point. With a shaky hand, Roxie ripped off her sunglasses to show them that, no, everything was not okay.

The papers going to fire me, she said, her lips trembling.

What? Ginger put a hand on Roxies arm. Why? Thats ridiculous! Youre one of the best reporters we have! Are we into another round of newsroom layoffs?

Roxie shook her head. Ke

Just ignore the little weenie, Bea advised.

Roxie shook her head and choked back tears. Ke

Josies eyes went wide. Really? When did that happen?

Roxie shrugged. Last month. Ke

How? Ginger asked.

You knoweveryone on staff agrees not to work for a competing media outlet, and thats what they think Im doing.