His appointment was for four o’clock. David Balfour opened the door that advertised itself in gold letters against the dark mahogany door: Ebe Balfour. The brass doorknob was round and oversized. He needed a little push to open the door as it was set with a very heavy hinge spring. Once inside, David proceeded to the young blonde, blue-eyed secretary, Mary Lou Sue Palmer.

“I have a four o’clock appointment with Mr. Balfour,” said David to Mary Lou Sue. The gatekeeper to the regional sales manager turned off her I-pod, removed the ear buds, and picked up her smart phone.

Then she slid the gum she was chewing to the side of her mouth with her tongue and replied, “Oh, yeaaah. You’re down all right. I’ll text Mr. Balfour and let him know.”