Chapter 64
If Margaret, Darlene or Donna have appeared a little tired, if they’ve given you a blank stare when spoken to, or if they’ve fallen asleep in the middle of a conversation, just bear with them.
It’s a newspaper syndrome brought on by the arrival of new equipment at the office and also of trying to teach me not only to run the machines, but to also learn to put a newspaper together.
I think they’re all about to agree with the adage about old dogs and new tricks.
The other machine resembles a robot without legs and is called a Trendsetter.
This little jewel films the material which has been put on the disk from the MDT.
The whole time it’s working it makes these “outer space” noises.
I’ve often been tempted to press a whole bunch of buttons like the mother did on “The Jetsons” and see if the Trendsetter would shove out a plate of food!
But those machines haven’t caused nearly the confusion that Donna did the day she asked about doing something with fonts.
I didn’t know what to do with them. I tried to remember if I’d seen any of those little packages of ketchup from the Sonic laying around.
If we had to eat fonts I figured I could stand it with a heavy coat of ketchup!
Then I thought maybe we were going to wash them—after all font is a four-letter word and sounded dirty enough to wash.
The next day, after I’d consulted with Mr. Webster and found out that fonts are assortments of type of one size, I felt right smart.
They were putting the stories on this layout paper that’s the size of a newspaper page and covered with little blue lines—kinda reminded me of varicose veins!
Anyway, Margaret came by and told Darlene that she needed a little air on her layout.
I swallowed my tongue when Darlene went over and turned the floor fan in that direction.
I just knew that she was about to literally AIR that page!
But she was only adjusting the fan, and I found that air is the amount of white space on the page.
All in all, the whole staff has been very patient and understanding.
Donna has never once said to me the things she said to that Trendsetter the day the back fell off.
Darlene has had to have a rest to calm her nerves a few times, especially after she had to show me how to figure size on pictures.
And Margaret has almost quit jumping when I get into trouble, throw back my head and yell for DONNAMARGARETDARLENE to help me!