Free Famous Last Words by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski Page B

heard from Michael. I waited for him all day yesterday, but he never came in. I’ve been dying to find out what happened on Monday when he confronted the mayor about Sy Goldberg being his coffee-shop partner.
    “What do you mean?”
    “Michael has kidney stones.”
    “Is it serious?”
    “To Michael. They’re a bitch to pass.”
    “Pass? Huh? Is he going to call in again?”
    “Why?”
    “I want to find out what happened at city hall yesterday.”
    “Tell Harry you want to talk to Michael when he calls.”
    “Good idea.”
    I do a quick check of Harry’s hair. When he’s stressed, Harry runs both hands through his curly locks like he’s rinsing shampoo. When he takes his hands out, his hair stays put at the new, higher elevation. Looks like I’m in the clear. I walk to the city desk, where’s he’s sitting in front of a computer.
    “Uh, Harry?”
    “D’Angelo.”
    “If Michael calls in today, can I speak to him?”
    “Sure,” he says without looking away from whatever he’s reading.
    “Thanks.”
    That was easy. May as well go for it.
    “Harry?”
    “D’Angelo.”
    “Meg mentioned to me that you sometimes need people to fill in for vacationing reporters.”
    “Yep.”
    “Well, uh, I was wondering, when Michael goes away this summer, do you think maybe…”
    “Spit it out, D’Angelo.”
    I say it so fast, my words blur together. “Do you think Icouldcoverforhim?”
    This gets his attention. He looks up at me.
    “Say that again?”
    “Do you think I could cover for him?”
    “You do know it’s one of our most important beats?”
    “I do. But I’ve been doing research, and I even tried to help Michael by visiting the coffee shop, and—”
    “You’re not the first intern to call dibs on Michael’s beat, you know.”
    “I’m not?” Did AJ ask Harry about it?
    “But it’s possible you’re more qualified than the other applicant. I’ll think about it.”
    I’m beaming. “You will?”
    “I just said so, didn’t I? Now get back to work. I can find some filing cabinets for you to clean if we’re not keeping you busy enough.”
    “I’m good, thanks.”
    I scurry back to the death desk before he makes good on his threat.
    “Hey,” I say to AJ. “Did you ask Harry about covering for Michael this summer?”
    “Why the heck would I do that?”
    “Just checking. I asked Harry about it. He said another intern was also interested. I wouldn’t want to stand in your way.”
    “It’s either Coma Boy or the sports intern.”
    Of all the ways I’ve envisioned Tony, “the competition” wasn’t on the list.
    Late in the afternoon, I get a text from Shelby alluding to the fact that I never called her back yesterday.
    Forget something?
    I pick up the phone and call her.
    “Nice of you to remember your best friend.”
    “Sorry, I forgot.”
    “So. Can you go out tonight ?”
    Do I feel like going out with Shelby? I’m about to answer when Harry screams my name and points to the phone receiver in his hand.
    “Gotta run. Call you back.”
    I hang up on Shelby to free my line.
    “I’ve got Michael,” Harry says. He transfers the call, and my phone rings a second later.
    “Michael, how are you?”
    “Awful. I’ll be better once I pass these things,” he says. Pass these things. I’m not completely clear about what that means, but it doesn’t sound good.
    “How’d it go at city hall on Monday?”
    “I never got there. The pain hit on the ride over.”
    I’m disappointed. It’s too bad about the kidney stones and all, but still, I was looking forward to hearing all about it.
    “But I did call the mayor this morning,” Michael says.
    “That’s great! What happened?”
    “I asked him how Sy, his new business partner , is doing. And he says, ‘Not good. I’m going to see him after work.’”
    “Where? Is Sy in the hospital?” I ask.
    “That’s what I asked him. He said it was none of my business and hung up on me.”
    “What are you going to do?”
    “I’m