“Do you have a minute?” the caller asked.
“Only one,” I said. “We’re on deadline and running behind.”
“I’ll be brief,” she said. “Mary Ellen is sick and tonight’s meeting has been moved to Shirley’s house.”
“What’s wrong with Mary Ellen?” I asked. “She was in the middle of preparing food for our meeting and that stomach bug just jumped on her with all four feet. She threw up in the kitchen garbage ca…