Ambition

No ambition, that's what they said about him. Coulda been somebody. Went to a good college, got a scholarship to Cornell Law, published an article in Law Review, got an offer to clerk for State Supreme Court judge, got offers from firms in New York City.

What'd he do? Moved right back to Abbeville, SC, opened a dinky little two room office. Wasn't much law to do in Abbeville, and that suited him fine. He'd write you up a will if you asked. Defend you if got a little sideways on a Friday night and put your pick-up in the ditch. Help you settle a fuss with your landlord. Speak for you in divorce court. Sue that lying sumbitch who said he fixed your roof but didn't.

He was the type of lawyer who put his home phone number on his business card. He subscribed to dozens of magazines. He wasn't very selective; anything being pushed by Publisher's Clearinghouse. People, Newsweek, Family Circle, Ebony, Seventeen, National Geographic...didn't matter. Different magazines every year. When he didn't have clients, he'd sit behind his desk and read, slowly turning the pages and thinking about what he'd read.

Most of his clients paid at least part of the fee he charged. The ones who didn't pay, he just never worked for them again. The type of client who didn't pay anything, he said, was the type that'd need more legal work in the future. Tough on them.

He didn't get rich, but he made enough to marry, buy a house on the edge of town, and raise a family. A daughter who became a dentist in Savannah, a son who went into real estate on the coast. He could have retired, but he enjoyed going to his little office and sitting behind his desk. Reading his magazines.

He died in his car. Left the house at the usual time, but when his wife didn't hear the sound of the car backing out of the drive, she looked out the window. Saw him slumped over in the driver's seat. Died before he could start the car.

His son cleaned out his office. Some of the furniture was sold at auction. Most of it never drew a bid. His wife renewed the magazine subscriptions.

posted by greg @ 12:35 AM