Benjamin did an odd movement with the mop and groaned loudly.
“So if anyone asks, just say that it's a possibility but not a definite 'no,'” Daniel said. Daniel looked over and saw Benjamin standing and leaning against the mop in the bucket. “Don't you have vomit to mop up or something?” asked Daniel.
“That's a school janitor, Daniel. The biggest thing I'll ever have to mop up is spilled Pepsi in the break room.”
Daniel raised his eyebrows to suggest Benjamin to go but Benjamin remained. “So maybe you should go and mop up the Pepsi in the break room,” Daniel said, standing up and walking over to Benjamin. “So for the goodness of the company and the nation, you should probably get right to the break room,” Daniel put his arm around Benjamin and led him and his mop and bucket out of the office. Daniel turned back to Ann. “Your top priority now is keeping unwanted people out of my office,” Daniel said.
“Sorry, Daniel,” Ann apologized and went back to her desk.
After a couple minutes, Daniel came back out and spoke to Ann. “I'm going up to see Rod in HR because he needs sign these papers, too.”
“Okay, Daniel,” Ann acknowledged.
Daniel walked up to the HR floor and headed over to Rod's desk. “I need you to sign these,” Daniel handed the stack of papers to him.
“No,” Rod said taking the papers. “Haven't been able to talk to you much this week. Heard you have a couple of girls living with you now.”
“Yeah…my niece and my sister so it's not all it's cracked up to be. How are you doing?” Daniel asked.
“Didn't exactly have the best weekend on record. I had a scheduled colonoscopy on Saturday so the night before I had to take this powerful laxative to basically clean out my system so for most of the evening I was on the toilet trying to balance myself with the sink on one side and the bathtub edge on the other,” Rod explained. “The first wave came and just immediately knocked all the energy out of me so when the second wave came, I almost fell off the toilet. The third wave wasn't much better and when it was all over, I could barely stand up.
“At the doctor's, his nurse was trying to make me feel better so she showed me what they were going to use. It was a small tube-like camera surrounded by small little arms which made it look like a spider and she says: 'these are for ripping out any polyps we find.' Finally, they put me under and…” Rod took a good look at Daniel who had a disturbed look on his face and what probably used to be a smile. “Are you okay?”
“I suddenly don't feel so good, no,” Daniel quickly answered. “Rod, I respect your lifestyle and whatever you want to put up your ass is fine with me but I just asked how you were doing. A simple 'fine' will suffice.”
“Okay.”
“So how are you doing, Rod?” Daniel asked.
“Fine,” Rod answered and began signing the papers.
Daniel was back at his desk talking on the telephone. “So you'll come? Great! I really appreciate this Aunt Virginia. This is going to be the best Judge family barbecue ever,” Daniel smiled as Randy walked in. “Okay, I'll see you Saturday,” and Daniel hung up the phone.
“Judge family barbecue?” asked Randy, “Can I come?”
“The Judge family barbecue is a special occasion, Randy. It's no place for a law-abiding citizen.”
“So you got everyone to come?”
“No, Chris is the only holdouts and I'm gonna have Tania trick Nathan into going so it should be a rousing good time. Are you ready to go to lunch?”
“Yep, let's go,” Randy motioned but Daniel's office phone rang.
“I'm sorry, it'll be just a moment,” Daniel said and answered the phone. “Hello? Aunt Virginia, what are you…? Oh my God! Yes, yes. I'll be right there,” Daniel hung up the phone and began running out of the office.
“Daniel! What's wrong?” Randy asked.
“My Grandma's in the hospital. She had a massive heart attack!”
