# THOMPSON-HAYES: THE INSIDE OUT
## Chapter Twenty-Four — Preparation
Diana had three rules for the testimony preparation.
She announced them on Monday morning sitting at Mia's kitchen table with the framework document open and a coffee she was already halfway through.
"Rule one," Diana said. "You write it. I structure it. You write it back. That loop happens twice and then it's done. No more revisions."
"Agreed," Mia said.
"Rule two: no legal language. Not a word. The senators have lawyers. They don't need you to sound like one. They need you to sound like the person the thing happened to." She looked at Mia over the laptop. "You're very good at that. Don't let preparation kill it."
"Agreed," Mia said.
"Rule three: when they push — and they will push — you don't explain yourself.
