Life with Scanner

Sorry about that last (cough, cough) editorial. You see, what happened is that I was on my way to the proofreader's apartment with manuscript in hand, and after an excruciating delay getting the local tavern to accept a check, I arrived at Danielle Cover's (my proofreader), and handed her my editorial. She gracefully put her glasses on, perused the copy for several moments, looked at me cock-eyed, then stated in no uncertain terms, "You're going to publish this horseshit, Scanner?"

Taken aback as I was, I still steadfastly held my ground, and replied "Umm... yeah."

"First off," Danielle opined, "this 'beware the ides of March' line isn't yours. Shakespeare wrote that."

"Shakespeare, schmakespeare!" I replied. "What, does he own the copyright on that set of particular words? Besides, almost everyone knows that Shakespeare was just the front man for a whole stable of writers. Apparently not you, though," I retorted, confident that I had punctured her fragile logic.

"Well, all of that is well and good, but here's another line I must take issue with," she harangued. "The line 'Art and revolt will die only with the last man' isn't yours either. Albert Camus said that."

"Well, sure, he may of said it first, but it's not like I don't feel the same way," I explained. "I mean, from the existentialist's perspective, hasn't everyone said everything that is going to be said, only in a different time/space conundrum?"

"Umm, that's continuum, Scanner. What, have you been watching Star Trek again?" she rudely replied, then continued. "All that I am saying is that I would seriously consider not publishing this piece of shi..., er, editorial."

So I did. Or didn't. Whichever the case may be.

I think I know what the problem may be. Perhaps it's just that I am not indignant enough.