Robert Ervin Layden lives in Waterton, MA, USA.
Among hs callings have been college professor, consultant, and concierge. A
Ph.D. in English literature from Lehigh University, he currently operates a
small consulting group. Robert Layden has published short stories, five of which are
reproduced on Internet sites. He is the father of two grown children.
Robert Ervin Laden's personal philosophy;
"If you journey only in sunshine, you will never reach your destination."
Robert says of himself,
"As for the other activities, with consulting, writing, social life, and
travel, I don't do much else. I do try to get to New Brunswick, Canada as
often as possible. My folks are from there and several of my published short
stories are set in the province. Two are reproduced on the provincial
website. The website of New Brunswick, Canada.
They have just changed the format of the site, rather nicely, and introduced
a Writer's Corner where mine appear. I hope I have the new directions
correctly: Enter Writer's Corner for "Horsewhip" and "Walter and the Fat Boy in the Mud"
..... by Robert Ervin Layden
"Yes, Mam, can I help you?"
"Where's Aziz?"
"He's out for the day. What's the problem?"
She looked upset and angry. I hated these assignments. I'd hired on to be a
security guard, for God's sake. I wasn't even sure what a concierge was till
I came here. Sounded like a French word for a personal item.
"There's a rodent of some sort in the trash barrel in the parking garage on
the third floor. It almost scared the life out of me."
I heard from other guards that the condo owners at Atlantic Towers were very
fussy about their rights and privileges. They complained about nonresidents
swimming in the outdoor pool or sneaking into the gated parking building.
They blamed security.
"That's awful. I'll have my man see to it at once."
I fingered the radio button.
"S1, report to the front desk ASAP."
Mike arrived shortly, and I told him the situation.
"A rat?"
He appeared shaken. Noisy parties he stopped at once. Big drunks he handled
with ease. But a rodent? Some men are like that.
"'s okay, Mike, I'll take this one. You watch the desk."
Rats are my specialty. I've handled many in my career. Swing them by the
tail.
Armed with only my experience and instincts, I approached the barrel in
question. I rapped on the hooded top. In the side opening for discarding
rubbish a face appeared, also a bushy, upright tail. In the big city, they're
called "rodents of some sort." Back home we call them squirrels.
I read him his rights and informed him of trespass. Apparently he chose the
right to remain silent, declining an attorney, but he eyed me. I said I'd let
him off this time if he beat it.
He scurried away, but looked back repeatedly. I followed him and attempted to
grab his tail, but he eluded me and fled.
I know he or his friends will be back. They too have instincts. They seek
nuts. This one came to Atlantic Towers, the right place.