Flash Fiction: Field Placement (A Sorkinverse Crossover)

[catko]

 

“Now, Dad.” Zoey looked her father in the eye. “First of all, it’s ‘animal WRANGling.’ Second, it’s part of the film industry, and there’s not all that much of that in New England. And third? I happen to know that Mother is thrilled. You’re the one who doesn’t want me to go.”

“Hmpf. Just know, I’ll have my Southern California spies out around the clock, looking out for you.”

Zoey dimpled, and waved the business card in the air. “I know I can’t complain when it was one of your ‘spies’ that got me this internship with the best animal coach in the country.”

Jed scowled. “Yeah, well, I’ll have a word or two with that traitor someday.” He squinted at the card.  “What kind of damn-fool name is that, anyway, ‘Bevo’?”

******

“It’ll be fine, Bevo. We hear she’s a smart girl, and, well…you’ll see, it’ll be fine.” Cal patted the other man on the arm. “Besides, when Ted Marcus says ‘jump, we say--” He paused, expectantly. Receiving no response, he continued to steer the man out of the studio. “Of course, given that she is so highly-placed, we want to be sure there aren’t any problems.” He chuckled nervously. “I mean, it will all be perfectly safe, right? Nothing unpredictable, nothing dangerous?”

Bevo looked down at him. “As to that, I couldn’t quite say, Cal.” There was a sudden light in his eyes. “Mother Nature’s an inscrutable force.”

Cal winced and felt his stomach clench. Oh, man, do I need this grief? He could just see the CNN crawl: “Shocking Animal Attack on Fmr. President’s Daughter--Embattled Studio 60 Director Implicated.” He shook his head. Suddenly “Good Morning, El Paso” wasn’t looking so bad.