UMBRELLA DAY

HAPPY UMBRELLA DAY!

by Lindariel

It was a bright, cold, sunny February day, but a storm was definitely brewing around Joe Maxwell as he stomped angrily up the steps to the DA’s office at One Hogan Place, muttering about “more continuances” and “stall tactics” and “that crooked defense attorney” the entire way. Another morning in court completely Wasted!

He was ready to proceed with the fraud racketeering case against financier Arnold Bronhiser – the evidence was rock solid, so the case was practically open and shut. But Bronhiser’s new attorney (ANOTHER new attorney) had pleaded with the judge for more time, since he had “just gotten the case that morning and had no time to prepare.” And so of course Judge Washburn bought into Bronhiser’s latest sob story and granted the defense another continuance. This left Joe with yet another round of apologies to make to the witnesses and plaintiffs who’d had to show up for what turned out to be another dog and pony show by the defense and no progress in the case.

“If this keeps up,” Joe muttered furiously in the elevator, “our witnesses could disappear or the plaintiffs could just give up and withdraw the case, and I know this guy is GUILTY!”

He stormed across the room, past interns and paralegals who quickly found something else to focus on, wrenched open the door to his office, and slammed it shut hard enough to make the glass window rattle and his dart board fall off the wall, narrowly missing his foot.

Joe dropped his briefcase on the floor and shouted, “Damn it!” at the top of his lungs, and then closed his eyes and blew out a big breath. He really needed to get hold of himself or the rest of the day would be worthless.

Coffee. Some DECENT coffee might help. And maybe some lunch. What time isit, anyway?

He opened his eyes to check the clock on his phone console only to blink in surprise. In the center of his desk was a beautifully wrapped gift – the unmistakable Barney’s New York emblem embossed in gold on the seal affixed to the froth of ribbons in the center of the long slender package. Familiar handwriting graced the attached card.

What is Radcliffe up to this time? he wondered.

First, he opened the package to discover a sturdy, wind-proof, golf-size, top-of-the- line, (extremely expensive), black Burberry umbrella – the kind that mayors, and bank presidents, and high-priced defense attorneys, and Elliott Burch-types would carry.

Why this? Why now?

Curiosity thoroughly piqued, Joe opened the card:

Dear Joe,

A friend has informed me that February 10th is Umbrella Day, and I immediately thought of you. The last umbrella you loaned me came apart at the seams when I tried to open it!* It was laid to rest in my lobby trashcan. This one should stand up to a Category 3 Hurricane. Happy Umbrella Day, Joe!

Best regards,
Cathy

Joe smiled as he unfurled and admired his pricey, new, status-symbol umbrella. Who knew an umbrella could turn a frown upside-down, he mused. I feel like I could take on the world now, and I’m definitely taking Radcliffe to lunch!

_______

*Author’s Note: To find out about Catherine’s experience with Joe’s old umbrella, check out my story here on the original Tunnel Tales: Do You Happen to Have the Time? by Lindariel.