“That’s good. Arthritis is pretty bad. I had a grandmother who had it once.”
“It’s pretty bad,” agreed Richard Kuppelton.
They both paused and wondered what to say next. Kuppelton began to edge toward the gate. Murphy stood up. “Let me see that thing as soon as you get it done.”
“I certainly will.”
Mr Murphy turned to Caroline who was typing at her desk. “I’m going to be in conference for a while,” he said. “Take care of the calls, will you?”
“Yes, Mr Murphy.”
“Big conference?” asked Kuppelton when Murphy had gone.
“I don’t know,” said Caroline and she stopped typing. “They were talking about it. Something to do with policy, I think.”
Caroline got up from her desk and stretched. She had nice slim legs, Kuppelton noticed. He wondered if his mother would like her. It was important to him to have his mother like his future wife—if he ever had one. She had been wonderful about the other girls he had liked but somehow they had never been quite what she thought his wife should be. He was her favorite son and he could not disappoint her, naturally.
“I guess that leaves me out,” he said wearily, hoping she would give him some good news.