Love at first sight must run in the family. My son Matt had just revealed to me his plans to marry a girl he had just met. Matt and Lynn fell in love just hours after meeting at a New Year's Eve party at the Hotel Continental in Dallas. It was January 2004, just 22 years since Erica and I had been married. We had fallen in love almost immediately too, however, our circumstances were such that we had to keep our love a secret. The illicit affair was eventually discovered and the consequences were severe.

We survived somehow and were still deeply in love. I’d been practicing law as a sole practitioner in North Dallas. I had started my career with a small firm and made partner in record time. My life was perfect until my wife died in a car wreck. I was devastated and quickly turned to alcohol to forget my loss. Fortunately a friend helped me get through those most difficult times and I put my drinking behind me. The loneliness persisted, however, and I frequently fell into a deep depression.

This loneliness made me vulnerable to Erica, and perhaps it was the emptiness in Erica’s life that drew her to me. Her mother had deserted her when

"She's a senior at SMU, a marketing major—we met at a party."

"Sounds interesting. Tell me about her."

"She's a brunette, medium height, great body, and she’s got a head on her shoulders. She wants to go into advertising. You and Mom are going to love her."

"That's a good field. What's her name?"

"Lynn . . . Lynn Lakey."

"So when do I get to meet her?"

"In just a few hours. She's coming by to go to lunch. Why don't you come along?"

"No, you guys go ahead. I've got to get ready for a mediation tomorrow morning."

"We'd really like to talk to you."

"About what?"

"About what in the hell I'm going to do with my life."

"Why would you want to discuss something like that with a girl you just met?"

"It's going to affect her too."

"How do you mean?"

"She’s the one, Dad."

"But you just met her."

"I know, but I've never felt this way about a woman before. You know how sometimes you're looking for something but you don't know exactly what it is? All you know is you hope you recognize it when you see it."

"Yes, I do."

"Aside from all the sexual feelings I was getting from Lynn there was something else. I couldn't figure out what it was until it finally hit me."

"What was that?"

"Relief. For years I've been looking for the right woman without success, but after twenty-four hours with Lynn suddenly I felt calm and contented. I think the search is over."

"That's how I felt when I met your mother. . . . I hope it’s true. I can't wait to meet this woman. She must be something else."

"She is—she's dynamite."

"Good. . . . Well, I've got a client waiting for me, but I will definitely see you for lunch."

Matt went into his office and started to work on some discovery that he had to get out. While he was working he found himself looking out his window toward SMU. He could see Moody Coliseum on a clear day and he wondered where Lynn was and what she was doing. The morning dragged on and he had trouble concentrating. Finally it was time for lunch. Matt and I met Lynn at the Peking Palace in the underground city beneath One Main Place. It was crowded so we had a drink while we waited. Matt excused himself to make a phone call.

"So you two enjoyed the New Year’s Eve party, huh?" I said.

"Yes, it was wonderful," Lynn replied. "I’ve never seen so much confetti. I think it was knee deep."

"Really?"

"Yeah, the hotel had an atrium and they had it loaded in nets high above us. I didn’t notice it until they dumped it on us at midnight."

Rich shook his head. "Well, it's going to be an exciting year, I think, with technology advancing as rapidly as it is. It seems like everyday I pick up the newspaper and read about some incredible new invention."

"I know."

"Just today I was reading about the new Smart Card. I guess we won't be using checking accounts much longer."

"That's right, we've been learning about that in one of my finance classes. Everything's going to be automatic. No checks or deposits. On payday you just run your Smart Card through the company scanner and it credits your account. All transactions will be instantaneous. No more hot checks or overdrafts."

"I hope I don't ever lose my card. What a disaster that would be."

"Really."

Lynn looked toward the phones and saw Matt returning. She smiled at him as he approached and sat next to her.

"So have you made a decision about what area of the law you want to practice?" I asked.

"As a matter of fact we have. That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I've been telling Lynn how I planned to be a PI attorney until Congress and the state legislature spoiled that idea."

"You can still make a living practicing personal injury law. It's just not as lucrative as it used to be."

"Well, I want to make a ton of money. I didn't spend seven years busting my ass to become an attorney just to make a living. I want to be financially independent. A lot of lawyers manage to do that, so there's no reason why I can't do it too."

"You just graduated from law school, for godsakes. Don't you think it’s a little unrealistic to think you can get rich overnight?"

"Maybe," Matt replied. "But you gotta think big, particularly if you love money the way I do. I plan to have a lot of it."

Matt’s obsession with money bothered me but there wasn’t anything I could do about it. Erica had come from a wealthy family and was used to living well. Matt had acquired all her tastes and desires. Erica had an appreciation for the finer things of life. This had cost me plenty, but it was the price I had to pay for the woman I loved.

I said, "Are you listening to this, Lynn? You sure you want to get involved with such a greedy young man?"

"Actually, I like Matt's thinking. Why not make as much money as you can?"

"Yeah, Dad. You always quoted the Bible to us: ‘Seek and ye shall find, ask and ye shall receive, knock and the door will be opened onto you.’ Am I wrong?"

"No," I said. "That's what the Bible says, but I don't think it applies to obtaining wealth."

"Why not? Haven't you noticed people who demand a lot usually get it? So why put up with anything but the best?"

"He's right, Mr. Coleman." Lynn said. "The law of concentration. You get what you focus on most. We studied that in psychology."

"Jesus, you two were meant for each other," I said. "So what area of the law is going to propel you to financial independence?"

"This will probably surprise you but I'm thinking I'll go into bankruptcy law."

I chuckled. "Bankruptcy? There's no money in bankruptcy."

"I don't know, Dad. Lynn and I have been talking and doing some research and it seems to us that bankruptcy is the most promising of any field of the law."

"How do you figure?"

"I've been studying the market," Lynn said, "and what's amazing is that over ten percent of the population is insolvent and delinquent on one or more of their debts but less than one percent file bankruptcy every year."

"Is that right?"

"Yes, so we have an incredible market. All we have to do is identify those people who are insolvent and get them to face reality. That's going to be my job, to get these people into the office so we can make them realize bankruptcy is their best move."

"People are proud and naturally optimistic. It's not easy to convince them to file bankruptcy," I said. "Believe me, I've been playing this game for years. A lot of people say I'm the best damn bankruptcy attorney in Dallas, but I certainly haven't got rich from it."

"That's because you're not trying to get rich, Dad. You're just trying to make a living. You don't do any advertising with the exception of the Yellow Pages and you don't solicit business. That's why you only do two hundred or so bankruptcies a year. We think we can get a thousand with the right advertising campaign. That will give us gross revenue of over one million dollars a year."

I shook my head and replied, "You're right. I'm not a damn TV Guide lawyer, if that’s what you mean. I'm a professional and I try to act like it. It's not right to peddle the law like a used car salesman."

"I disagree. As long as I provide competent services, which I will, then it shouldn't matter how I get my business. I think tasteful ads, whether they are in the TV Guide, on the radio or on television, are quite appropriate."

"Well if you've got it all figured out, why do you need me?"

"You know bankruptcy practice as well as anyone in Dallas. If we start bringing in a high volume of clients we're going to have to gear up for it. We'll need a good staff and a system for getting the cases in and out as quickly and efficiently as possible. This is where we could use your help, Dad. Will you help us set up our operation?"

I frowned and said, "Why should I help the competition?"

"Because I'm your son."

"I’m not sure you understand how much paperwork is involved in bankruptcy practice. You can't just rush clients through, they all take a certain amount of time and attention. You have to do your due diligence to be sure everything you file is correct. Handling a thousand bankruptcies would be a colossal nightmare."

"We know that. That's why we need you to show us how to handle them as efficiently as possible. General Motors puts out a shitload of cars, but that doesn't mean they're all a pile of junk. You can have high volume and good quality at the same time if you're geared up for it. We need you to show us how to do that."

"Okay, okay," I sighed. "I'll help in any way I can."

"Good, we really appreciate it, Dad."

"So what's the game plan?" I asked.

"Well, once we have our systems and support staff ready, we'll launch our advertising campaign. I'm going to let Lynn explain what we have planned."

Lynn smiled and began explaining their plans with great eagerness and excitement. "Okay . . . There are ten local telephone books, three area books, and then the main Dallas directory. We plan to get in all of them but since they all come out at different times, it will take a full year to do it. To get us some immediate business we plan to advertise in TV Week in the Dallas Morning News."

"Oh God, are you really going to do that?"

"Yes," Matt replied. "It's the only way to get some immediate business and since our overhead will be high it's absolutely necessary."

"I can't believe the Coleman name is going to be in the TV book."

"Oh come on, Dad. It's no big deal. A lot of good firms advertise in TV Week," Matt said.

"Anyway, after a few months, if the cash flow is sufficient, we'll do a few radio and TV spots," Lynn continued.

"It sounds expensive. Have you done a cost analysis?"

"Yes, it will be expensive, but our revenue should be at least five times our advertising dollar. It will all work out."

"Maybe eventually, but you may have negative cash flow for awhile. How do you plan to fund the initial start up?"

"We can do some short-term financing if we need to," Lynn said. "We've got good credit."

"If you're wrong about this you may be filing your own bankruptcy."

"Sometimes you've got to gamble," Matt said.

"I can understand you gambling, Matt, but I don't think you should drag Lynn into this. You've only known each other a few weeks. What if things don't work out between you?"

"I want to be in on it," Lynn said. "It's exciting and I want to be part of it."

"Lynn doesn't have to do this," Matt added. "No one is twisting her arm. She wants to do it and I’m glad she wants to be involved. It will make it that much more fun, and with her expertise, it will be more likely to succeed."

I leaned back, smiled, and said, "Well, I hope it works out."

"It will, Dad. Don't worry."

The waitress finally took us to a table and we sat down and studied the menu. Matt watched me intently, wondering if I was angry. I wasn’t—just frustrated because he was so naive and wasn’t being realistic. Unfortunately, being like his mother, he was stubborn and once he got an idea in his head there was no dissuading him.

"So, I want to bring Lynn home to see Mom sometime."

I looked up and smiled, "Sure, your Mom would like that, I'm sure. Why don't we all go out to dinner Saturday night?"

"Saturday?" Matt said and then looked at Lynn.

"That's fine with me," Lynn said.

"Good then, it's settled," I said. "Come by the house and we'll all go together. Do you like Italian, Lynn?"

"Oh, absolutely."

"Good, we'll go to Antonio's in Addison. How's that?"

"Good," Matt said. "That's a great place."

After lunch we went to back to the office. It was cold and a light snow was falling. Lynn didn't have an overcoat so Matt held her close to him as we walked.

"Do you have classes this afternoon?" I asked.

"Just an ethics class at two."

"Ethics? I didn't know there were any ethics in advertising."

She laughed. "That's why they developed the course. Anybody who's a marketing major has to take it."

"I bet it's an interesting class," I said.

"It is. We get into some very heated debates sometimes."

As we approached the lobby to our office building Matt said, "Well, I'm going to walk Lynn to her car."

"Okay," I replied. "It was very nice meeting you, Lynn. I'm looking forward to having you for dinner."

"Yes, I can't wait to meet your wife. Matt has told me so much about her."

"Yes, Erica will be anxious to meet you too."

"Bye," Lynn said.

I watched them walk to the elevator still in shock over Lynn's sudden appearance in Matt's life. She was a delight and I could understand how Matt fell in love with her. I wondered what Erica would think of her.

***

On Saturday night we all went out to dinner as planned. Erica and Lynn hit it off from the start. Erica wanted to know all about her and Lynn didn't seem to mind telling her. She told us about her family and growing up in Bonham, a small town northeast of Dallas near the Texas–Oklahoma border. She had only one sibling, an older sister who had just graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in English. They were very close. Lynn's dad was a dentist and her mother, besides being a homemaker, was on the local school board.

It was a pretty impressive family resume. I was certainly convinced she would be a great catch, but I wondered if they would actually ever get married. Before I married my first wife, I had thought I was in love more than once. You just never knew about those things. As the girls talked, Matt and I kept busy dipping our bread into the olive oil the waitress had left for us. It was good and I kept telling myself to stop before I was too full to eat the entree.

"So, Rich tells me you're going to help Matt out in his new law practice," Erica said.

"Yes, I'm going to be his right-hand woman, so to speak."

"I was really surprised to hear you were going into bankruptcy law, Matt," Erica said.

"I'm surprised too, Mother. I never even considered it until Lynn pointed out to me how lucrative it could be if we handled it right."

"So, when will you start?" Erica asked.

"Well, that's a good question," Matt said. "But before we answer it there is something we need to tell you."

"What's that?" I asked.

"Well, Lynn and I are getting married."

A big smile came over Erica's face. "Oh my God. What a surprise."

"Yes, we're kind of in shock too, but now that we've found each other there's no reason to wait."

"Congratulations," I said. "I was worried this big lug would die a bachelor."

"Well, that's not going to happen now, Dad."

"Good."

"So, have you set a date?" Erica asked.

"Not exactly, but we're thinking the middle of June," Lynn said.

"That's not too far off. So, where will the wedding be?"

"We're not sure. All our friends are here," Matt said. "But Lynn's parents may want to have it there."

"Well, Bonham isn't too far away," Erica said. "If you have it there it wouldn't be so bad. . . . This is so exciting! Have you told your parents, Lynn?"

"No, you're the first to know."

The limousine pulled up in front of St. Monica's Catholic church and an usher opened the door. It was a warm, sunny day in June and a large crowd had already gathered inside the magnificent edifice. Lynn took the usher's hand and stepped out of the limousine. She wore a long, short sleeve silk gown with a long train. Two of her bridesmaids held the delicate fabric as she walked up the steep steps. Her mother and father watched joyfully as she entered the church. After her mother was seated, the bridesmaids and ushers each proceeded to the alter and Lynn and her father waited for The Wedding March to begin.

Finally, the music started and the crowd came to their feet. Lynn, on her father's arm, walked proudly down the aisle to the altar. Matt watched her intently as she walked. Their eyes met and she smiled radiantly. When she finally reached him, Matt took her arm and stood ready to be wed. The priest began the mass, and when he got to the homily, he turned his attention to the bride and groom.

"Matt and Lynn, you are getting married at a very difficult time. I know the world is at peace, the economy is good and all seems well, but there is still great danger, especially to a young couple just starting out. You see, never in the history of the world have there been more distractions and temptations set before you by the fallen angel, Lucifer. What are these temptations? They take the form of money, fancy cars, lavish foods, liquor, drugs, gambling, and promiscuity, just to name a few.

"The last two decades of the twentieth century were an abomination. In just twenty years the morals of our country quite literally fell into the gutter. Divorce has become a tragic reality for sixty percent of marriages today. Why has this happened?" He opened the Bible and began reading,"'For the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.' The love of money, this is the sickness that festers in our society today, and this is why I say you are getting married at a difficult time, indeed a perilous time."

Matt looked over and glared at me. I had suggested to Father Bob that money might be a good topic for his homily. We had a long discussion about materialism and the decay of the family. Matt shook his head and looked at Lynn who was rolling her eyes.

"Matt and Lynn, listen to my words. Your only hope of survival is your love of God and each other. Turn away from the temptations that surround you and keep your sights on the Lord. Live a modest, happy life . . . Avoid the lavish lifestyle that will lead you ultimately to the house of Satan."

Following the marriage ceremony there was a reception at the Dallas Country Club and then the newlyweds flew off to Cancun for a brief honeymoon. When they returned, they set in motion their plans for Matt's new bankruptcy practice. They incorporated the practice as Debt Relief Centers of Texas, P.C. They planned to open three offices initially in Dallas, Arlington, and Fort Worth. Each location had a staff of one attorney, a secretary, and a paralegal. Matt and I worked hard for several weeks setting up their systems and getting ready for the commencement of business. Finally, in mid-July they opened their doors.

Business was slow the first few days but picked up quickly as people began to spot their ad in TV Week. By the end of the month they had done twenty-one bankruptcies which was just four shy of their first month’s target. In August they did thirty-two which would have been good for most practitioners but it wasn't enough to cover the overhead of three offices. One afternoon in September, Matt, Lynn, and I met at their Dallas office to discuss the situation and to determine what needed to be done to ensure their survival and future success.

"We seemed to have leveled off at thirty to thirty-five bankruptcies. I really don't understand why," Matt said.

"That number should jump when the Dallas phone book comes out in December, don't you think?"

"Right, but that's nearly two months off. At the rate we're going we'll lose another twenty grand by then."

"I warned you two you were moving too fast," I said. "Bankruptcy is a tough business and there's a lot of competition. I'm sure the other bankruptcy firms have beefed up their advertising to keep you from stealing their business."

"That's the problem," Lynn said, "we're competing for the same amount of business that has always been out there. Somehow we've got to increase the number of bankruptcy filings and capture the new business so the existing firms won't feel threatened."

"How do you propose to do that?" I said.

"I'm working on some TV ads, but it's going to be expensive to air them. We don't have the money right now to do it."

"Don't look at me, I’m not going to invest in the competition," I said.

Matt shook his head and replied, "I guess I'll have to borrow some money from the bank. They've offered me a $50,000 line of credit."

"Do you have any idea how hard it will be to pay back that kind of money? If the TV campaign doesn't work, you'll be sunk."

"It will work," Matt said, and then looked at Lynn. "Won't it, honey?"

"I think so, but obviously there are no guarantees."

"I'm not looking for guarantees, just a good probability of success."

"Have you got the TV ads approved by the state bar?"

"We've submitted them but we haven't heard back yet," Matt said. "They're supposed to make a decision within thirty days, so we should be hearing soon."

"Well, it's your call," I said. "I don't think I can add much to what has been said, so I'm going to go."

"What's your hurry?"

"I've got to get ready for a §727 trial tomorrow."

"Really, why is the trustee objecting to the discharge?"

"My client started a cosmetics business. It was one of those multi-level marketing deals. Unfortunately he neglected to get it properly licensed and the Attorney General shut him down. A lot of people lost their shirt."

"Was it like a pyramid scheme?"

"Kind of like that. Basically, the first guy signs up three or four people to sell product. They each have to buy some product themselves, of course. Then those people in turn sell to three or four other people. Each time the number of new salesmen multiplies. After six or seven levels there are literally thousands of salesmen in the down line. As a result sales soar and profits increase geometrically."

"Pretty slick. Well, good luck at the trial."

"Thanks, I'll need it," I said, and then embraced Matt. Lynn smiled and gave me a hug.

Lynn said, "Thanks for your help, Dad. We really appreciate it."

Over the next thirty days the situation didn't change. Matt acquired his fifty thousand dollar line of credit so he could pay his bills and Lynn readied her TV commercials for airing. On Sunday night they cuddled in bed in front of their bedroom TV to watch the first commercial which was scheduled during the 10 o'clock news.

The first shot they saw was of a man at his desk paying bills. The camera focused on the huge stack of bills and the obvious distress of the man trying to pay them. Suddenly the man let out a cry of despair and with one swipe of his hand, sent the bills flying. Then he turned to the camera and said, "What's the use! There just isn't enough money to go around."

The scene changed to Matt's office where he is seated at his desk working. As the camera pans in on him, he stops what he is doing and addresses the audience. "If you've got more bills than you can possibly pay, it may be time to consider bankruptcy. The law says you have a right to a fresh start. Most people who finally file bankruptcy complain that they waited and suffered too long before they filed. You shouldn't make the same mistake. Give us a call for a free consultation to see if you're eligible to file."

The scene changed back to the man who was seen earlier. Now he is calm and tranquil and only a few bills are left on his desk. He looks up and says, "Since I filed bankruptcy, everything has been so much better. The phone has quit ringing, my wife and I are talking again and we're actually starting to save some money. What I keep asking myself is: why did I wait?"

Finally, the camera shifts back to Matt and he concludes, "If you can't pay your bills as they come due you're probably eligible to file bankruptcy. Call for a free consultation and we will be happy to tell you if bankruptcy is the answer for you. Give us a call at any of the three Debt Relief Centers from nine to five, Monday through Saturday. We're looking forward to helping you get out of debt and back on the road to financial security. Thank you."

At the conclusion of the commercial, Lynn looked over at Matt and smiled. "Well, what do you think?"

"It looked good to me but I guess tomorrow morning we'll find out how good it is."

"I'm scared, what if it's a bomb?" Lynn said.

"Then we'll punt and try something different."

"Yeah, but you'll have lost all of your savings and with all your student loans and the $50,000 you just borrowed. . . . You'll owe over $100,000."

"I know and I couldn't file bankruptcy. That wouldn't be an option. I could never look my father in the eye again. It would be too humiliating."

"No, no way. You couldn't do that. We just have to make it work. We don't have any choice."

Matt and Lynn watched the rest of the news and, when it was over, shut off the TV and the lights and tried to go to sleep. It was a restless night for them both, tossing and turning, dreaming of success and failure until the first rays of sunlight entered their bedroom window. They were exhausted before they got up. At breakfast the conversation was brief; they just looked at each other wondering what the day would bring.

They got to the Dallas office at 8:45. The staff was just arriving and a fresh pot of coffee was brewing. Matt started sorting through his mail and faxes and Lynn chatted with the receptionist.

"So did you see the ad?" Lynn asked.

"Yes, I loved it," the receptionist said. "Rob, my boyfriend, watched it with me and he said he was thinking about filing."

"Really," Lynn laughed and then looked down at her watch. "Better take the phones off forwarding. It's nearly nine o'clock."

The receptionist picked up the phone, hit seven-three and then put the receiver down. Matt walked into the reception area and smiled at Lynn. She looked at him anxiously. The phones were quiet.

"A watched pot never boils. Let's just get to work."

Lynn sighed and then walked into the kitchen and pulled two cups out of the cabinet. Matt followed her and put his hands on her shoulders and began massaging her back. She closed her eyes and enjoyed his magical fingers. She loved to have Matt rub her back. The kitchen phone rang, she jumped and looked at Matt. They strained their ears to hear what the receptionist was saying. She hung up.

"Who was that," Lynn yelled.

"Your envelopes are ready to be picked up at the printers."

"Oh . . . shit! I thought the ad was good. It's almost ten after nine and we haven't got one call."

"Maybe putting them in the 10 o'clock news was a bad idea."

"The station said that would be a good time."

"You know, the first ad isn't going to be enough to convince anyone to file bankruptcy. They're going to have to mull it over, think about it for awhile. I bet it will be a few days before the phone starts ringing."

The phone rang again, this time the receptionist buzzed them in the kitchen. "New prospect on line 2."

Lynn smiled as Matt picked up the line. As he was talking the phone rang again. Lynn heard the receptionist refer the caller to the legal assistant. She walked into the legal assistant's office to confirm that it was new business. Satisfied that it was she went back to the kitchen, where Matt was just hanging up.

"Well?"

"He's coming in at two."

"Good. Did he see the ad?"

"No," Matt laughed. "He found us in the telephone book."

"Oh." Lynn said and then went to the counter and poured a cup of coffee. When she turned the legal assistant was there smiling.

"Well, the guy on the phone said he saw the ad and decided to call us.

"So, is he coming in?"

"No, he just wants a free brochure."

"Oh," Lynn said and then took a sip of her coffee.

"What do you think I did wrong, Matt?"

"Nothing, just try to relax. It's just going to take some time."

The phones were only slightly more active the rest of the week. Lynn’s TV ads hadn't even increased business enough to pay for their cost. She didn't understand it. She watched them over and over again, trying to figure out why they weren't effective. Matt was very patient and supportive but she could tell he was scared. Their money was running out and it wouldn't be long before they would have to close the two satellite offices. She sat in her office, staring out the window when it hit her. She got up and walked into Matt's office.

"Honey," Lynn said. "I'm going over to SMU to talk to Professor Gray, my marketing professor. Maybe he can tell me what's wrong with the ad."

"That's a good idea, honey. He'll probably spot the problem right off."

"Okay, I'll be back before five."

"Good luck."

Lynn arrived at the SMU campus and parked. It was a warm July day with a light wind from the south. As she strolled past the Student Union memories of her college days flooded her mind. She loved the majestic SMU campus with its giant trees and luscious grass. It was so shady she barely noticed the sweltering heat. As she neared her destination, she ran into a familiar face.

"Professor Swensen . . . Hi."

"Lynn, is that you?"

"Yes, it is."

"What brings you on campus?"

"I was going to see Professor Gray. I had him last semester for marketing and I needed a little advice."

"Oh. . . . So, I hear you got married."

"Yes, I met this wonderful guy, Matt Coleman. He's an attorney."

"Yes, I know. I saw him on TV."

"Oh, what did you think?"

"Frankly, I was disappointed."

"Oh, you were."

"Yes, I hate to see the legal profession stoop to such depths. What happened to professionalism?"

"This is the twenty-first century, professor. It's the age of electronics. Everybody advertises on TV."

"I know, but have you ever seen sharks circle a wounded whale, waiting to go in for the kill, and then fighting each other over the carcass? It's rather frightening and reminds me of what I saw Sunday night."

"But that's not what Matt's doing. He's trying to help all those people who are hopelessly in debt."

"But why? Why does he want to help them?"

"Because he cares."

"Ha!" the professor said. "Really, do you think everyone is stupid? Your husband is pleading, begging them to go bankrupt so he can make a nice fat fee. He doesn't give a damn about his clients. That's one thing that was obvious."

"Is that what it looked like?"

The professor nodded.

"Well, maybe that's why it didn't work. Matt came off as just another greedy attorney trying to get rich off of other people’s misery."

"Precisely. He's going to have convince people he cares about them and not the money to gain their trust. He has to be on a mission for truth and justice. I like the name of the practice, the Debt Relief Center. God knows people need relief from the interest trap."

"What do you mean, interest trap?"

"You know, we talked about it in class. From the day you are born you are indoctrinated on how important credit is to everyone. You're told over and over again that good credit is the secret to financial success and happiness in life. You're barraged with advertisements for all the expensive luxury items you can buy right now on credit and nearly everyone takes the bait.

"They get a house they can't afford, a luxury car they don't need and run up a half dozen credit cards to the hilt. Before you know it you're a slave to the system. Most of your hard-earned money is going to banks and mortgage companies in interest payments. You pay and pay and pay, yet the balance you owe never goes down. Soon the joy is gone in your life—happiness is replaced with constant worry and depression."

"Jesus, that's depressing."

"But, am I wrong?"

"No, now that I think about it, you're right on the money. I can't believe the scam that's being played on the American people."

"Exactly, and if you put your husband on TV to expose that scam, then you'll get people's attention."

"Hmm, I'm glad I ran into you, professor. I guess I got what I came here for. I think I'll go back to the office and discuss what you said with Matt. I think he'll be excited. Do you mind if he calls you and discusses what we've been talking about?"

"No, by all means, have him call me."

"Do you have statistics and documentation of all of this?"

"Of course, I've been studying the phenomenon for years. I'd love to share it with Matt."

"Good, thanks again."

"Bye."

***

Lynn watched as the studio crew milled around while they waited for the shooting to begin. She smiled as she watched make-up being applied to Matt's face. Personally she didn't think he needed any make-up as he was quite handsome and photogenic. He was tall, trim, and had golden brown hair—thick like his father's. She thought he looked at home on the TV set. Finally the director snapped his fingers and the set became still. Matt got up and walked over to the podium set up before a live audience. The director nodded and a man stuck a board in front of the camera and said, "Scene two, take three."

Matt looked out into the audience and said, "Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Matt Coleman and what I'm about to tell you is going to make you very angry. I'm here to uncover for you a vicious lie, a deception that has devastated the lives of millions of Americans. Yes, from the day you were born, each and every one of you have been carefully manipulated into becoming slaves. Yes, carefully programmed robots who go to work every day and then religiously send seventy to eighty percent of your wealth to your masters, the big corporate giants of Wall Street and the government bureaucrats in Washington."

"Think about it. From the day you are born, you're told that good credit is your ticket to the American Dream. You can have all the luxuries and modern conveniences of life right now, on credit. Why wait, they say, when you can have it now."

"Think about it. Let's say you're a middle-class family with annual income of forty thousand dollars a year. If you work forty years you'll earn 1.6 million dollars. If you're a typical family you'll buy a hundred and fifty thousand dollar home, a car every four or five years and have a half dozen credit cards maxed out very early in the game."

"Now the enemy here is compound interest. It's common knowledge that you'll pay nearly $315,000 over thirty years for that $150,000 home. The cars will cost you double their initial cost and you'll be paying the minimums on your credit cards until you’re dead and buried."

The camera zoomed in on Matt as he pointed to a chart he had prepared. "Now if you subtract twenty-five percent of your income for taxes that leaves you with $1,200,000. Subtract $314,000 for what you actually pay for your home, including all the interest, and now you only have $806,000. By the time you take away $360,000 for your automobiles you have only $446,000 left to live on for 40 years!"

The crowd broke into excited chatter. Matt paused a second until they quieted down.

"That's only $11,150 a year for food, clothing, utilities, property taxes, insurance, recreation and your kid’s education. It's no wonder the average person is broke all the time—barely making ends meet! It's no wonder it takes two bread winners nowadays to survive! It's no wonder the divorce rate has gone to the roof and suicides are at an historical high!"

Someone in the crowd yelled, "That's right! Those bastards have made us their slaves."

"That's exactly right," Matt continued. "But there is a way out. There is a loophole they can't close. There is a way each and every one of you can get free!"

"Tell us what it is!" A lady screamed. "Tell us the way to salvation!"

"It's bankruptcy my friend. That's right, bankruptcy."

The crowd was silent.

"Now most of you think bankruptcy is a bad word, right?"

"That's right, a bad word," a lady said.

"Who told you it was a bad word? Was it your mother and father? Your teachers in school, perhaps? Did you hear it from your friends and relatives? Well the men up on Wall Street want you to think bankruptcy is a bad word. They want you to think if you file bankruptcy that you're a failure, a deadbeat, and a loser. They want you to feel this way for two reasons. Number one, if you go bankrupt you're going to be set free from the tyranny of compound interest. You won't have to line their pockets with your hard-earned cash anymore. And number two, if you file bankruptcy, you'll have bad credit and that will mean the goons on Wall Street won't be able to put you back on the compound interest treadmill!

"Ladies and gentlemen, bankruptcy is not a bad word, it's a sweet melodious word! It should fill your heart with gladness and joy for it is your salvation!"

The crowd stood up and gave Matt a standing ovation. Lynn ran over and Matt put his arm around her as they stood and waved to the crowd. The camera focused on their smiling faces and they panned around the crowd clapping and yelling wildly. After the session was over the director came over and met with Matt and Lynn.

"That worked out quite well, don't you think?"

"Oh yes," Lynn said. "It was wonderful, but it was too long for a commercial."

"I know. What I would suggest is that we have a five minute infomercial on Sunday night. Then all week we'll feature ninety second segments with a short intro beforehand and then flash the name, address, and telephone number of your company at the end."

"Oh, I see," Lynn said. "That should be very effective. What do you think, honey?"

"You two are the experts. Whatever you think. But I don't mind telling you it felt good being out there saying what I did. Did you see how riled up the crowd got? . . . Now I know how it feels to be a politician. I could feel the power."

"Yes," the director said. "I think it will be a dynamite ad campaign. You did a fine job, Matt."

That night Matt and Lynn went out to dinner to celebrate. It was around eight when they were seated at the Outback Steak House in Addison. A waitress quickly appeared.

"What can I get you to drink?" she said.

"Two margaritas, please. Big ones," Matt said.

"Coming right up," the waitress said with a smile and then left.

"I think you hit a home run tonight, honey," Matt said.

"Me? You're the one that whipped the crowd into a frenzy."

"True, that was a lot of fun, but if you hadn't come up with the words I wouldn't have known what to say."

"You sounded like you believed what you were saying. Nobody will even guess it was just a script. Everybody's going to think you're some kind of consumer advocate or something."

"Who cares as long as the business rolls in, right? We're going to make a mint. Won't my father be surprised."

"He'll be jealous when he sees you making more money your first year out of law school than he's making after twenty-five years."

"No, you’re wrong about that. Dad won't be jealous. He makes a lot of money on the stock market. He'll be glad if what we're doing makes us happy and we're taking good care of our clients."

"Oh, I don't know. I bet he'll be a little jealous."

"Maybe," Matt said and then noticed the waitress coming with their drinks.

"Here you go. Two margaritas."

"Thank you," Matt said, and then handed the waitress a twenty-dollar bill. "Keep the change."

The waitress smiled and said, "Thanks," and then left.

Matt lifted his glass and proclaimed, "I want to make a toast. To the beginning of a very lucrative law practice. Honey, I couldn't have done it without you. I love you."

"I love you too," Lynn said, and then they touched their glasses together and took a sip of their drink.

"Hmmm. These are good margaritas," Matt said.

Lynn nodded and took another sip. "Yes, very good."

After dinner they went to a nearby club, danced a little, talked, and continued to drink. By the time the they got home around midnight they were feeling pretty amorous so they went straight to the bedroom. They undressed each other quickly and jumped under the covers. They made love for hours until every ounce of their energy was spent.

When Matt awoke the next morning Lynn was still wrapped around him. He smiled and took a deep breath. Her smell was so sweet he pulled her up close and squeezed her gently. He had never felt so content—so happy. He had it all now—everything he had ever wanted.