George read the telegram:
OWING TO ILLITERATE SHIPPING CLERK IN WESTERN ELECTRONICS SHIPPING DEPT YOUR MAIL ORDER FOR PRESSURE COOKER MODEL G-19-78256D WAS FILLED BY TOP SECRET GOVT CONTRACTED PRESSURE SNOOKER MODEL X-13 WITH TOUCH COMMAND CONTROL PANEL REGRET SHIPPED TO YOU FULLY ASSEMBLED HIGHLY DANGEROUS TO LIFE LIMB PROPERTY & PASSING AIRCRAFT NOT SUITABLE FOR COOKING HEREWITH ADVISE WESTERN ELECTRONICS CORP NOT LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO LIFE LIMB PROPERTY & PASSING AIRCRAFT AFTER REGISTERED RECEIPT OF THIS TELEGRAM WESTERN SNOOKER X-13 DISMANTLING EXPERT ON WAY BY JET SUGGEST KEEP SNOOKER IN NICE COOL PLACE SORRY INCONVENIENCE CORRECTED ORDER FOR YOUR PRESSURE COOKER BEING FILLED BY NEW SHIPPING CLERK WITH COLLEGE DEGREE HOPE SERVE YOU AGAIN T C FRUMP V-P IN CHARGE OF SNAFU
George dropped the telegram.
"What are you waiting for, man?" Charlie said. "Call Rosy, will ya?"
"She won't answer," George said. "She thinks I don't love her."
"Come on! We better get home before she starts making dinner."
They ran down to the Park-O-Port.
"Ahm sorry, Mistuh Charlie," the snappy attendant said. "Caint git yuh cah now. It's on de top floh behind seven lines of cahs an dey aint comin out till five like every weekday sept Satterdays, Sunneys an holidays."
"Give him a tip and let's get a taxi," George said. He ran into the street just in time to flag a cab.
George tossed the cabbie ten dollars. "Step on it. It may be a matter of life and death."