This is a short little story about a telephone operator that is very good at her job of giving out the exact time. When she comes down with a cold however, the boss is stuck looking for a replacement and none of the applicants work out very well. I like how it focuses on the need for exact time but the story requires an explanation of an operator as kids do not understand what an operator did in the past. ( )

Mary Alice is an operator for the telephone company and is loved for the precise and cheerful way she tells the time correctly every time someone calls. But one day Alice comes down with a terrible cold is can't go to work and her boss think it will be very easy to find someone who can fill in for her. They quickly realize that it is actually impossible to find someone who can do her job as well as Mary Alice can.
This is a great took that talks about telling time, jobs, being special and unique... no one can do the things you do the same way you do. ( )