By Renee Novak

My first day on the job at AAI had been pretty much non-eventful, that was until I was handed my bosses appointment list for the next day. It was a simple sheet of yellow legal paper containing hand scribbled (and I mean scribbled) notes which I had to decipher and log into my computer. Just after lunch with Andrew from the Chicago Sun-Times, and 2 hours before we went home, there was a note: 1 hour-G.R. NO INTERRUPTIONS.

Being my nosy self, I entered my bosses office. "Excuse me, Pete, I've got a question."

Pete looked up from his computer long enough to acknowledge my existence. "Sure."

"On your list, you've got a three o'clock with a GR.," I told him the obvious. "Who's GR?"

"Gregg Rainwater," he informed me, returning to his card game. "Two g's."

My mind screamed, NO KIDDING!!! But I left his office without muttering a sound. His voice rang over and over in my head. "Gregg Rainwater, Gregg Rainwater..." each time it sounded sweeter!

Sitting down at my desk, I realized my little framed photo of him had to go! So did my doodle pad full of little Greggisms like "Rider comin', Turkey feather, and remember Hickock, there's always one more."

As I put them in my desk, I removed the post it with the Young Riders web addresses. There, my desk was Greggfree. Controlling my excitement, I typed his time into the computer, with the no interruptions in bold.

That night, I went home, surfed the web and watched 8 hours of TYR videos! The whole time, I pinched myself to be sure this was actually happening. Morning came too quickly (too much video watching) for me. Not a good sign. I showered and dressed in my most professional outfit: black skirt, matching double-breasted blazer, and a white sleeveless turtleneck. My make-up and hair turned out fine...bonus for me!

Work dragged, until an hour before Gregg's appointment. That's when all hell broke loose.

"Renee," Pete said approaching me with a mountain of manila file folders. "These need to be proofed. Everything in the second folder needs to be entered into the computer, then faxed," he ordered, putting the folders on my desk. "All the stuff in the top folder needs to be copied and distributed to the sales staff."

I became frantic! Putting on the head set was a mistake. It made me look like I was talking to myself, and caused my hair to look absolutely a mess! Perfect to meet Gregg, who I'd forgotten about until he walked in.

Patiently he waited for me to acknowledge his existence.

"May I help you?" I asked not really looking up from my computer.

"Um, I'm Gregg. I've got an appointment with Mister Bourjaily."

My heart stopped. I'd almost ignored him!! When I turned to face him, I realized I hadn't removed my blue folder from my desk. Emblazoned on the cover in black Sharpie marker: "THE YOUNG RIDERS PHOTOS" right under that, my Buckettes membership card was taped.

"I'll tell him you're here," I calmly said.

It took my boss forever to come out. As he followed my boss, his eyes fell upon the folder, causing him to grin. Finally he was gone! I promptly called my sister.

"Hey, Denise," I whispered. "Guess who just went into Pete's office."

"Ray!" she said of our mutual friend.

"No, guess again!"

"Who," she whispered, so her boss wouldn't hear her.

"Gregg Rainwater..."

She started to laugh! "Call me when it's Josh Brolin!"

"Traitor," I whispered back. "I'll talk to ya later."

By the time I was done with my work, everyone was gone, including my boss. After putting the stack of folders back on his desk, I returned to mine. What I saw made me smile. Gregg had left me an autographed 8x10. Simply signed:

To Renee

A member of the Buckettes!

Thanks for the support

Gregg

The photo is now framed and proudly displayed on my desk!