Page 53 of Bless This Hot Mess

The line went quiet for a moment.

Emma-Lou’s voice returned, softened with what sounded like cautious relief or perhaps resignation, “Well, I’m glad we have legal clearance. But remember, thismustwork, you guys. If you believe in you, then I believe in you, too. No pressure.”

“None taken!” Japheth said cheerily. “I mean, pressure just makes diamonds, right?”

“Or it bursts pipes,” Carrington interjected dryly.

“We’re the diamond type,” Japheth assured, his voice full of confidence.

Emma-Lou allowed herself a laugh, and her voice was coloured with more hope than resignation, “Okay, Trinity. I’ll call the radio station’s lawyer, and we’ll get the paperwork for your contracts ready.”

Carrington’s voice followed with a mischievous tone, “And for the record, I’d like your lawyer’s number, too, for my Rolodex. You know, just in case we need further… representation.”

“Consider it done,” Japheth earnestly nodded into the phone. “Hold on, Rebekkah is tugging my sleeve.”

“Hi all, it’s Rebekkah again!” she said excitedly. “Here’s what we’re thinking for the Trinity Radio Hour. We’ll feature borrowed music, banter, and real-life stuff, like the brazen adventures of our throuple that’s no longer a couple.”

Japheth quickly grabbed the phone back from Rebekkah, his voice a little more composed, “But be not afraid! As we take the radio waves by storm, gathering the lambs to His flock, we’re gonna be broadcaster friendly, too.”

Before Japheth could continue, Ronald grabbed the phone from him, a wide smile playing on his lips, “Hi gang, Ronnie here. The only F-bomb Trinity will be dropping isfaith, all over the good people of the Land O’Lakes region. And Japheth is gonna consummate it all with Micah, Esquire.”

There was a pause on the line before Emma-Lou spoke again, she sounded relieved and there was almost a chuckle in her voice, “This all sounds very promising. New music, young DJs…”

“Mmm…” Carrington hummed thoughtfully, like there was a correction on the tip of their tongue.

Emma-Lou continued, “YoungerDJs than we’ve had, which will rope in the next generation of listeners and attract some new advertisers. I think the Ferraris will be pleased.”

The intercom buzzed and Suwarna’s voice chimed in again, “And WWJD will still have a CEO. Lots to be grateful for. Good work, everyone. Trinity? We’re going to huddle here and decide a day and time to launch your radio hour and announce the winners of the1999 Not Short on Talenttalent show. How soon can you be ready?”

There was another scuffle, as Rebekkah quickly took the phone from Ronald once more, “Rebekkah reporting. We’ll have to pick songs, rewrite those songs, think of a colour story for our outfits, get our hair high and low-lighted… mmm, maybe within a month?”

Carrington’s voice cut in sharply, “You don’t have a month!”

“Oh,” Rebekkah whispered, deflating slightly.

The intercom buzzed again, and Suwarna’s voice returned, calm but firm, “We’re talking days. You all met Rino Ferrari? You saw the size of his last drop. He’s gonna pull up to the station to unload once, sometimes twice a week. And his loads aren’t going to get any lighter. We need to launch the Trinity Radio Hour yesterday.”

Emma-Lou, sounding more focused than ever, added, “But more likely and realistically in a few days from now.”

“Two or three tops,” Carrington clarified. “We’ll call you, and when we do, it’ll be game time. Do you all have cell phones?”

Rebekkah nodded, then realized they couldn’t see her, “Japheth has a Motorola Razr flip phone. Is that something Ronald and I could have, too? For work?”

There was a brief pause before Suwarna responded, “Perhaps. That will be based on performance. But for now, stick close to your landlines and wait for our call.”

There was another commotion as Japheth took the phone back from Rebekkah, his tone more serious, “Should I plan to camp out at the station in case Rino drops by? Will he expect me to be his bag boy every time?”

The intercom buzzed again, and both Suwarna and Carrington answered on top of each other, “I’ll receive him! /No, I’ll receive him!”

Carrington’s voice prevailed, “Japheth, don’t worry, we’ve got it handled. You three need to be together.”

Emma-Lou agreed, her voice resolute, “You need to plan an incredible first show.”

“And you need to wait for our call,” Suwarna finished firmly.

CLICK.

Ronald leaned back on his heels, a slow grin spreading across his face, “Well, that went well!”