His Boss Had Kittens Over the Cat Excuse

Like teachers, business executives have heard them all too.

The temporary agency Accountemps asked executives of 200 corporations for the best excuse they had heard from someone arriving late to a meeting. A sampling:

* My cat had a litter of kittens on top of the proposal needed for the meeting.

* I locked my shoes in the closet.

* My hamster had a toothache.

* I was on the phone with President Bush.

* The bartender wouldn’t let me leave.

* I had to rush my pregnant wife and my neighbor’s pregnant wife to the hospital.

* I had to round up my cattle this morning.

* Security stopped me, saying I looked like a guy on a “wanted” poster.