A Day at the Races Read Free Page A

that beating.” Said Frank.
    Moxie looked at them with despair written all over his face.
    “Thanks Linton, and thanks Brian for those few words of wisdom and encouragement, it really makes me feel a whole lot better.”
    “Your welcome Moxie, anytime.” Said Linton, with a smirk on his face.
    Mike intervened “I think that’s enough advice for one night lads, you don’t want Moxie doing anything stupid in his delicate situation.”
    Just then Maria the barmaid came into the lounge.
    “Can I put you lads down for some raffle tickets, it’s for a good cause like paying me for all the food tonight?
    The first prize is a week in Blackpool and second prize is two weeks in Blackpool.
    No I’m only kidding its £50.00 and £25.00 and two bottles of red wine, not bad hey?”
    They all took two pounds worth, then ordered another round of drinks.
    Later on in the evening, Moxie looked at his tickets as the M C for the evening pulled the winning numbers out of the drum.
    The first two prizes went to the visiting darts team, and the bottles of red wine to the local school caretaker.
    “Couldn’t win an argument at the moment, it must be all the bad things I have done in my life catching up.”
    “I hope not Moxie,” said Fisher “otherwise you are in for a rough time.”
    Moxie smiled, just then the bell sounded for last orders so they ordered another round of drinks.

Chapter 2
    ˜
    Reginald Prentice was in the meeting rooms of Hurricane Press; he had just spent over an hour explaining how he wanted his first publication of “Your Modern Interiors” produced. This was a new publication and another one to add to the four others he published each month.
    He was a good customer and demanded personal attention.
    Just then Susie on the switchboard put a call through to the meeting room.
    “Sorry to interrupt you Mike, but your friend Moxie is on the line, he has called twice in the last hour it sounds urgent, I told him you are in a meeting but he is insistent.”
    “Its ok Susie we are just about done here, just tell him to hold for a couple of minutes, then put the call through to my office.”
    Mike escorted Reg Prentice to the front door.
    “We should have the proofs over to you late Friday by courier, please sign them if they are ok, indicate and initial any changes you might want us to make. I like the substance of the magazine, plus the photography is really very good, you will probably do very well with it, ok see you Reg I will call you if we have any problems - bye.”
    Mike walked up to his office and picked up the phone.
    “Hi Moxie are you in more trouble?”
    “Mike can I see you at lunchtime in the Duke, it’s important?”
    “I wasn’t going to take lunch, I was just going to have a sandwich and work through lunch break, we have so much work on at the moment and I am one man down, so I am really under a lot of pressure.”
    “What about tonight after work in the Duke?”
    “I can’t, its Brenda’s night out tonight, I have to stay in and look after the kids, she needs a break especially after being at the hospital all day, its very depressing for her.”
    “I really need to talk to you, if you can make it I will see you at 1.0 clock.”
    “O K Moxie, I will see what I can do.”
    Mike wondered what other trouble he was in. Ever since they had known one another way back to the infant’s school, Moxie was always in trouble of one kind or another.
    Mike had earlier called a production meeting to discuss the new publication for Reg Prentice and they were running late. He looked at the clock on the studio wall.
    “Its 12.50 lets take a break for lunch. I will be over at the Duke if anybody wants me but I should be back here by 1.30 and we will start to discuss the new magazine for Reg Prentice then.”
    As Mike walked over to the pub he wondered just what Moxie’s problem was, he assumed it was related to losing his job. He found him sitting in a corner of the lounge on his own.
    “What’s up