\u201cSo what do you do for a living, Ben?\u201d asked Carl of his likely father-in-law to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cInteresting you should ask that,\u201d replied Ben. I work in the city\u2019s planning department, where I\u2019m responsible for reviewing permit applications for new construction, re-builds, and refurbishments. We get dozens of applications every month. My job is to ensure each one complies with city zoning ordinances, environmental requirements, and appropriate disposal of contaminated wastewater and other industrial effluents.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat sounds like an exacting task,\u201d replied Carl. \u201cIt must take a lot of research for each permit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, it does. First of all, the applicant has to complete the paperwork for their request, several pages of paperwork \u2013 let me step you through the process,\u201d and Ben launched into a lengthy, detailed description of the city\u2019s permitting process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ten minutes or so into Ben\u2019s monolog, Carl found himself battling with the desire of his eyelids to flutter and close, lulled by the persistent, unceasing monotone account Ben was providing of a typical day in his working life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Possible relief appeared when Ben\u2019s wife, Martha, entered bearing two cups of tea. Until now, Martha had been in the kitchen speaking with Rose, her daughter, and Ben\u2019s fianc\u00e9. She set one cup in front of Ben, smiling, then turning to Carl, eyed him with apparent suspicion and a disapproving frown. She placed his cup on the coffee table just out of his reach and, giving an abrupt \u201cHmph!\u201d left the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Carl reached for the cup, if for nothing more than a diversion from Ben\u2019s still rambling and interminable job description. Carl was concerned. \u2018What is her problem? I have barely spoken to her after saying hello and giving her that bunch of flowers.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was trying to recall any possible transgression on his part that could have upset his intended future mother-in-law when a slight change in Ben\u2019s tone of voice implied he may be asking Carl a question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSorry, Ben, what was that again?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI said do you want me to run over the questions in part D of a permit application again? I know they can be hard to grasp at first hearing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s OK. I think I got it the first time round; carry on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ben carried on. Carl sat, turning over the conflicting feelings jumping around in his head \u2013 boredom for sure, and concern at possibly committing an unknown faux pas a second, both of which conflicted with his initial desire to make a favorable first impression on his future in-laws. He was at a loss to understand what was going on, and Rose was still in the kitchen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cSo what do you do for a living, Ben?\u201d asked Carl of his likely father-in-law to be. \u201cInteresting you should ask that,\u201d replied Ben. I work in the city\u2019s planning department, where I\u2019m responsible for reviewing permit applications for … Continue reading