Once Bitten, Twice Shy

He turned, starting for the living room, and then stopped. Retracing his steps to the office, he retrieved the picture. Striding back to the kitchen, he deliberately removed the caduceus magnet and centered the picture on the refrigerator door - eye level. Smiling, he anchored it with the magnet. A man could always dream.

The doorbell demanded his attention and he answered the door to find a tall young man standing in the hallway.

"So, where are you going on your vacation?" The younger man said with a big grin.

"Come in, Gerald," Alex responded dryly as he stepped aside to allow the lanky salesman into the room. "Forced vacation . . . isn't that an oxy-moron?"

Gerald walked into the room and favored Alex with a wry smile. "You're the only person I've ever known who has had to be forced to take a vacation." He strolled into the kitchen and glanced around. "Not a speck of food in sight."

Alex chuckled. "There's some sandwich stuff in the refrigerator. Help yourself."

Gerald stopped with one hand on the refrigerator door, his attention fixed on the photo.

"What's this?" he said, leaning down to examine it. "Wow!" He moved the magnet and plucked the picture from the door.

"My sister's room mate," Alex said, removing it from his hand and replacing it on the refrigerator. "What you're after is inside the refrigerator."

Gerald grinned at him. "Private stock, huh?"

"No, I've never met her."

Gerald opened the refrigerator door. "Why not? Didn't you say your sister has been asking you to visit?" He piled ham, sandwich spread, lettuce, a tomato and bread in his arms and allowed the door to shut on its own. "What are you waiting for?"

"She has a boyfriend."

Gerald piled the food on the table and looked up at Alex. "Your sister or her roommate?"

Alex pulled out a chair. "Both. Shove some of that food over here."

Gerald got a couple of plates from the cabinet and two knives. "Who'd think mighty-might would let a little thing like a boyfriend stop him." He shoved a plate and knife toward Alex and then sat down.

The nickname had been given him by three other salesmen at the office. It wasn't that he was so small. They were simply very tall - all well over six feet. Still, his tenacity was what had inspired the name, not his size.

Alex built a sandwich without responding.