Max and 99 went into the Chief's office. It was close to 5:00PM. They said their hellos.
"You wanted to see us, Chief?"
"Yes, 99. I would like the two of you to turn in your shoe phones.:"
"Turn in our shoe phones?," they said together.
"That's right. You see, with cell phones becoming more popular, CONTROL has decided that the shoe phone has become obsolete. Therefore, they have asked us to turn them in."
"How sad! I've had one for over 30 years!"
"I know, Max. Yours was one of the first models."
"What about the other different phones in use?," 99 asked.
"They'll be kept in use, for the time being; however, they will eventually be phased out, as well. OK, turn in your shoe phones, please."
"Can we keep them?," asked Max.
"Sorry, no—security reasons."
They took their shoes off. 99 gave him hers.
"I must admit, I often felt a little silly taking my shoe off to make a phone call!," she said.
"Other female agents have mentioned that. Max?"
He looked at his shoes, one last time. "Goodbye, shoe phone. You have helped me out of many a scrape." He gave his shoes to the Chief. "Oh, do we get replacement shoes?"
"Sorry, no. CONTROL's budget is a little tight.
"You mean I'll have to go back to our car barefooted?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry about that, 99! That's why I waited until the end of the day to do this."
"99, let's go home and put on some other shoes. Then we can go to that new restaurant—the Winery, is it?"
"Oh, you mean the Vineyard."
"Oh, yes!"
She smiled. "That would be very nice, Max!"
The Chief also smiled. "Have a nice dinner, you two!"
They got up and left—Max in his socks, and 99 barefooted!