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Chapter 10

The very next day I went to the Swan house with determination. I wasn't going to let Justice Swan get rid of me without proper notice or cause. I would stand my ground and argue my case. I had done nothing to earn Miss Swan's hatred; I'd been a good and faithful listener and I would continue to be a good clerk. I would start to take my lunch at my aunt and uncle's and avoid Miss Swan altogether.

It never occurred to me that I was becoming obdurate for no reason. I was acting a fool and fighting shadows.

Justice Swan greeted me at the door like I was his long lost son. He shook my hand warmly and welcomed me back into his home. It was as if the altercation with his daughter hadn't happened or that I'd just inflated the meeting. I felt stupid for all my concern.

I set to work as I should. I finished one of his cases and started another. I started to worry that I might meet up with Miss Swan again at lunch, but there was no place set for her. I can't say I wasn't relieved.

After lunch I presented the finished case to him. He gave me some basic correspondence to answer and left me to my own devices for the rest of the day. The knock for tea surprised me. I was so engrossed in my work I lost all track of time. It was a good day.

The next few weeks were the same. Work, lunch, work, teatime, work, and then home. I was enjoying myself and feeling like a real clerk. Soon I would take the bar examination and set up my own practice.

I was beginning to think I had imagined the incident with Miss Swan. Perhaps I wasn't the reason for her anger, just the scapegoat for it. Maybe I would never have to see her again, more's the pity; I wanted to see her, a lot of her and often. I wanted her to come into my room at night and read me filthy stories until I fell asleep. I wanted her to wake me every morning by calling my name in her wonderful throaty voice. For the first time in my life my imagination was running away with my mind. And both seemed to wind up in the gutter a great deal of the time.

The face that greeted me on an innocent Friday a while later was an angry one. Justice Swan was in a temper and he stormed about the office as if his shoes were made of lead. He muttered to himself and glowered at me every chance he got. By lunchtime his colour was so high I thought he would have an attack or cause his own death. He ate two bites and told me to go home and not come back until he sent for me. He assured me that I was not the cause of his ire but I had my suspicions.

I raided my uncle's library and read the weekend away. I saw no movement at the Swan house nor did I seen any lights.

A note was sent for me the following Tuesday, full of praise for my work and pleading for my return Wednesday, eight sharp. I was so very confused. I had never known someone so mercurial as Justice Swan. It worried me that perhaps I had been hitched to a mad man and my career would suffer because of him. I wondered if I should continue with him or seek my fortunes elsewhere.

I stood for a long time staring out my bedroom window at the house next door, just thinking. Worrying and wondering, but mostly thinking. There had been so many twists and turns in my life over the last few months. It made me tired just to think about them.

Wednesday morning I dressed with care. I had a feeling this day would be a turning point. Something was going to happen today but I couldn't really decide on what that would be. Would I be leaving Justice Swan or was there something else on the horizon? My eggs felt like sawdust in my mouth and my tea had no flavour either. Esme commented on my behaviour, but although I was too distracted to really answer her, I was present enough to apologise. She patted me on the shoulder and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek.

The drive to the Swan's felt interminable although it was less than five minutes. So did the walk to the door. The moment my hand met the wood, Justice Swan opened the door and ushered me in. He stood before me, looking every bit the imposing adjudicator he must have been in his heyday.

"My boy, I have a proposal for you that I want you to consider very seriously before answering. It is nothing dangerous, illegal, immoral or arduous but will be an act of faith and a great service to me personally." He paced back and forth behind his desk sneaking glances at me every other turn.

The skin on the back of my neck tingled. I both wanted to know and wanted to flee. But I did owe him the respect to listen to him before running for the hills.

"What is it you require of me?" I don't know why I spoke so formally but the occasion seemed to warrant it.

"In exchange for a small service, I'm willing to swear, under oath, that you have fulfilled the terms of your clerkship, one month from now, and I will help you study and pass the bar for this and the tri-state area. I know you have been working late at night; I can see you from my bedroom window. I know you are more than smart enough and a hard worker. So there would be no lie to any of my claims. What do you say, boy?"

I thought about it for a few moments before answering.

"What would I have to do?"

AN: Some how I don't feel guilty for leaving this question unanswered or dangling. Could be my mean, evil side coming out or something. Who knows? Beachcomberlc knows. IpsitaC77 knows. Everyone else, LunaBev and JulieToo included will have to wait two days.

Hi DICATAKADD.

Thank you for reading.