Morning Man Read Free Page A

little blue collar. It’s just a man’s man kind of show.”
    “It’s a sausage fest, that’s what it is,” she grumbled. “You and Dub are funny, but funny isn’t keeping women from turning the dial to Mix Ninety-six. They want sexier, snappier, more compelling content. They want to be informed as well as entertained. They want…” Bonnie looked straight at Dayna, “to hear the voice of someone they can relate to.”
    “Whoa,” she said with a startle that sent her deeper into her chair. “What are you saying?”
    “I’ve been sitting here trying to figure out a way we can save what’s left of our female audience. The moment I heard you two out in the hall, the answer was clear.”
    Bonnie rose from behind her desk and went to the massive board with the station schedule blocked out in dayparts. She opened a marker and, like a coach in a locker room, created a strategic configuration of lines and arrows to map out the next play. “I’m putting Dayna into the morning show with you, and moving Dub Birmingham to midday.”
    “B-but Dub and I have been The Rise Guys for three years,” he said, panicked at the thought of losing his trusty wing man. “Are we supposed to just forget that and suddenly become The Rise Guy and Some Random Chick?”
    “Gee, thanks.” Dayna shot him a glare.
    He apologized with a half smile and an I-didn’t-mean-that-quite-the-way-it-came-out shrug.
    “We need to keep our women listeners, bring back the ones that left and hopefully, attract a new audience to the morning slot,” Bonnie said. “This isn’t rocket science, Tack. You know the most effective way to do that is by adding a female personality to the show.”
    “Why can’t we just bring in a girl to join The Rise Guys? Why does Dub have to get bumped?”
    “Because the Mix Morning Zoo already has a threesome and copying them will make us appear desperate. And because I don’t believe in just throwing in a token female like they did. Listeners see right through that. No, two is the right number for us.”
    “But with all due respect, Bonnie, why me?” she asked.
    “Yeah,” he echoed. “Why her?”
    With a brandy-lipsticked grin, Bonnie resumed her place behind the impressive desk that dwarfed her in comparison. “Because I know chemistry when I hear it and the instant I heard you two bickering, I knew I’d found chemistry of epic proportions.” She snapped her fingers. “This could take the battle of the sexes to a whole new level.”
    Tack stole a glimpse at Dayna. Trouble, I tell ya.
    “You even look good together. We’ll have to pair you up for some upcoming remotes.” Bonnie picked up her ballpoint and scribbled down notes. “And while we’re at it, we’ll do a billboard campaign to announce your new show.”
    “Billboards?” he questioned. “The show doesn’t even have a name yet.”
    “We’ll come up with something. In the meantime, Dayna will sit in with The Rise Guys tomorrow and Friday and then starting Monday, we re-launch as…”
    “ Collins in the Morning ?” The suggestion rolled off his tongue. “ Mornings with Collins ? Collins’ Crew ?” Once the ideas started coming, it was actually kind of fun to be so agreeable. “No? How about Collins and Company ?”
    “Um, how about giving your new co-host equal billing?” Dayna’s eyes narrowed.
    “ Collins and Cook ?”
    She wrinkled her nose like she’d caught a whiff of Dub’s wickedly pungent athletic socks. “Maybe if we were opening an Irish pub. Or a shady real estate firm.”
    Bonnie pensively combed a miniature rake through the sand of her desktop Zen garden, as if uncovering inspiration. “ Wake Up with Tack and Dayna ,” she suddenly proclaimed. “It’s cheery, it’s easy to remember and it’s got the yin and the yang.”
    Dayna tossed a glance behind her. “The yin and the wang, more like it.”
    Bonnie laughed and pointed in his direction. “See what I mean? This one’s going to keep you on your