Austin answered an email from his mother, and then opened their chat room and signed in.
Bronco8881: I'm here, where are you?
He strummed his fingers on the table and was about to give up when she signed in.
Sissy3211: Just got home. How was your day?
Bronco8881: Busy, and yours?
Sissy3211: Bad day, a friend got fired. Well, she wasn't really a friend, just a co-worker. She got fired for not going to the company picnic.
The lawyer in him perked right up.
Bronco8881: What? That's illegal. Your friend should file a complaint with L&I.
Sissy3211: What is L&I?
Bronco8881: Labor and Industries. What state are you in?
Sissy3211: Very sneaky.
Austin smiled.
Bronco8881: I'm not being sneaky; I wanted to look up the laws in your state.
Sissy3211: Providing I am in a state.
Austin rolled his eyes. It was pretty obvious they were in the same time zone or close too it, but she could live south of the border.
Bronco8881: Are you in the US at least?
Maggie paused for a moment before she answered. His question wasn't too invasive, so she decided on an honest answer.
Sissy3211: At least.
Bronco8881: East coast or West?
Sissy3211: Yes and no.
The middle of the country was just what he suspected.
Bronco8881: Okay, I'll stop asking. My offer to take you to dinner still stands, just say the word.
Sissy3211: I don't go out with axe-murderers.
Bronco8881: Neither do I. How is your particular friend, as you call him?
Sissy3211: The one who snorts when he laughs.
Bronco8881: That's the one.
Sissy3211: I have come to believe he does that on purpose. He got his hair cut in a Mohawk. I think that's what it's called, and still keeps a pipe in his mouth, although he never lights it.
Bronco8881: I have got to see this guy.
Sissy3211: He says he doesn't smoke; he just likes the smell of cherry tobacco. I think he likes waving the pipe around when he talks, more than he likes the smell. He wants us to think he is…I don't know, highly educated? I have a hard time not laughing at him.
Bronco8881: I would probably laugh too.
Sissy3211: He's a nice guy, though.
Bronco8881: I have something for you.
Austin chose a picture of himself dressed in street clothes instead of a business suit, and attached it. He waited and waited, but she didn't say anything.
Bronco8881: I'm just trying to show you I'm not an axe-murderer.
She thought about accusing him of breaking the rules, but decided against it. At length she answered:
Sissy3211: Nice shirt.