The phone calls had started the minute Michelle's plane touched down in Los Angeles. They came two a day without fail, the first shortly after Michelle arrived at work, the second shorty before she would leave. The situation was making everyone at the office crazy since Michelle would tell them nothing. This left them to speculate about the voice on the other end of the line. Who was he? What did he want? Why Michelle? How could he afford all those calls?
Tammy entered the offices of Cooperative Charities to find a gathering just outside of Michelle's area. The door was closed and the employees were standing just off to the side so not to have their shadows seen through the frosted glass window. The low murmur of two voices inside the office could be heard but not what was being said. "What's going on?" Tammy inquired.
"Shhh!!!" Sheila waved her hands almost frantically.
"Okay." Tammy nodded. "What's going on?" she repeated in a whisper.
"He's in there," Wendy answered.
Tammy looked blank. "Who's in there?"
Lorie stepped forward. "You know that guy who's been calling twice a day for the past nine months? Well, he's in her office with her."
"With the door closed," Wendy put in.
Tammy folded her arms. "So this is why charity events in this community come to a halt?" There was a pause. "Okay, what's he look like?" Her curiosity was just as bad as everyone else's.
"He's gorgeous," Danielle said. Then added smugly, "I don't know what he wants with her."
"He's just a kid," Lorie told them.
Inside her office Michelle had her attention divided between editing some copy and listening the Freddie whose mouth had been non stop since he sat. Every once in a while she would look toward her door thinking she had heard something. Finally she rose from her chair. The movement caused Freddie to stop mid sentence. Michelle quickly indicated for him to keep talking as she went to the door and yanked it open startling the women on the other side. "Why are we all whispering?" she asked speaking softly herself. Five pairs of eyes stared at her in surprise as Lorie led the hems and haws. "I should think you could all find something better to do especially since this is our busy season... remember Chanukah and Christmas." She made a shooing motion with her hands dismissing them. She shook her head at Tammy. "You should know better." Tammy shrugged and walked away.
Michelle stepped back into her office closing the door. She turned to see Freddie's big brown eyes on her.
"I don't think your co-workers like me."
Michelle sat on the corner of her desk. "What makes you say that?"
"The burn holes in the back of my head." There was a pause. "Well, I know they think I'm a pest."
Michelle folded her arms. "You are a pest," she joked.
"Yeah," Freddie agreed. "But I'm your pest, not theirs."
Michelle rose from the edge of the desk and gave Freddie's shoulder a squeeze. "Bet things will look different tomorrow."
Later that night Lorie was leaning back in her bed watching television. She simply could not sleep without watching Johnny Carson. She was only half listening, though when Carson began introducing "a new, young comedian.....Please make him feel welcome......Freddie Prinze." Yeah, Lorie thought. Never heard of him.
But when she got a good look at him she sat upright. "Oh... my....stars!" Still staring at the set she fumbled for the phone on the nightstand. Somehow she managed to dial a number. "Sheila, are you watching The Tonight Show? Well, change channels. Just do it." Lorie was practically frantic. "Look. It's him. The guy from Michelle's office today.... I know. You call Danielle. I'll call Wendy. Then call me back." And they told two friends and so on and so on.
Near the end of the routine Lorie's phone rang. "Sheila? Can you believe it? Listen to the audience. **Can you hear the laughter? Oh, my G-d Johnny's inviting him to sit down. Why didn't Michelle tell us?"
The next morning when Freddie entered the Cooperative Charities area he was greeted by the giddiest people he'd ever seen.
"Hi, Freddie. " Danielle batted her eyes.
Freddie looked slightly puzzled. "Is Michelle in yet?"
All of the sudden Wendy was at his side. "Anything we can get you?"
"Yeah. Michelle," he told them. "Is she in her office?"
Lorie joined them. "She's here."
"I'll be happy to take you there," Sheila piped in.
Freddie backed away. "I know where it is."
The women followed him to the edge of the reception area where they heard Tammy tell them to get back to work.
Michelle leaned over the front of her desk studying a set of sketches. Freddie came up behind her and looked over her shoulder. "If they really want that big dreidel hanging from the ceiling you ought to make it a pinata."
Even though she had not noticed him enter she wasn't startled. When she turned to face him he was looking out her office door. "What's the matter?"
"You know I'm not sure they like me but they sure are treating me different than yesterday."
Michelle laughed slightly. "My guess is they saw you on The Tonight Show."
"So, they're being nice to me 'cause I met Sammy Davis, Jr."
Michelle laughed again. "Something like that."
"I know you were at the taping but you did watch it later didn't you?"
"Yes. Mike and I watched it. Looks different in one's living-room as opposed to the green room. By the way, we're both very proud of you."
There was a moment of silence as Freddie let that statement sink in. Then Michelle glanced back to her sketches. Freddie looked toward the door. "So, what should I do about them?"
Michelle looked up "Are you off or on?"
"Huh?"
"I think you have a small switch located just above your heart." He watched her as she tapped his chest lightly. " Flip it and you can go out there and be the person they expect to see. Or leave it off and have a seat."
"What do you think I should do?"
"Whatever you want," Michelle told him earnestly. "It's your choice."
Freddie studied her for a moment then looked to the door again. Looking back to Michelle he flipped the imaginary switch and made a clicking sound with his tongue. "What the heck? I might as well leave them with something to talk about." He started out the door then turned back. "Michelle?" She met his eyes. "Thanks. Not just for showing me my switch. See I love knowing that there's a place I can go to when I have it off."
Michelle shrugged. "You'll always have that." Another moment of silent communication passed between them then Freddie left the office. Michelle heard him in the reception area repeating material from the previous night. She smiled to herself, then thought for a minute. She picked up her phone and dialed. "Hi, Marco, it's Michelle Stoker. By any chance do you know anyone who makes pinatas?"
*To read about their wedding visit the main Stoker site.
**And, yes, I know and it's not a compliment.