A Perfect Day Read Online Free PDF Page A

usually ate alone or brought my lunch back to the station, today I sat across the table from Mark Platt. Platt had joined KBOX three years after me and was my closest friend at the station. He was younger than me, not yet thirty, tall with an athletic build. He had the largest hands I had ever seen.
    “I thought you had a lunch appointment today,” Mark said, sandwich visible in his mouth.
    “So did I. Ellis cancelled. He said he had a crisis.”
    “What kind of crisis?”
    “Of character.” I lifted a chip, rubbing the salt off of it between my fingers. “He’s lying. He really just didn’t want to tell me to my face that they’ve spent their entire fall budget on KISN.”
    “You know that?”
    “I heard it from one of the KISN reps. I’ll bet you lunch that I have an e-mail from him when I get back to the station.”
    “That’s gotta hurt.”
    “Road rash hurts. This is excruciating. I tell you this isn’t my week. First I lost Kinko’s, now Kyoto. That last Arbitron was a killer. If our ratings fall any more we’re going to have to start paying people to listen.”
    “We already are.”
    “I just hope these slicky-boy consultants Stu’s bringing in have some magic up their sleeves.”
    Mark frowned. “I don’t know why he wasted the money on them—I can tell you what they’re going to say. First they’re going to tell us to ax the PD and buy canned, market-tested music. Then dump the morning show and bring in some syndicated program like Imus . It’s the way of the beast. In ten years there will be only one big radio station in America.”
    “If that’s what it takes.”
    “You mercenary. These consultants are turning the industry to pabulum. Radio used to be interesting. Now it’s the McDonald’s of media.”
    “McDonald’s is profitable.”
    “But how many Big Macs can you eat before you swear off hamburgers?”
    My mouth rose in a half smile. “Is that a Zen question: like how many angels can fit on the head of a pin?”
    “Something like that.” He leaned forward. “So level with me, Rob. Did you get it?”
    “It?”
    “You know.”
    I raised one eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”
    “C’mon. Doug’s job. Word around the station is that Stuart’s called a meeting with you.”
    “He did. But who knows what he wants?”
    “Everyone assumes you’re taking his place. Why do you think I’ve been so nice to you lately?”
    I laughed. “I’m hoping. I’ve been working my tail off for the last six months—staying late, working promotions on the weekend, everything.”
    “I’ve noticed.”
    “I just hope Stu has.” I took a bite of my sandwich. “The weird thing is, I never thought that I would be at the station this long. This has been the longest temporary job in history.”
    “Welcome to life, pal. I was only going to hang out with Becca for kicks. I’m still trying to figure out how I ended up married.”
    “I’m sure she’s wondering the same thing.”
    “I’m sure she is. Speaking of the devil, Becca wanted to know if Carson could come over sometime and play with Madison.”
    “Of course. I’ll have my people call your people.” I finished my sandwich then found a napkin to wipe my mouth. “So ten years ago where did you think you’d be now?”
    “Ten years ago? I thought I’d be a millionaire football player with a bad back and a Ferrari.”
    “You played football?”
    “Did I play football?” he repeated as if the question ranked high in the stratosphere of stupidity. “Don’t you ever read the sports page? I was an all-American. I started as a receiver for BYU my sophomore year. I can’t believe you’ve known me for so long and didn’t know this.”
    “Sorry, I don’t follow college football. Never have. So what happened to derail your career?”
    “I tore a tendon the second game my junior year. Against Air Force. I never got my speed back.”
    “Bummer,” I said, though it sounded ridiculous.
    “Yeah, all I got from that gig