Page 36 - Unlikely Stories 5

The Robert N. Hood Foundation

From Fantastic Transactions, volume 3 (2006)

The telephone repairman rapped on the door identified by a
polished brass plate as the portal to ‘Executive Director.’
In reply through an intercom on the untenanted executive
assistant’s workstation a firm masculine voice uttered, “Come in!”
Opening the heavy hardwood door the Klaxon Communications
Technical Services Representative made a vestigial version of
touching his forelock with one hand while pointing to his photo ID
badge with the other. Its yellowed laminated surface tied the face to
Norman Lord, a loyal employee since 1992.
“Sorry to bother you, sir. I have a work order for this office. The
secretary, Miss Ward, wasn’t out there. I guess it’s her lunch break.”
“Right you are, ah—Norman. I’m just leaving, too, so this is an
excellent opportunity to fix whatever is wrong with this line.” The
sandy-haired man behind the desk, attired in dark brown business
suit, beige shirt and green striped tie, stood up, pointing to one of the
phones. It was evidently a personal line, unconnected to the multi-
button instrument beside it. A chrome intaglio prism in front of his
computer read ‘Robert N. Hood.’
“I see,” said the repairman, reaching for the tester’s handset
hanging on his tool belt. “What seems to be the problem, sir?”
“How would I know? That’s your job. I can tell you the symptoms:
a strange hissing sound, occasional echoes and crackling. Maybe
there’s water in the basement rotting the wires. Now I have an
important donor to meet at my club. I trust this will be fixed when I
return. Klaxon has given us good service in the past.”
“Oh, certainly, sir. It doesn’t sound like I’ll have to trace it too far.
The problem is probably right in this room.”
“Whatever you say.” The door closed behind the departing
executive.
The telephone man stood motionless for half a minute, listening to
the muffled sounds of a voice issuing farewells and an outer door
closing. Then he checked his watch and stood straighter, all

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