"If you see Charlie before they fire you," Arlene said, "tell him I left a telegram on his desk." "George," Miss Doody shrilled, her sharp pencil raised, "did you or did you not tell _me_ to go to hell?" Charlie crashed through the crowd, waving a telegram. "Look at this, George!" George read the telegram: OWING TO ILLITERATE SHIPPING CLERK IN WESTERN ELECTRONICS SHIPPING DEPT YOUR MAIL ORDER FOR PRESSURE COOKER MODEL G-19-78256D WAS FILLED BY TOP SECRET GOVT CONTRACTED PRESSURE SNOOKER MODEL X-13 WITH TOUCH COMMAND CONTROL PANEL REGRET SHIPPED TO YOU FULLY ASSEMBLED HIGHLY DANGEROUS TO LIFE LIMB PROPERTY & PASSING AIRCRAFT NOT SUITABLE FOR COOKING HEREWITH ADVISE WESTERN ELECTRONICS CORP NOT LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO LIFE LIMB PROPERTY & PASSING AIRCRAFT AFTER REGISTERED RECEIPT OF THIS TELEGRAM WESTERN SNOOKER X-13 DISMANTLING EXPERT ON WAY BY JET SUGGEST KEEP SNOOKER IN NICE COOL PLACE SORRY INCONVENIENCE CORRECTED ORDER FOR YOUR PRESSURE COOKER BEING FILLED BY NEW SHIPPING CLERK WITH COLLEGE DEGREE HOPE SERVE YOU AGAIN T C FRUMP V-P IN CHARGE OF SNAFU George dropped the telegram. "What are you waiting for, man?" Charlie said. "Call Rosy, will ya?" "She won't answer," George said. "She thinks I don't love her." "Come on! We better get home before she starts making dinner." They ran down to the Park-O-Port. "Ahm sorry, Mistuh Charlie," the snappy attendant said. "Caint git yuh cah now. It's on de top floh behind seven lines of cahs an _dey_ aint comin out till five like every weekday sept Satterdays, Sunneys an holidays." "Give him a tip and let's get a taxi," George said. He ran into the street just in time to flag a cab. George tossed the cabbie ten dollars. "Step on it. It may be a matter of life and death." "I could have called Beth," Charlie said. "We'll get there almost as fast." They zoomed through the underpass and turned onto the freeway. A cycle cop emerged from behind a Schlitz billboard and took after them, his siren wailing. "Never mind the cop," George said. The cabbie hunched forward and gripped the wheel. "Mister," he said, "I've been waiting for a chance like this." * * * * * The cop gained on them and as he came abreast George grew confused. He saw the cop's big sun glasses shining like the eyes of a wasp and his hat snapping in the wind. George had never broken the law in his life. He had a deep respect for the police, preservers of law and order. The cop motioned the cabbie to pull over. The cab zoomed over a crest on the freeway and ripped down the slope with marked increase in speed. George rolled down the window and flapped his arms. "My wife!" he yelled. The cop cut the siren. His hand went down to his holster. "My wife!" George yelled. "Pressure cooker." The cop grinned and nodded to say he understood, and roaring ahead waved them to follow. The siren started up again.