The Profession That Haunts Us

Santa Claus came early to our house, apparently because she wasn't very careful about keeping Daniel from knowing that he was getting some new, improved, souped-up piece of video game equipment.  Daniel started campaigning to play with this new device well ahead of Christmas, so Amy told him that he could have it today if he agreed not to complain on Christmas itself when he turns out to get one less present.  For whatever reason, Amy didn't think Daniel could be trusted to honor this commitment without taking some kind of formal pledge, so she told him he had to reiterate this solemn promise in the presence of Ian and Madeleine, so that they could function as witnesses.

But she hadn't thought through the implications of bringing Attorney McDershowitz into the equation; when Ian found out the terms of the agreement, he was having none of it.  Ian insisted that, in order for this promise to have any binding power, Daniel would have to sign a written document stating the terms explicitly.  So of course, he proceeded to draft up just such a statement for Daniel to sign.  Amy, who is herself a lawyer, described the text as extremely legalistic.  And she is fearful, or rather, convinced and chagrined, that she won't be the only attorney in the family for much longer than the next decade.

(December, 2013)