Dan really needed to talk to a lawyer.
He’d put it off for too long – partly due to a lack of time and partly due to a lack of courage. Returning to his office from an offsite meeting he dialled his old friend’s number.
She picked up promptly and Dan opened tentatively, wondering whether his number was still in her phone. ‘Hi Kelly, it’s Dan. How are you?’
Relieved by her warm opening, he conceded, ‘Yes, that out-of-the-blue call from an old friend with a legal issue. Can’t imagine you have time for it.’
Encouraged to continue, Dan admitted, ‘Not sure what I need as a matter of fact. Just an end to this feeling of dread’, at which he chuckled nervously. ‘Letter says to seek legal advice’.
Dan added just a few more comments and his fears were allayed, ‘Office of the Court Administrator … Absolutely!!! I’d love that. Whatever works for you … Friday at 10? Perfect! … Can’t thank you enough Kelly! See you then.’
Dan ended the call, much relieved.
‘That’s so good, such a relief,’ he said aloud to nobody.
Dan hadn’t seen Kelly for years. She was a senior counsel last he heard. The real deal.
The shadow of legal proceedings had been a sort of noir filter where life is realistic yet stylised at the same time. Dan’s phone call to the person he stretchingly called ‘his lawyer’ didn’t eliminate his apprehension.
But it sure was a relief.
Emotions! thought Dan. Why do they…feel so much. Dread, hope, relief. It’s such a bumpy ride some days.
And today was one of those days.
Arvi knocked, but walked straight in. ‘Dan, can I talk to you?’ Dan responded with, ‘Sure’. As if there was an option.
‘Where do people get off writing a three-line email with no context and no basis for their criticism!?’ Arvi fired off.
Dan, still feeling relieved and reflective, didn’t bite. ‘Sounds annoying.’
Arvi continued, ‘How about, ‘Hope you’re doing well, sorry to sound negative on my first email for a while’!?’ He vented for a few moments longer. Dan wasn’t blowing, so the wind left Arvi’s sails.
‘You’re good to rant at Dan,’ Arvi ventured after a brief lull.
‘That’s a fine compliment you’ve given me’, returned Dan. ‘A terse three-line email is not a bad reflection on you – they’re stuck in their own head. How can I stop you retreating into yours?’
‘Nah, it’s not that great it in my head’, countered Arvi lightly, ‘Couldn’t weather the storm on my own.’
The conversation with Arvi continued a few minutes more before he left to email a considered reply.
After his visitor left, Dan pondered his good fortune in working with the team he had. He thought about how proud he was with what they achieved. And yet I spend so much time talking and listening to them! Obviously, I’m doctoring the figures, he chuckled sarcastically.
If only the answer was that politically expedient.
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