Page 97 of Babies at Coconuts

“Done,” Hannah said.

“Done? You hadn’t sent it five minutes ago.”

“Well, I have now.” Hannah beamed. “What’s next?”

Glancing at her computer, Alex frowned as she scrolled through her emails. “Did you send me a copy?”

Hannah typed a few keystrokes. “You have it now.”

Alex scanned the one-page news release. “Dammit, Hannah. You didn’t include the date of the event.”

“Oh.”

“Not ‘oh.’ Holy shit. How do you think the media would cover this without a damn date?” Alex shook her head. “Always, always play back in your mind who, what, when, where, and why before you send a press release. Don’t they teach that in your fancy marketing classes?” She couldn’t resist the jab.

“They teach way more complicated things than that.”

Alex scowled. “You need to learn the basics. Honestly, Hannah, why do you always have to argue with me?” She scanned the announcement. “My God there’s a typo in the last paragraph. Didn’t you proofread this?”

Hannah shrugged. “I rushed to try and please you before you got back.” She squinted at her iPad. “It’s a minor typo. Not that big a deal.”

“Not that big a deal?” Alex felt her face get hot. “Always proofread anything you send out multiple times. Your dad would be furious if I did this and it’ll reflect on me, regardless. Dammit.”

“Daddy never gets angry with me. Never.” Hannah gave her a pretend hurt look, undercut by a smug smile.

A vein throbbed in Alex’s forehead. “Resend the damn press release. Change the subject line to read: FINAL PRESS RELEASE— PLEASE DISREGARD EARLIER ANNOUNCEMENT. Got it?”

“Got. It. Jesus.” Hannah typed a few words and hit send.

“Did you add the date of the event and correct the typo?”

“Oops.” Hannah leaned forward showing her massive cleavage as she clicked a few more keys. “Anything else?”

Alex reread the press release from top to bottom and bottom to top. “Let me clue you in on a great way to proofread. If you start at the bottom and read backward, you’re more likely to catch errors.”

Stony faced, Hannah narrowed her eyes. “Do you want to be my English teacher or my boss?”

“I know I’m tense about this event, but I’m trying to help you. Teach you. That’s what internships are all about, right?” Alex stared at the screen, refusing to make eye contact for fear of saying something she shouldn’t.

Hannah held her hands up in surrender mode. “Okay, okay. You’ve made your point. Let me read this forward and backward.” She made the corrections. Anything else before I hit send?”

“Did you change the subject line?” Alex asked.

Head down, she typed some more. “All done.”

Feeling victorious, Alex said, “Send the edited press release to the media, every board member, employee, to Jim, and a copy to me.”

“You already have a copy.”

“Humor me.” Alex shifted in her chair. “I’d like the final, corrected copy for the file.”

Sighing, Hannah emailed the news and stretched. “I think I’ll get more coffee.”

Alex slid her cup across her desk and forced a smile. “I’d like some too.”

After Hannah left, Alex wondered if she had made a mistake. She’ll probably spit in it.

While Alex waited for her coffee, she stared out the window wishing she could fly away with two redbirds perched on a branch.

Hearing her intern return, she asked, “Where were we, Hannah?” Before she answered, Alex turned to stare at her growing email messages. “Why don’t you work in the employee lounge? I need to return a hundred emails.”

“Whatever.” Hannah grabbed her bag, shoved her iPad under her arm, and thrust her chest out in defiance. Holding her coffee in the air, she said, “Relax, boss. Everything will be fine.”

I wish I could believe her. The pit in Alex’s stomach said otherwise. She stared out the window as two of the male loan officers drove out of the bank lot. Good idea, guys. I’m leaving early to shop or get a pedicure. I’ve got to get out of this bank.

---