He did this so well I thought we were friends. I had tested this friendship before by offering his two secretaries some part-time work. Willie didn’t seem to mind as long as the ladies finished his work first. I went into the high ceilinged office with its old plaster and mahogany and sat down by Wendy Forsyth, the better looking of the two legal aids. I walked past Willie’s office manager, Thelma, who was a protective, motherly type who didn’t seem to care for me or anyone else that I could tell. Thelma was dependable and the customers were accustomed to her abrupt manner. Some seemed to enjoy complaining to Willie about her. Sort of a standing joke. Willie always defended her. Thelma had been a fixture of the office for years, almost like the desks or filing cabinets. I gave Thelma a cordial head nod and hello. She had the body of fire hydrant and the personality of a battle axe. She gave me a look that would sour milk and said “Mr. Stover.” Her tone conveyed a judgment passed.
