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322 SNAKES IN SUITS
his cough as the tones went through. “Oh my God, Denise. They
didn’t!” he exclaimed, when Denise answered.
“Yes, Dave, it just happened. We don’t know why,” she said,
holding back tears.
Dave asked what she had heard, and she told him all she knew.
He had many questions and seemed to relish every detail Denise
could provide. Dave assured her that things were going to be okay
and then they hung up.
Dave breathed deeply, enjoying the fresh air, and then dialed
Jack Garrideb. “Hi, Jack. How did it go?”
“As well as could be expected,” answered Jack, wearily. “Word
will travel fast, I’m sure.”
“Yeah, Denise just called me, lots of folks in shock, apparently.
Anything about me?” asked Dave in anticipation.
“Nothing yet. I’ll have HR send you the draft announcement
about your promotion for you to review. You may want to add in
more about your background. Get it back to the communications department
by Monday. We’ll release it on Tuesday, after things quiet
down a bit.”
“Yes, certainly,” assured Dave.
Dave hung up the phone and smiled. He poured himself another
glass of wine and walked to the edge of the deck. He gazed out over
his yard and silently toasted the oak with the dead limb.
“Sometimes you just have to cut out the deadwood,” he said
aloud, taking a sip. “Life is good.”