Note: I plan to do a story for Della and Paul like this, so keep a lookout for those. I'll start them when I can. Thank you for reading.

"Chief?"

Perry hadn't been noticing that his secretary was looking in his direction. He saw she was standing next to his desk chair.

"Yes, Della?"

"Are you all right? You looked like you were daydreaming or something."

"I was just looking back to the time when I first started working here. Time sure does fly by."

"It sure does, Perry," Della agreed.

"Have you ever looked back to the time you first became my secretary?"

"Not recently," was her answer.

"The same with me, Della."

The telephone rang. Della walked out of the office and went to her desk and answered the phone. She listened for a while so the caller would tell her why they called. A minute or so later, Della opened his door and looked in.

"Perry, you have a telephone call."

"Who is it?"

"Paul."

"I'll take it from here, Della."

"Is there anything I can do for you, Chief?"

"Not at the moment."

He watched as Della slammed the door shut once he took the call.

"Hello, Paul."

"Hello, Perry. I hope you're having a nice day."

"I am, Paul. Isn't that why you called me just to say that?"

"Of course not, Perry. I was just making conversation."

Perry let Paul say what he called for.

"Perry, would you mind if I take a few days off?"

"Why do you want time off, Paul?"

"I just came down with a cold. I don't want either of you to catch it. You seemed distracted lately."

"Della said the same thing. I'm doing fine, but I just told Della that I was looking back at the time when I opened my practice."

"I haven't looked back to that in a long time either."

"Even Della mentioned it."

"I guess a lot of time has passed on since we started that we really don't bother looking back."

What Paul just said was true.

"That's true, Paul. Yes, I will let you have enough time so you can do your best to get well and come back to work."

"Thank you for understanding, Perry. You will know when I am able to return."

"It was nice hearing from you, Paul. Hope you feel better soon."

"Thank you, Perry."

That's when the conversation ended.

Della walked in once he was putting the phone back in the cradle.

"Paul called in sick today, Della."

"Come to think of it, he didn't sound good at all. What else do you remember when you first opened this practice?"

"You can stay around if you want me to share with you."

"I'd love to hear about it."

"Have I told you this story or not?"

"I don't think so, but I'd like to hear it."

So he began.

Flashback:

After arriving home from the movies, Perry and his family drove back to their house. A few of his friends were still here in California, so they decided to throw a party for him. He didn't know about holding a party, so that was going to be a surprise. He and his parents didn't show much interest in parties, but this one happened to turn out for an occasion, and that was the only time he and his family attended parties.

Yes, his mother and father knew about the party, but they did promise not to say anything to him. They weren't going to have the graduation party the same night he went to see the picture show, so the next day seemed to be the better time to do that. The party was to start at twelve – thirty, so there was plenty of time to spend alone.

Perry wasn't asking for any gifts, so his family and friends mostly gave him money, and that was enough. The party should last for an hour as it usually did. Perry was never a morning person, so he probably sleeps until ten or so. He was told from his mother that they would have some of his friends over for an hour or so. He wasn't at any of his friend's graduation parties, so this would be a good chance to see them.

His friends who were going to throw this graduation party were Ralph, Peter, Jay, Arnold and Michael. They all agreed that holding this party would be held at Perry's. All Mrs. Mason mentioned was his friends were coming over for a while, but she left out the word 'party' of the information she gave him. When he woke the next day, he heard voices in the kitchen. One of the voices he recognized was his mother's.

His mother could be either talking to his father or talking on the phone with either family or friends, but he couldn't catch to who she was having a conversation with. He'd find out shortly. Once he got out of bed, he did his daily routine, and a few minutes later he was able to join his folks to the breakfast table in the kitchen.

"Good morning," Perry greeted them when he walked in.

"Good morning, Perry. I have something to tell you," Mrs. Mason said, getting up from her chair to give him a hug.

"What is it you would like to tell me, Mom?"

"A few of your friends are coming over at lunchtime. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course I don't. Who is coming over at what time?"

"Peter, Ralph, Michael, Jay and Arnold are. They'll only stay here for an hour or so."

"Thank you for telling me."

He didn't say anything after that.

He helped himself to breakfast.

"Is there anything we can get for you?"

"No thank you, Dad. I'm good for now."

Lunchtime arrived quickly that day. His friends came at the exact time they told his mother. Peter and Ralph were the first to show up. He was standing the closest to the door than his parents were, so he let Ralph and Peter in.

Neither of his friends showed any interest to become a doctor or lawyer. They had other ideas. Once Peter and Ralph walked in, Mr. Mason asked if he thought what practice he thought of doing.

"Attorney who helps people with their problems, so that's a public defender and I would like to have a private phone number. I am going to help defend my clients."

"That's a good pick, but you will have a lot of work to do."

"I know that, Dad."

"May I get you both anything to drink?"

"We're fine for now, Mrs. Mason," Peter answered.

When Petered answered her question, the doorbell rang a second time. Again Perry let them in. It was Jay, Arnold and Michael.

"Thank you for letting us in, Perry."

"You're welcome, Arnold. Now that we're all together, why don't we play a game or two?"

"Great idea, Perry! Any games you have in mind?"

"How about if we play checkers for starters?"

"Okay. Where do you keep your games?" Jay asked.

Ralph walked by the record player and put on a Bing Crosby album and let it start the music. Mrs. Mason found the checkers game and handed the box to his side.

"Thank you, Mom."

"You're welcome."

"Is there anything I can give you?" Mrs. Mason asked a second time.

Earlier that morning, Mr. Mason went to the grocery store to pick up a cake for the party. It was his wife's suggestion to bring a cake for today's party. He came back to the house and put the cake on the kitchen table. The cake was nothing fancy. About thirty minutes or so later, they all had the cake Mr. Mason bought home. Perry was never a fan of chocolate, so Mr. Mason bought home a cake that had white frosting.

After everyone cut a piece, the record player finished playing a Bobby Darin record. Everyone decided to take a break from music. His friends stayed a little while longer, so they would have enough time to hang out with Perry and his family. After finishing their slices of cake, Michael spoke up first.

"Thank you for inviting us over for the party, Mrs. Mason."

Michael was one of those guys who had polite manners.

"You're welcome, Michael. You're always welcome," she said.

"I know. Come on, guys, let's leave," Michael told them.

"Do you want us to let you out?"

"Not necessary, Mrs. Mason. We'll do it ourselves," Jay said.

After his friends left, Perry told his folks it was a nice surprise to have his friends stay for a while. What he just said was true.

End Flashback

"I really enjoyed the story, Perry. Thank you for a story such as this one. That story didn't sound familiar, so I do like hearing a story that was not shared."

"You're welcome, Della."