Adult Situations Ch. 53-54

There were about two-hundred-fifty members of the media in the Ritz ballroom. A podium on a raised stage was at the front of the room. I walked up to it and stood behind. Reporters were shouting questions at me and I ignored every one of them and just stood there.

One nearby reporter finally asked, "Why aren't you answering any of our questions and are just standing there?"

"Because you are all acting like a group of unruly children. When you start to behave in a civil manner, I will start talking and taking questions." The din in the room slowly died down as my response got communicated. I continued to silently stand at the microphone.

Eventually, the room was completely quiet. All that could be heard were the fans on some of the electronic equipment. Over ten minutes had passed to get to that point.

I spoke quietly and in a normal tone, "Here is what's going to happen. You will raise your hand. I will pick you by pointing or indicating in some way. You will state YOUR name, YOUR affiliation, and then your question. You will then shut up and I will try to answer as best I can. I may indicate that I won't answer some personal questions, but you probably expect that. I will now make a brief statement."

I then laid out the timeline as I recalled about how I heard about the virus from Jim Manning at Retail Software, and then how we got together and started to work on the problem using their computer systems. I did toss in some technical stuff and figured they'd have to cope with their readers or viewers about what that meant. I then indicated that I'd take questions.

Several reporters started to speak at once. I stood mute until they shut up. I then picked on a female reporter that had remained silent and was obviously playing by my rules. She politely held her hand up.

"Donna Carter, Reuters. We have heard mixed messages about your unique living situation, and we attribute that to helping you have a novel approach to problem solving in this virus situation. Could you comment?"

I figured this was as good a time as any to set the record straight."

List of Characters (Dramatis Personae)

Couples grouped together.

Dave Toller and Crystal Wolcott -- cyber security expert/Ross's son & flight attendant/runs Crystal Blue Photography (CBP).

Ross Toller & Trish Wolcott -- Investment manager/Dave's father & nurse/Crystal's older sister.

Greg Caldwell & Darlene Mentis -- Lawyer & nurse. She works w Trish.

Mitch & Deborah Singer -- Runs Silver's Gym & flight attendant.

Molly & Jake Walters -- private porn client of CBP & kinky husband.

Allison & William Kirby -- private porn client of CBP & husband.

Kit & Dax Morrison -- private porn clients of CBP.

Brian & Beth Wolcott -- Trish & Crystal's parents. Farm equipment sales & middle school teacher.

Carol Grainger -- video editor for CBP

Jackie Turner -- private porn client of CBP

Maitlin Westlake -- private porn client of CBP

Steve & Julie Wallace -- client of Crystal + HVAC bux. & runs modeling agency

Wendy Wallace -- Steve's daughter. College freshman.

Lisa Wallace -- Steve's daughter. High school senior.

Derek Frost -- Wendy's BF. College sophomore.

Jade & Carl Dewherst -- bride and groom

Ken Beck & Savannah Sorrell -- best man and matron of honor at Jade & Carol's wedding

Kim Stanley -- Julie Wallace's mother; Lisa and Wendy's grandmother; rich venture capitalist.

Madison Landry -- high school senior; friend of Lisa's.

Doug & Penny Rogers --neighbors next-door to Ross's house.

Stacy Landry -- Madison's mother

Paul Richards -- work colleague with Ross

Josh Kirby -- Internet trader. Bill Kirby's younger brother.

Harley Palmer -- high school friend of Lisa Wallace.

Cory Thomas -- Carol's computer date. Works at Zenith Technology.

Dale and Patricity Short -- across the street neighbors

Morgan Hunter -- friend of Josh & Allison

Tara Green -- friend of Carol. Caterer and flight attendant

Daryl Wills -- friend of Jackie Turner via CBP

Roy Marten -- friend of Maitlin Westlake via CBP

Tom Dayton -- friend of Deborah Singer

Elynn Ghent -- friend of Paul; works with Ross.

Adam and Jill Timms -- another find by Carol

Macy Clark -- friend of Tara; flight attendant.

Heather Sellens -- graduating student; future nurse; Lisa's friend

Chyanne Winslow -- graduating student; Lisa's friend

Mandy Jakes -- graduating student; Lisa's friend

Lynell Wynne -- graduating student; Lisa's friend

Daisy Gervais -- graduating student; Lisa's friend

Tom Dayton -- friend of Deborah Singer

Troy Bennett -- video editor at CBP

Temple -- video editor and photographer at CBP

Jean Muir -- AA to Cyber Solutions (CS)

Alice O'Rourke -- AA hired in Sarasota for CS

Connie and Bob Mason -- neighbors of Jean Muir

Meg Roland -- HR director at CS

Jim Manning -- Crystal & Carol's date. Retail Software

Ben Tabor -- Crystal & Carol's date. Retail Software

Russ (Rusty) Martin -- ex-Special Forces. Runs dojo. Does porn

Deke Scarborough -- ex-Special Forces. Runs dojo. Does porn

Alan Bullock -- passenger on a Tara flight; knows she does porn