New Job

I took my time machine back to Richmond in 1839 and got a job working for Burton’s Gentleman’s magazine. I was hired as a writer. The editor, my boss, was Edgar Allen Poe.

I was assigned to write about a law that was passed that allowed women to own property. Poe wanted me to slant it to point out the law’s “absurdity.”

I said, “Change is inevitable. When it’s circumscribed, we wear ourselves down in useless turmoil.”

He said, “Your foolish temperament is the definition of impudence!”

I thought about the time difference and said, “You’re probably right.”