Long ago and far away, I had a colleague who was a new reporter at the newspaper where we worked.

I was talking with her about this or that and she mentioned that an uncomfortable situation had arisen.

It seems the managing editor, a man, had left a hand-written note in her mail box.

"I need a friend," he had written.

Understandably, the thought crossed my colleague's mind that friendship might not be his real goal.

I don't recall the details of how it played out. But she did eventually realize that he actually had written "I need a favor."

He wanted her to call someone or check on a story possibility. Something like that.

Whew.

In a few years, email would arrive and bring with it a new set a problems. But at least you could read it correctly.

 

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