It had been two years since Ben and Sam met with Rob Smith to discuss his next career move following his second judicial clerkship. Rob had decided to join a big Atlanta-based firm and become a litigator. Now he had asked to meet again with the curmudgeons. He had not told Joanne for what, and the curmudgeons as they waited for Rob to arrive were speculating.
They recalled their only advice to Rob had been, develop hobbies. They wondered if he had. They wondered too if he had been enjoying litigation.
Right on time Rob bounced into the library-conference room. He wore a grin and eyed expectantly the bottle of The Macallan 12 on the side table. After firm handshakes the three took seats and Ben poured each two fingers.
Without preliminaries Rob cut to the chase.
“Mr. Ben, Dr. Sam, I have accepted a job as an instructor at the University of Georgia Law School, starting this fall.”
A few seconds of silence followed. Then Ben asked, “Didn’t like litigation?”
“Work was O.K. Didn’t like the partners’ attitudes. All about how much money they could make. Set incredibly high hourly rates, then discounted them for the biggest corporate clients.”
Ben was not surprised. Rob had always been motivated by the desire to be the best, not the wealthiest. Ben was gratified that attitude still survived in his profession.
“Congratulations. I have long believed teaching was the noblest profession. Looking back, I think I owe teachers more than anyone for the fun law practice has brought me,” Ben said.
“What courses are you going to teach,” Sam asked.
“Legal ethics and professional responsibility, to start,” Rob said.
Ben was not surprised. “What hobbies have you taken up,” Ben asked.
“I have been shooting sporting clays and skeet, and I have ridden a few weekend field trials. I am here looking for advice on buying a pointer puppy I might try to develop for foot trials,” Rob said.
Ben was thrilled. Then Rob said, “And I would like some advice from Dr. Sam on video and still cameras.”
Now it was Sam’s turn to be thrilled.
Then a question came to Ben, “Where are you going to keep a puppy?”
Now Rob grinned. “I just got engaged to Molly Weems, and her dad Fred has offered to board it for me.”
Fred Weems was manager and Dog Man on Leaning Pine Plantation outside Thomasville, and an old friend of the curmudgeons. Molly was a young beauty recently graduated from Emory University and a graduate student at University of Georgia.
“Congratulations, Rob. Pour us a dividend, Ben,” Sam said, extending his glass across the table. Rob followed suit.