In what seems like a continuation of the previous story, Bernie explains that he got fired from the phone company after colliding with a police car. He says that his boss, the fellow who called him out to help him on the New Year's Eve job, pleaded his case with head office, but the decision was final. He talks about how he was the best telephone lineman on the job, how everybody occasionally drank on the job, and that he can't figure out why he got fired. This leads Carol to reveal that she was a teacher for a while, and when she tells Bernie where she taught, they realize they worked right across the street from each other and must have unknowingly passed each other hundreds of times.
Because he.....
