Jimmy

Four years ago, Jimmy graduated from law school and took a job with the law firm of Woodbury and Nelson.

Two years ago, Jimmy “graduated,” as he put it, from the law firm. When pressed by those with an underdeveloped sense of subtlety, Jimmy would say, “We agreed to terminate our employer-employee relationship.” The reaction to that phrasing was usually either, “Oh,” or “Oh, they fired you.” To the latter, Jimmy would respond, “Bingo.”

One recent day,...