Look on my Works, Ye Mighty: Battling the Arrogance of Creation

by Paul M. French

[Originally sent as a letter to subscribers one week before the first issue released.]

"What made you think you could do that?" the lawyer said.

He was drunk and putting too much breath behind his words. The whole question hit me as one warm, stinky yawn.

"Oh, well, I don't know. I mean, I've made magazines before. This is just the first one I'm doing on my own."

"Ye-ahh, but what made you think you could do it?" the lawyer belched. He was very drunk. It's unfair to write about drunk people, but I can't remember his name anyway. He was in his late 50s and had a white pullover sweater tied loosely around his neck. His wife, in company there at Charlie Brown's, was at least 10 years younger than him. She was also a lawyer and also very drunk.

"Where did you go to school?" he asked.

"New Mexico State," I said.

"New Mexico? Really?"

"Yes."

"Well…I hope this goes okay for you."

"I think it will," I said.

I've endured this line of questioning before. I have to be careful, because I'm very much a littl…