Changing the Way Women Think About Their Thighs

"Mindy! I haven't seen you for ages!"

Veronica stopped her shopping cart in front of Mindy's in the frozen food section of Food 4 Less. Ever since Mindy had broken up with Veronica's son, it was almost like the younger woman had vanished from Schuyler Square. Veronica looked her up and down. Mindy looked thin and tired. Probably working too hard at the newspaper. "Oh, hi, Veronica. How've you been?" Mindy asked, not looking as if she was all that interested in Mindy's answer.

"Not bad. How have you been? How's life at the newspaper?"

Mindy fidgeted as she threw a few cartons of Ben and Jerry's into her cart. "I'm not at the paper right now."

"Oh?" Veronica tried to hide the shock in her voice. Mindy lived for the newspaper and was the most dogged, determined and occasionally annoying reporter Veronica had ever come across. She couldn't believe that she'd left the Schuyler Square Times. "What are you doing now?"

"Working at Kutrate Kemicals. I'm an administrative assistant."

"Well...that must be interesting." It had to be the money. Everyone knew reporters were practically paupers. "Do you like it?"

"Not really," Mindy said, "but it's a paycheck. Say...are you still working at Schuyler Enterprises?"

"Sure. I haven't won the lottery like Rosanne so I have to keep working."

"Would you know anyone in research and development?"

"I suppose I do. Why?"

"Kutrate Kemicals has a great new product and I'd love to talk about it with someone at Schuyler Enterprises."

Veronica was confused. "Why would you want to talk to someone at Schuyler Enterprises if it's Kutrate Kemicals product?"

Mindy looked shifty eyed as she leaned in closer to Veronica. "Between you, me and the frozen yogurt, I don't think Kutrate Kemicals deserves to have this product and I'm determined to take it away from them."

Oh, my. Mindy had clearly gone around the bend. "What kind of product is it?"

Mindy pressed her lips together tightly. "I can't tell you. It wouldn't be safe for you to know. But I will tell you that this product could change the way zillions of women think about their thighs. Now can you set me up a secret meeting with someone in your R an D department or are we just wasting each other's time?"

It wasn't even lunchtime so it was too early for Mindy to be drunk. Still, she was talking like she had put chardonnay on her cornflakes instead of milk. "Let me think about that," Veronica said, stalling for time. "I'll call you."

Mindy tapped Veronica on the arm with a stubby fingernail. "You just do that one little thing," she replied. "Believe me, you won't regret it." With one more tight smile, she pushed her cart toward the frozen pizzas.

Veronica watched her go, shaking her head. She'd never been crazy about Mindy but she didn't like to see the girl acting so looney tunes either. Well, one thing was for sure; there was no way that she was going to tell anyone in research and development about Mindy's request. It didn't sound safe and it also didn't sound the least bit legal.