Disclaimer: I'm waiting my turn in line until I own Phil of the Future.
New Client
{BuzZ}
{BuzZ}
{BuzZ}
{click} "Li'l Danny, what'd I tell you about interrupting me?" {click}
{click} "But your Magnificence, your next appointment is early." {click}
{click} "Get in here, Li'l D, and close the door." {click}
{Slam}
"Sit down. Never send in a sucker early. It makes him think I want to do him a favor. Much better if he thinks I'm too busy to be bothered with his little tragedy. Better for me running things and better for my profit margin."
"You mean 'our' profit margin, don't you?"
"Yeah, yeah. You'll get your two-percent."
"And the sweet aroma that is Pim."
"That's not going to get you three-percent, Dawkins."
"Did I ask?"
"So, what's this sheep's story?"
"I thought we called them 'clients.'''
"On the other side of that door, they're valued customers, cash-carrying clients, but when the door is closed -"
"They're marks, suckers, wallets - gotcha."
"Good. Now, who's next?"
"New student, just arrived today. Word of mouth must be good. You want me to tell him to come back tomorrow?"
"New student. No idea what I - we charge. No, on second thought, send him right in."
"But you said -"
"I said, 'send him in.'"
"Of course, right away, Partner."
"(Sigh) What was that?"
"Pim. Right away, Pim."
"Welcome to H. G. Wells. Please, have a seat."
"I need your help."
"Everybody needs my help. I'm kind of backed up. Best I can do is eight to ten weeks. Sorry."
"But -"
"- but, please, tell me what is troubling you."
The dark-haired ninth grader eases himself back from the edge of his seat, trying to unclench muscles that tightened at the unwelcome news of having to wait so long. He wanted results fast, immediate even, and had been told to go to this girl for resolution, that she had a reputation for this - one of many.
"Licorice?" the blonde offered him from a hinged antique cigar box. Was she making an effort to be cordial?
He reached for a red whip, but refrained from committing to the act without looking into her eyes first, then the corners of her mouth. No. Reputations, remember? "Thank you, no. I'm trying to cut down." All of a sudden, he swallowed hard, noticing that a face in one of the pictures on her desk portraying her loved ones matched the one covering her dart board.
"Well, it all started like this ..."
And with those words, Pim recognized an opportunity for herself. She did have a new client with troubles, but, face it, Pim was a girl with priorities, though not transparent to her new acquintance, they were crystal clear to her.