interesting and a mark on the little notepad by his elbow he asked had she ever done this sort of work before what sort of work she asked and told him that she was actually a writer herself in a fashion she at once regretted saying it and wished she could take it back could swallow the words before they entered his mind he just nodded and made another note on his pad and there was a measure of silence an awkward beat into which neither of them was willing to tread until at last bradley asked her when just out of curiosity you understand when she could start oh right away she told him and he said -life is full of little annoyances you know this i 'm sure as well as anybody there are always things we 'd rather not do taking your car for an oil change balancing your checkbook shopping for your nephew 's birthday all that shit / well your job is to take care of as many of dc 's annoyances as you can so that the man can focus on writing writing writing / he makes money i make money i pay you / you are employed by me but your work for him understand ?