Page 43 of Bless This Hot Mess

Carrington rose from the desk and did a slow clap, “What’s the Latin for earworm?”

“Divinum groove-um, probably,” Ronald grinned.

Carrington turned to their boss, “Emma-Lou, Trinity may be right. A new format for the morning show, some new songs could really draw in a younger, larger audience, and youknowhow important that is right now. I’m having a lot of trouble balancing the invoices and outvoices.”

Emma-Lou’s face softened as Carrington continued, “After your parents disappeared in Bermuda and you inherited the station, we’ve been a sinking ship. Sorry, that was too soon. God rest their souls.”

Emma-Lou’s eyes shimmered for a moment, but she wiped her face quickly and straightened up, “No, Carrington, you’re right. It’s time. I need to be the captain, pull up my big boss panties, and save this station, along with all the lost souls of Greater Napanee and the Land O’Lakes region.”

Japheth leaned forward eagerly, “So, is that a…yes? Does Trinity still have a show?”

Ronald crossed his arms, leaning back against the office door, still catching his breath, “And we can call our own shots? Sing what we want to sing? Jive about what’s really going on?”

Emma-Lou paused, considering, “Ifwe do this, you’ll have to grow an audience, and Suwarna will be keeping me briefed on the data.Ifwe do this, we stay true to our roots. It’s still a Christian show, and this is a Christian station on a holy mission. If I fork off that path, my parents will be spinning in their watery grave.”

“Like tadpoles in a whirlpool,” Suwarna’s voice crackled over the intercom.

Emma-Lou blinked, “Suwarna?”

The intercom buzzed again. “Yup, I’m still here. That was quite a show. It’s okay, I’m up to speed. I’ve been listening to the whole meeting on your office intercom.”

“Oh… okay,” Emma-Lou muttered.

Suwarna’s voice carried on, “As VP of Business Affairs, my perspective is thatifwe do this, we need to stick to the plan. As Programming Director, I firmly believe we need star power to survive. And having a few popular secular artists swivel their attention our way couldn’t hurt. Maybe we could snag an interview with Tom Cruise or Jonathan Taylor Thomas.”

Carrington chimed in from across the room, where they’d been staring out the window. Their eyes were bright with excitement and the opportunity to correct their superior, “They aren’t musicians, Suwarna…butI agree, Tom and JTT would be excellent studio guests.”

The intercom buzzed again, “I know you’d share my sentiment, Carrington. Listen team, we know a Hail Mary is a shot you take when you think you have nothing to lose. But we haveeverythingto lose; the radio station, my company car…”

Emma-Lou frowned, interrupting, “Wait. You have a company car?”

The intercom buzzed once more and Suwarna continued, “...and an audience of listeners in Greater Napanee and the Land O’Lakes region who may not even know we exist. And Emma-Lou’s life; that also hangs in the balance.”

Rebekkah’s eyes widened in alarm, “What?!””

Suwarna plunged forward, undeterred, “So, we need to send up onemightyprayer. And I think these three very middle-aged-looking teenagers could be our salvation. In conclusion, as Faith Facilitator at WWJD, let’s do this!”

Japheth jumped up, fists pumping, “The Trinity Radio Hour is happening? It’s happening!”

Ronald grinned, “Told you.”

The intercom crackled to life again, “Since Emma-Lou’s parents didn’t have a chance to send me to law school before they were flushed and grew tails… I should mention I think it would be prudent to stay present, stay calm, and hire a lawyer regarding your sampling versus stealing dilemma.”

Emma-Lou stood up, nodding toward the trio, “Rebekkah, Ronald, Japheth. For people I have only recently met, I am putting a lot of responsibility in your hands.”

The intercom buzzed once more, “Her life, basically.”

Carrington sighed dramatically, “And your company car!”

Emma-Lou raised her hand to cut them off, “If you can get approval from a lawyer to proceed with your Christian cover song plan, then gosh, darn-it, Iknowit’s a Hail Mary but let’s do it!”

Ronald looked confused for a moment before turning to Rebekkah, “She means a Halle Berry, right?”

A sudden knock on the door interrupted the room’s charged atmosphere.

Carrington’s head snapped up as they sniffed the air, “Rino?! What are you doing here?”

The intercom buzzed, and Suwarna’s voice filtered through, “Sorry. I buzzed him in. Emma-Lou, Rino Ferrari is here to see you.”