by A.L. Svartz
Chapter Four
The Planned Trip
Mr. Malmsteen bursted out the side door, stumbling up to the building entrance. Mr. Eisen followed him out.
"Wait, Richard!" Mr. Eisen yelled, halting Mr. Malmsteen from going any further. "Look at you. Your wearing my jacket over hospital clothes. Your arm has holes in it and most importantly you just had a damn heart attack! You need to stop this, ok. You almost died and it's like another ordinary for you." Mr. Eisen was expecting his friend to yell and make another excuse about why he is doing this.
Mr. Malmsteen turned around to face his friend. "You know what, you're right." He proceeded to go into the building.
Both of the men walked into the elevator, shocked as they saw the condition their boss was in. They both made their way through the cubicles, entering Mr. Malmsteen's office. The floor looked as though it was freshly cleaned. Mr. Malmsteen walked over to his desk, plopping himself in his chair. Mr. Eisen took a seat in one of the seats in front of Mr. Malmsteen's desk. Mr. Malmsteen was searching around on his computer.
After vaguely searching around, he turned and faced his friend. "On our way up here, I thought about what you said," Mr. Malmsteen started. "And then it came to me. We need a break. I mean, we are the hardest working people in this building. I think we both deserve one. Just for a week or so. So we could just get away from it all."
Mr. Eisen leaned back in his chair. "That does sound pretty good," he said. "And you're right. We are the hardest working people here. We do deserve it. Sounds like a good plan to me."
Mr. Malmsteen turned back to his computer, typing away on his keyboard. After a few minutes, Mr. Malmsteen turned his computer screen around so Mr. Eisen could see it.
"How about here?" Mr. Malmsteen suggested. The picture on his screen showed one of many places in the Caribbean where they could go.
"Nah," Mr. Eisen blurted out. "I don't feel like anything tropical. What else is there?"
Keeping the screen the way it was so they could both see it, Mr. Malmsteen searched some more.
"There we go," Mr. Malmsteen said. "I'd actually enjoy this."
The picture on his screen shows the country Madagascar. It was advertising a safari.
Mr. Eisen leaned forward in his seat, looking closer at the screen. "Hey you know, this doesn't sound half bad," he said. " I've never been on a safari, but hey, I'm always up for something new. Plus I know a buddy mine who has a yacht we can stay on while we're there."
"Great," Mr. Malmsteen said still clinging onto his arm while maneuvering the mouse with the other. "Then it's settled. We can take my jet over there also. I just hired a new pilot. Good thing."
Mr. Malmsteen turned his screen back to his side as it was before. He was clicking around, looking at pictures of the animals they will encounter on their safari.
"I'm already excited!" Mr. Eisen said, rocking around in his chair. "When are we going?"
"We can head out tomorrow night if we want," Mr. Malmsteen said.
"That works for me," Mr. Eisen said, standing up from his seat. "I can't believe it. I've never even been to that section of the world. I mean, I've been to Europe and all. But never to that specific region."
"Alright," Mr. Malmsteen said, standing up also. "We leave tomorrow night. Meet me at the small airport near the old train station. I believe your driver know the way. We'll leave from there."