Chapter 6: Killing 96 Stones With 4 Birds

After breakfast Saturday morning, Carl explained the virus/setup problem at CCS. He said, “I have an idea, but I’m going to need Sally’s help to make it work. Also, we should get Sally’s brother Ed and his four girls here for supper tomorrow. I’ll grill some steaks and we can have pie, maybe? Let me explain my idea.”

Sally approved Carl’s plan and called Ed. “Bring some sodas the girls like, we’ll take care of the rest. The address is—”

Sally and Ed surveyed the displays at CCS. “I recommend this one, but it’s a little pricey.” “Did I not tell you about the bus district? Now which one do you have?”

“Um, they don’t sell it any more. I’ve had to modify it to try and keep up.” “Would Cecie be able to use it?” “I’m sure she could—hey, what’s going on?”

“Carl Watson, I’m taking you to the next level, so you can manage my global empire of retired pedagogues. We need a backup drive. WiFi and Broadband are coming in a few days. Oh, and one more, Ed needs a good laptop so he can crush his enemies and endure the lamentations of his daughters. Now, here’s my card. Write this all up and get me out of this wretched hive of scum and villainy.”

At 4:30 on Sunday afternoon, Ed pulled up in his van, and his four daughters extracted themselves. Following instructions, they moved around back to Sally’s patio. “Carl, Cecie, this is my brother Ed, and his daughters: Helen, Teresa, Marianne, and Lisa. They probably forgot I’m a retired school principal. Oh, stop that!” All four girls were cowering, and made crosses of their index fingers to ward off the evil eye. “No pie for you!” snarled Sally. And then they were all laughing.

Cecie spoke up: “Carl Watson is one of my regular customers at the diner, and rents the unit downstairs. I’ve become his girlfriend and we live together now.”

Carl added, “I work at the Cyber City Store. So tell me, Ed do you and your girls have any plans for the summer?” Ed shook his head. “No, we’re on a tight budget.” “I have an idea, then, for the girls you all might like.”

Carl described the manufacturer’s virus problems. “So, I have 96 of these misfires left to fix, and I need help. So, you four girls are going to work for me, and in exchange Sally will buy you new laptop computers when you all finish. Any of you that finish early can help me fix customers’ returned machines, and you can collect my service fees for that work. What do you all think? Ed?”

“Hmm. I’ll defer until after the girls. Helen?”

“So we each have 24 machines to do? How long for each one?” “To start, maybe 90 minutes. By the end, maybe 60.” “OK, 96 times 75 is, Marianne?”

“That’s 7,200 minutes, which is 120 hours, easy. Divided by four sisters, it’s 30 hours each.”

“I can do that standing on my head,” said Teresa. “But you’re wearing a skirt!” observed Lisa. “More blood to my brain that way. I’m in.” All the sisters approved, too. Ed: “If you all wear pants, I will agree, and thank you.” “Here’s my CCS business card. Please meet me there Tuesday morning at 10:00.”

Sally: “Wonderful, Marianne, can you slice the pie?” “OK, seven slices. Lisa can’t eat pie, we just found out she has diabetes.” “I’m sorry, Lisa, I could make you something else.”

“Thank you, Aunt Sally, but no. I’m fine. I don’t want to get all fat like Cecie!” Lisa took off laughing. Cecie scowled at her retreating backside, which (truth be told) wasn’t all that small. Carl seized the opportunity to embrace Cecie, saying, “She’s crazy. You’re so light and wispy, I have to keep hold of you always.”

“Shut up and kiss me, you goofball.” Ed rolled his eyes while his girls laughed.

After they finished off the pie, Ed spoke up. “Help me with dishes, T., it’s your night anyway.” “Yes, Dad.”