Perry Mason walked into the office that morning with brief case in hand, the current case's details swirling in his head, and the deep need for a cup of coffee. Not a moment after he sat down at his desk, Della Street, his confidential secretary, came walking into his office swiftly with all the grace and poise in the world, but no denying by her pace that there was work to be done. Before even he could say a word, she set a cup of coffee on his desk and took notepad and pen in hand ready to take dictation or write down any task the chief would set before her. She pulled up a chair to the side of his desk and poised herself to take notes. But she sat for a moment and realized that her boss wasn't saying a word. She looked up at him to find him silently sipping his coffee, watching her intently. She blushed. She couldn't deny the heat she felt in her cheeks nor the smile that formed across her face. But she quickly rolled her eyes, and said, "Mr. Mason, if I recall correctly, we have a very busy day today."

"Ms. Street, if I recall correctly," he said in a playful tone, "there is nothing wrong with admiring beauty before I have to endure the inevitable pain before me." He tossed the pile of letters and papers to the side of his desk.

Della smiled and looked at him like a mother would look at her little boy who was avoiding his chores, and she began to coax him in the same way. "Perry, you know the trial begins tomorrow, and *you* have a lot to do."

"But Della, it's just not fair!" he said in an exasperated tone. "Look at how beautiful out it is today! Do know how long it has been since we've had a vacation? Why, if I would let myself I'd storm out of this office, pack my bags, and you and I would fly to a tropical destination for a week, or even a month, ... or a whole year!" He then crossed his arms like a pouting little boy.

"As lovely as that sounds," she said as she took his empty coffee cup into the small kitchenette for washing. "You're right. Life is unfair. She returned and put her arm around his broad shoulders. "But you are getting a lovely retainer out of the deal. And there is plenty of time for vacations later, when we're old and gray, and have no big business man needing cleared from a big murder charge and no big stacks of paper on big desks." She said the latter almost mockingly.

He looked up at her slightly annoyed and said, "I'm serious, Della. I-" before he could finish she had looked at him with commanding eyes and kissed his cheek, and she then placed the newest case details in front of him.

She sat down to take notes and saw the pitiful look on the big lawyer's face. "Oh, it's like looking into the eyes of a sad puppy," she said sarcastically.

They both laughed at each other, and gave one another the knowing looks they so often did. It was a new day, a new adventure, and so they started on the many, many tasks set before them.