The "Bomb" Squad

After reading "The Bomb" in the June issue, I recalled an incident that happened some years ago. I had a customer, an attorney, Joe, who drove a 15-year–old, beat-up Cadillac that he refused to get rid of and lovingly referred to as the “Old Bomb.” When he needed service, Joe would pull up out front, and I'd jump in his car and drop him off at his office a few blocks away. When the work was done, we'd reverse the process with me picking him up.

On one such occasion, I called his office and told his secretary, “The bomb is ready and tell Joe to be outside in 10 minutes.”

When I tried to get to Joe’s office building, I couldn't get close  as there were hundreds of people out on the street and the police and other emergency vehicles had the road blocked. Joe saw me in his car and ran over. After he got in, I asked what was happening and he said rather excitedly, “Can you believe this? Someone called in a bomb scare to my office!”

I guess I should have paid attention to the fact that Joe’s regular secretary was on vacation and he had a temp answering the phone. Oops!


Richard A. Berman
Bermans Automotive
Baltimore, MD