I sucked up my pride and made a phone call this afternoon I never imagined myself ever making. Using one of the no-contract phones, I called my father's office and asked his secretary to put me through. I could tell from her tone she was startled.
"Ghertz here." He barked the two words. Like whatever the person on the other end had better have a good reason to call and know how to be brief.
"Dad."
A pause on the other end. "Ellen."
"Can I—umm—ask you for some advice?"
A very long silence he could have filled with replies like "It's about time," or dozen other unpleasant comments, was followed by, "OK."
"If you need to know something about a local judge—like what they do with their free time or if they're involved in something they shouldn't be, who do you ask?"
"Local lawyers. Other
