?Some fat sweaty guy in an ugly suit was pestering me in the Marketplace, asking if I?d give you his card.?
?What, like, his credit card??
?No, his business card. Why would he wan?Nevermind. Just, here.?
That brief conversation with his wife led him to one of Rhydin?s upstart radio stations, KLIT-AM 900, for a meeting with the station?s director in regard to? well, that wasn?t exactly clear yet. He was however keenly aware of the fact that station was located on the wrong side of the tracks, so to speak. The fresh coat of white paint slapped hastily across the side of the building (undoubtedly to conceal a variety of graffiti) had already been stained by an even newer batch of obscene scribbling. The vagabonds that loitered just outside the station?s entrance afforded him a lazy stare as they looked up from their impromptu dice game, cigarette smoke hanging heavily in the air above. Still, even with second thoughts about this meeting he stepped through the door into the reception area, where he was greeted by a female clerk and ushered immediately into the station director?s office. There was another pause as Harris quite literally stood in the doorway of the office, because, well, there wasn?t actually a door on the hinges. His incredulous look was met with a nervous, seemingly apologetic chuckle from the ?fat sweaty guy in an ugly suit? that Stick described.
?I know it?s not much to look at, but it?s got real potential,? the man tried to explain as he offered Harris a seat across from him, a ragged oak desk separating the two.
?Uh huh,? Harris responded, a skeptical look given to the chair before he dusted it off and sat himself down.
?I?d just like to say, it?s a real pleasure to meet you Mr. D?Artainian. My name is Bob Selway and I run this place. Just got her up on the airwaves last week and I won?t lie, we?re in desperate need of good content. That?s why I asked your wife to give you my?? Bob stopped dead in his tracks as Harris raised his hand to interrupt him.
?Correction. That?s why you badgered my wife while she was out shopping in the Marketplace, demanding she give me your card. Contrary to what you?re probably thinking, I?m actually only here to punch you in the stomach until you vomit up every meal you had today. But I?m willing to wait until you make your pitch to do it, so I?d suggest you make it a good one.? And Harris leveled his most affable, non-threatening grin across the table.
?I, err, I apologize about that. Honestly I do,? Bob cleared his throat, loosening his tie before continuing. ?But like I said, we?re desperate for new content. And that Ringside Rewind you write is just the thing we were looking for. It?s edgy and in your face and it?d be perfect for talk radio.?
?Uhh, I understand why you?re in radio, because it?s for ugly people. But look at me,? Harris paused and leaned forward in his chair. ?Seriously. Look at me. Why would I want to be on the radio??
?Because I?d be more than willing to give you a piece of the pie. There?s no doubt you?d be the station?s main draw, and I?d be more than happy to make it worth your while by offering a share of this place. Plus, not everyone in Rhydin is literate enough to enjoy your column. But with your voice over the airwaves it?ll be accessible to a much, much larger audience.? Bob?s rebuttal had obviously been prepared well in advance to sweeten his pitch.
?Huh.? Harris squinted, features scrunching as he processed the information. ?I can set my own hours? Choose my own content? Be my own editor??
?Absolutely.? Bob rather confidently clasped his hands together on the tabletop, certain he?d be spared any violence by his newest employee at this point.
?Seems like a good deal to me, partner. With my name attached to this place my new office will have a door in no time,? Harris quipped, his grin impossibly wide.
?Your new office.? Bob repeated, shaking his head. ?Well, before you start moving in and counting your profits, there?s also the issue of a co-host. We have a very promising prospect that I think you?d have great chemistry with. She should?ve been here by now but I gues??
"I saw some homeless guy tugging it outside the building. He started going faster when he saw me walk by. I would?ve been flattered if it wasn?t for the smell,? the newly arrived Seirichi declared as she swaggered into the office.
?F*ck.? Harris muttered, holding his head in his hands.
?What, like, his credit card??
?No, his business card. Why would he wan?Nevermind. Just, here.?
That brief conversation with his wife led him to one of Rhydin?s upstart radio stations, KLIT-AM 900, for a meeting with the station?s director in regard to? well, that wasn?t exactly clear yet. He was however keenly aware of the fact that station was located on the wrong side of the tracks, so to speak. The fresh coat of white paint slapped hastily across the side of the building (undoubtedly to conceal a variety of graffiti) had already been stained by an even newer batch of obscene scribbling. The vagabonds that loitered just outside the station?s entrance afforded him a lazy stare as they looked up from their impromptu dice game, cigarette smoke hanging heavily in the air above. Still, even with second thoughts about this meeting he stepped through the door into the reception area, where he was greeted by a female clerk and ushered immediately into the station director?s office. There was another pause as Harris quite literally stood in the doorway of the office, because, well, there wasn?t actually a door on the hinges. His incredulous look was met with a nervous, seemingly apologetic chuckle from the ?fat sweaty guy in an ugly suit? that Stick described.
?I know it?s not much to look at, but it?s got real potential,? the man tried to explain as he offered Harris a seat across from him, a ragged oak desk separating the two.
?Uh huh,? Harris responded, a skeptical look given to the chair before he dusted it off and sat himself down.
?I?d just like to say, it?s a real pleasure to meet you Mr. D?Artainian. My name is Bob Selway and I run this place. Just got her up on the airwaves last week and I won?t lie, we?re in desperate need of good content. That?s why I asked your wife to give you my?? Bob stopped dead in his tracks as Harris raised his hand to interrupt him.
?Correction. That?s why you badgered my wife while she was out shopping in the Marketplace, demanding she give me your card. Contrary to what you?re probably thinking, I?m actually only here to punch you in the stomach until you vomit up every meal you had today. But I?m willing to wait until you make your pitch to do it, so I?d suggest you make it a good one.? And Harris leveled his most affable, non-threatening grin across the table.
?I, err, I apologize about that. Honestly I do,? Bob cleared his throat, loosening his tie before continuing. ?But like I said, we?re desperate for new content. And that Ringside Rewind you write is just the thing we were looking for. It?s edgy and in your face and it?d be perfect for talk radio.?
?Uhh, I understand why you?re in radio, because it?s for ugly people. But look at me,? Harris paused and leaned forward in his chair. ?Seriously. Look at me. Why would I want to be on the radio??
?Because I?d be more than willing to give you a piece of the pie. There?s no doubt you?d be the station?s main draw, and I?d be more than happy to make it worth your while by offering a share of this place. Plus, not everyone in Rhydin is literate enough to enjoy your column. But with your voice over the airwaves it?ll be accessible to a much, much larger audience.? Bob?s rebuttal had obviously been prepared well in advance to sweeten his pitch.
?Huh.? Harris squinted, features scrunching as he processed the information. ?I can set my own hours? Choose my own content? Be my own editor??
?Absolutely.? Bob rather confidently clasped his hands together on the tabletop, certain he?d be spared any violence by his newest employee at this point.
?Seems like a good deal to me, partner. With my name attached to this place my new office will have a door in no time,? Harris quipped, his grin impossibly wide.
?Your new office.? Bob repeated, shaking his head. ?Well, before you start moving in and counting your profits, there?s also the issue of a co-host. We have a very promising prospect that I think you?d have great chemistry with. She should?ve been here by now but I gues??
"I saw some homeless guy tugging it outside the building. He started going faster when he saw me walk by. I would?ve been flattered if it wasn?t for the smell,? the newly arrived Seirichi declared as she swaggered into the office.
?F*ck.? Harris muttered, holding his head in his hands.