Conversation 21 - Excerpt

Dr Jonas: …Is the chairman coming in this morning?

Estelle: He should be in about eleven. He has a meeting with the Dean first thing before that.

J: About budget cuts, I’ll bet.

E: Probably. I hope I’m not one of them.

J: Ah, don’t you worry- you’re irreplaceable. You’re the heart of the department.

E: (laughs) Well, they do successful heart transplants now.

J: (laughs) I suppose so, but anyway, I’m sure your job is more secure than mine. Assistant professors are a dime a dozen, and one more or less is not critical to operations- but- no secretary? We’d be in chaos in a day!

E: (laughs) Maybe.