The Test

No sooner do I talk up my new reader when she decides to put me to the test. She did something silly that could have had a serious and potentially career damaging outcome. Unfortunately for her, I didn't realize the potential badness until it was (almost) too late. Fortunately for her, I'm fairly good at damage control. I've had a lot of practice. Just ask Ernie about watching me get covered in cheese at the Roy Rogers in Wappingers Falls.

She wrote a silly little note in erasable marker on the wall outside my office. It was something about how St. Patrick was a religious terrorist who subverted a nation against their will. I can't see how anyone in Iraq, a nation known for religious tolerance, could possibly have been offended.

To make matters worse, the first two people to see the note were both Irish Catholic (also known for their laid-back attitude toward religion). When I saw the commotion, I immediately erased the note, but at that point it was too late. I spent the next couple hours smiling and joking and shaking hands with the offended individuals. To her credit, RG realized the seriousness of her actions and came over, hat-in-hand, and gave a very heart-felt apology.

It's nothing I wouldn't do for any of my friends. All is well in the desert. Now we can get back to Egyptian Rat Screw. The scars on my hand have mostly healed from the last game.

Editors Note: RG's son is 7, not 9. Silly me.