Formerly titled Time Heals with A Happy Face and now retitled to In Due Time, which I like much better.

I'm looking for precisely three fresh readers, meaning those who haven't read "Time Heals". (And thanks to all those who critted the first draft of this story -- your comments were immensely helpful.)

One more catch: You must be able to crit and return in a few days, as I hope to get this out very soon. Lives are at stake, ya know?

I'll be posting another final draft story up this weekend. So if you don't get this one, maybe you'll get the next one...

Many thanks,

HSO

***
The telephone mocked Walter. Antiquated, it sat on the coffee table looking smug: a yellow “happy face” printed onto the rotary dialer silently grinned. Mr. Happy Face taunted him now by not ringing, when he was ready for it. Walter wrung his arthritic hands in anticipation.

Not that he wanted the phone to ring. Nevertheless, he knew Mr. Happy Face would ring; it was only a matter of time before he would have to lift the receiver off of the cradle and hear his son’s voice on the other end.

Unplugging the phone was no good. His wife might call, and she would be on the next flight home to make sure nothing terrible had happened if he didn’t pick up.

But something terrible is happening, Maggie.

Definite maybe on do-ability.

We are now closed.