threw a dark look at Mallory.
“So Ray’s idea is to use vending machines to sell worms. One of our companies makes vending machines, but that business has been hit hard lately, so we’ve been looking for ways to reinvent the industry. We’re starting to sell prescription drugs and electronics in them, so why not live bait?”
“You mean worms and minnows?” asked Lew.
“Exactly. The machines could be installed in gas stations, convenience stores, bait shops, sporting goods retailers like Cabela’s—”
“Sounds like one heck of a lot of worms to me,” said Kenton. “What’s
your
job going to be, Ray? Worm farmer?” He snorted.
“If you can farm mushrooms, why not worms?” asked Lew from where she was sitting next to Osborne. “I think this sounds like an interesting idea.”
“It
is
an interesting idea,” said Christina. “That’s why Dad and myself and Ray are going to sit down next week and talk over the supply options. And who knows? Could be money in worms.”
“I have a question, Ray,” said Lew. “Those are trophy walleye you hooked today. What were you using? Worms or minnows?”
“Neither. Used an Insider Jighead,” said Ray. “It’s nifty—got an angled eye and presents upright. Been using it off and on this summer and having good luck with it. Speaking of which, Kenton, you fish walleye? Be happy to take you out on the boat tomorrow. This rain may be a bummer for some folks, but it’s keeping our lakes cool enough so the fish have been biting.”
“Hell, I wouldn’t know a walleye from a wallaroo,” said Kenton. “I don’t fish. Never have. Mallory’s been twisting my arm to try fly fishing, but I keep telling her I hate the slimy things. I don’t even
eat
fish. She loves sushi, which I cannot believe,” said Kenton, pointing at Mallory with a shudder. “Yuck.”
“You don’t eat
any
fish? You never told me that.” Mallory gave Kenton a perplexed look. “I know you’re kind of vegan, but I’ve seen you eat steak.”
Kenton shrugged. “That’s different. When a client is willing to pay that much for dinner …”
“Excuse me, you two,” said Osborne, “but back to Ray’s vending machine for a minute. I agree with Lew, it’s an interesting concept. Has anyone tried it? Seems to me the challenge will be keeping the worms cool if you have a power outage, which happens up here quite a bit in the summer.”
“Now that is a good point, Dr. Osborne,” said Christina. “We haven’t even thought of that.”
“While we’re discussing Ray and his entrepreneurial ideas,” said Lew, “I have a question. Ray, your shrimp are delicious. Is this a secret family-only recipe?”
“Yeah,” said Christina. “Mind sharing the recipe?”
“Well …” said Ray, stroking his beard as if deep in thought.
“Oh, oh,” said Mallory with a chuckle. “Here it comes.”
Ray ignored her: “First, you buy the shrimp …”
“Of course. Come on now,” said Christina with a laugh. “We’re serious. We want to know. Right, Chief Ferris?”
Osborne noticed that as Ray teased the women, Kenton rolled his eyes, a sneer settling on his face. Ray caught the look on Kenton’s face and paused. “Tell you what, Christina,” he said, “I’ll show you the spice blend I use for the boil when we’re back at my place later. Chief, I’ll make some up for you.”
“Great,” said Christina. She turned to Mallory. “So you live in Chicago? I love that city. What do you do there?”
Before Mallory could open her mouth, Kenton said, “She runs a small division for our firm. I work on the big stuff, like advising on the Senate race here in Wisconsin.”
“I didn’t know you’re working on that, Mallory,” said Osborne. “For Jane Ericsson, or for her opponent?”
“Mallory’s not involved. I hope to be running a team advising on key media strategies—not the day-to-day stuff,” said Kenton.
He stood up, cell phone in hand, and walked over to the swing
“So Ray’s idea is to use vending machines to sell worms. One of our companies makes vending machines, but that business has been hit hard lately, so we’ve been looking for ways to reinvent the industry. We’re starting to sell prescription drugs and electronics in them, so why not live bait?”
“You mean worms and minnows?” asked Lew.
“Exactly. The machines could be installed in gas stations, convenience stores, bait shops, sporting goods retailers like Cabela’s—”
“Sounds like one heck of a lot of worms to me,” said Kenton. “What’s
your
job going to be, Ray? Worm farmer?” He snorted.
“If you can farm mushrooms, why not worms?” asked Lew from where she was sitting next to Osborne. “I think this sounds like an interesting idea.”
“It
is
an interesting idea,” said Christina. “That’s why Dad and myself and Ray are going to sit down next week and talk over the supply options. And who knows? Could be money in worms.”
“I have a question, Ray,” said Lew. “Those are trophy walleye you hooked today. What were you using? Worms or minnows?”
“Neither. Used an Insider Jighead,” said Ray. “It’s nifty—got an angled eye and presents upright. Been using it off and on this summer and having good luck with it. Speaking of which, Kenton, you fish walleye? Be happy to take you out on the boat tomorrow. This rain may be a bummer for some folks, but it’s keeping our lakes cool enough so the fish have been biting.”
“Hell, I wouldn’t know a walleye from a wallaroo,” said Kenton. “I don’t fish. Never have. Mallory’s been twisting my arm to try fly fishing, but I keep telling her I hate the slimy things. I don’t even
eat
fish. She loves sushi, which I cannot believe,” said Kenton, pointing at Mallory with a shudder. “Yuck.”
“You don’t eat
any
fish? You never told me that.” Mallory gave Kenton a perplexed look. “I know you’re kind of vegan, but I’ve seen you eat steak.”
Kenton shrugged. “That’s different. When a client is willing to pay that much for dinner …”
“Excuse me, you two,” said Osborne, “but back to Ray’s vending machine for a minute. I agree with Lew, it’s an interesting concept. Has anyone tried it? Seems to me the challenge will be keeping the worms cool if you have a power outage, which happens up here quite a bit in the summer.”
“Now that is a good point, Dr. Osborne,” said Christina. “We haven’t even thought of that.”
“While we’re discussing Ray and his entrepreneurial ideas,” said Lew, “I have a question. Ray, your shrimp are delicious. Is this a secret family-only recipe?”
“Yeah,” said Christina. “Mind sharing the recipe?”
“Well …” said Ray, stroking his beard as if deep in thought.
“Oh, oh,” said Mallory with a chuckle. “Here it comes.”
Ray ignored her: “First, you buy the shrimp …”
“Of course. Come on now,” said Christina with a laugh. “We’re serious. We want to know. Right, Chief Ferris?”
Osborne noticed that as Ray teased the women, Kenton rolled his eyes, a sneer settling on his face. Ray caught the look on Kenton’s face and paused. “Tell you what, Christina,” he said, “I’ll show you the spice blend I use for the boil when we’re back at my place later. Chief, I’ll make some up for you.”
“Great,” said Christina. She turned to Mallory. “So you live in Chicago? I love that city. What do you do there?”
Before Mallory could open her mouth, Kenton said, “She runs a small division for our firm. I work on the big stuff, like advising on the Senate race here in Wisconsin.”
“I didn’t know you’re working on that, Mallory,” said Osborne. “For Jane Ericsson, or for her opponent?”
“Mallory’s not involved. I hope to be running a team advising on key media strategies—not the day-to-day stuff,” said Kenton.
He stood up, cell phone in hand, and walked over to the swing
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