"And so that's the news from the state capitol for tonight," said the chic blonde newscaster, flashing a pretty smile to her television viewers. "Now let's see what Rudy Dayton has for us in sports."
Then the TV camera panned from Lola Taberon to the red-haired sports announcer at one end of the large flood-lighted desk. Rudy beamed a broad freckled grin to the world, shouted, "Hi, sports fans!" and then launched into a professional rundown on the sports scene everywhere.
As soon as Rudy wound up the program's sports portion, ending it with a hearty "So long, sports fans!" the camera swung around and picked up the program's new, shapely weather reporter, standing before a large weather map, a pencil-thin pointer stick jutting from an outstretched slender arm.
Denise Dayton smiled prettily out at her unseen audience. "And now let's take a fast glance at the weather outlook in the Albany area tonight." She whirled around quickly, one hand perched sensually on a curvaceous hip, and began a rapid-fire rundown on the weather, darting in repeatedly to mark the glass-covered weather map with a grease pencil or jab at it with her pointer stick.
After Denise had wrapped up the weather report, she strolled seductively over to the long desk where Lola and Rudy sat. Then the camera zoomed in for a close-up of Station KTPQ's 7 o'Clock reporting team as the four of them waved a cheerful goodbye to viewers.
Then the program credits began turning on the screen. Andy Taberon's name rolled past first; he was the news director. Lola's followed, also Rudy's and Denise's, and others connected with the program.
This was the station's typical evening news format now. Major changes had been made in the program, for sure, and it had happened three days after the fateful and eventful night at the Taberons three months ago.
The changes had come about on instructions from old Foster who surprisingly announced that he was stepping down as station president and retiring "to find more time for pleasurable pursuits". His "pursuits" turned out to be a couple of 18 year-old Scandinavian twins and everyone says he looks fifteen years younger.
It had been a good change, many television viewers agreed. To viewers as well as station technicians, it was obvious that the program reporters worked hard at their jobs. Both news quantity and quality increased and the program's rating continued to soar.
Most important, team members were highly respected and popular with everyone. They projected a happy, hard-working family image. And no doubt about it: they believed in togetherness. They worked together, they lunched together, they drove to work together. And after each evening program, the happy Taberons and Daytons would all drive home together, which, after all, was convenient since they had recently moved into a new split-level, two-family home.
And now, another evening's program over, Andy and Lola, accompanied by Rudy and Denise, strolled arm-in-arm out of the station, on past a cluster of curious onlooking fans, some of whom were heard to comment on what a wonderful team they made.
They did, indeed, as they winked knowingly at each other. They were a "team" in more ways than the public would ever know… and they wouldn't change it for the world!