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3
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Ed woke up the next morning, a throbbing in his head. He reached up, felt the bruised area and winced. Finally, he opened his eyes, and was surprised to find himself not in his bed, but on the living room floor.
He slowly got up and made his way into the bedroom. He looked at Kathy who was asleep in the bed and groaned. "What happened?" He asked, hunching down over her.
Kathy opened her eyes to see Ed staring at her. The bruise on his head looked as though it had worsened overnight. She let out a sad sigh, pulled his head close to hers and began to stroke the bruise softly. "You don't remember? Oh, you were all worked up because that guy, Broccoli, was supposed to call you or something like that."
Ed's eyes widened. "His name is Brinkley. Howard Brinkley," He paused, pulled his head away from her and looked at his watch. "Aw, why didn't you wake me? He could've called while I was out! He could've called and... and... and when no one answered, decided that he'd move on to the next director and then give me a bad reputation-- well, I already have one of those but-- Kathyyy!" He whined.
Kathy got out of bed and crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't want to hear any more about this guy. He's making you crazy."
"But-But-But--"
Kathy placed a finger over Ed's mouth, silencing him. Then she removed it.
Ed sighed. "I suppose you're right. You always are. And that's why I love you," He said, taking her into his arms and kissing her firmly on the mouth.
She smiled and pulled out of his arms. "I'll go make breakfast," She said, walked out of the bedroom and to the kitchen.
"Sure thing," Ed replied after her. He went over to the closet, grabbed his blonde wig from off the shelf, and walked out of the bedroom as well and into the living room.
He sat down on the chair that was next to the phone table and put on his wig. He placed an arm on the table and impatiently began tapping his fingers in unison along its wood surface. As he did so, he stared at the phone.
Shortly, Kathy called out "Breakfast is ready, Ed!"
Having fallen back into his trance while staring at the phone, he did not hear her.
Kathy waited a minute, then peeked her head out of the kitchen doorway and called once again, "Ed?" She looked around the living room, wondering why Ed was not coming to the kitchen, then saw him sitting in the chair, focusing grandly on the inanimate phone.
"ED!" Kathy yelled, coming into the living room and walking right up to his chair. His eyes never left the phone. "Ed, I thought we agreed that there would be no more of this phone business. Now, there's a nice big breakfast waiting for you on the table. You'd better come before it gets cold."
Ed continued to stare at the phone. "Fine. I'll have to do this the hard way, then." She grabbed his hand and tried to pull him out of the chair, but just as the other day, she was unsuccessful now as well.
She let out a long frustrated growl. "I give up," She said, and returned to the kitchen.
As though nothing had happened, Ed continued to stare at the phone.