Author's Note: A recent viewing of the Love Boat episode which includes the story "Bricker's Boy" reminded me just how much I loved the character of Mickey Trotter on Dallas.
"Don't let it be forgot,
that once there was a spot,
for one brief, shining moment
that was known as Camelot."
–Alan Jay Lerner
Disclaimer: If I owned any of this, I wouldn't hardly be writing fanfiction about it.
Contrary to his expectation, Mickey Trotter was finding that the death of his drunken and useless Uncle Amos Krebbs was indeed a cause for grief.
A cause for his boss to give him grief, that is.
"I thought you didn't like the old man." Tim Reilly pointed out in response to the young man's request for the morning off to attend the funeral.
"I didn't." Mickey agreed, flatly. He knew he needed to be polite, that he was asking for a favor Reilly didn't have to grant, but shame, as always, goaded him into sarcasm. "But it beats working."
In fact, it didn't. He had zero desire to spend a morning in church, piously listening to tripe about the salvation that old reprobate had surely not obtained, but if he didn't show, Mom would hound him to his own grave about his lack of family solidarity.
Solidarity with Amos Krebbs. He almost wished Reilly would say no.
Mickey's boss, however, knew him well enough to see through his disrespectful tone to the discomfort that lay beneath, and to guess the true reason behind the request, and it was not just to get out of a morning's work.
He still hadn't told his mother he was working here.
And why.
"Will there be a lunch after?" Reilly asked.
Mickey laughed. "For Amos Krebbs? No."
The boss sighed. "All right, you can go. But I want you back here as soon as it's over." As Mickey nodded and turned away, Reilly added quickly, "Make sure you bring me back a prayer card."
Mickey turned back to stare at him. Reilly couldn't possibly believe he was lying about Amos being dead. For pity's sake! Reilly's daughter had been one of his nurses!
Reilly winked in response to the bleak look in his reluctant employee's eyes. "Might wanna have a mass or two said for him. Can't think of anyone who could use it more."