In 1983 I was working as assistant to the President of the New York Times Syndication Sales Corp. He was a self-involved sort who often prioritized his personal wish list. He had signed up for an Information Industry Association conference and at the last minute, decided he didn’t want to go. He assigned me to write a letter excusing him and asking to be forgiven the entry fee for which he had been billed, even though the deadline for canceling was past. “You’ll think of something,†he said.
I wrote two letters – and put them both on his desk. Here is the one he did not send:
Gentlemen:
Please cancel the enclosed invoice addressed to K… H…… for his attendance at the 15th Annual Convention of the Information Industry Association. We realize notice of cancellation is past your deadline, but I feel sure you will wish to accommodate Mr. H when you learn of the unfortunate circumstances leading to his absence.
On the eve of the meeting, Mr. H discovered he has A.I.D.S. You can imagine the shock to his family, not to mention his system, or to the several normal people with whom he shares his favors (I doubt they’ll think of them as ‘favors’ any longer, if you know what I mean).
As for the transmitter, Mr. H has hardly had time to investigate and his task is the more difficult as those baths were shut down by the Health Department only two days before he learned of his condition. In any case, thoughts of revenge must be far from the man’s mind. No, he is far more concerned in getting his health attended to, and he must also make plans to provide for his illegitimate child, should the end be near, or should his income here be suddenly curtailed.
The Times is very generous to its employees-in-crisis, but even that august body has its criteria. It is true $420 would not go far, but the little beggar would be most grateful.
Thank you for consideration of this claim.
(Typed with a ten-foot pole.)
Respectfully,
HS
P.S. Please address your reply to my replacement.
xx, Teal