Laughter and Tears
posted in Lawyering and the Like |Scene: Friday afternoon, JP2 enters my office waiving a draft letter I’d emailed to him yesterday. I’m slumped in my chair, despondently reviewing page 1,500 of a 15,600 page document review project.
JP2: This letter made me laugh!
Silence. Panicked thoughts of being fired for my incompetence racing through my mind. Shock and confusion, tinged with horror, etched on my weary face.
JP2: (looking a little confused) I can’t wait to see opposing counsel’s reaction to it!
Me: (light slowly dawning) Ohhhhh. Oh, uh, yes, it’s a rather stern letter. That’s the tone you wanted, right?
JP2: Right. It’s perfect. Great job!
Me: (beginning to breath normally again) Whew. I thought you were laughing because the letter was really bad! That, by the way, accounts for the look of panic you may have noticed when you first walked in.
JP2: (shocked) What? I was wondering what that was all about. I thought I’d done something wrong!
Me: Nope, just me being paranoid.
JP2: I’d certainly never couch criticism in those terms! Or at least I hope I wouldn’t.
Me: I know. It just took me a second to realize what you meant. My first thought was, “Wow, why is JP2 being so mean?”
JP2: Okay, well, if I ever do – feel free to tell me to go to hell!
End scene.
Epilogue: I’m still in the office desperately trying to finish the document review project that needs to be done by Tuesday. Currently on page 6,161. *Tears* Sadness at working all weekend and having to cancel all plans mitigated only slightly by realization that at least I am appreciated.