An Editor Grills a Cub Reporter

“You got the goldfish interview, as asked?” “I did, sir, but he lacked the wherewithal to answer me coherently, I fear.” “What’s that supposed to mean? The fishing section is looking pretty thin. You showed up masked?” “Of course I did. That goldfish flu’s no joke. He said he’s scared of casual infection.” “Your killer question, then? Your master stroke?” “What is the capital of Senegal? My curver, that one: it’s my knuckle-ball.” “You got a cogent answer?” “Nowhere near. He knew, he said, but couldn’t now recall.” “His love life? Did you ask?” “He yelled, objection! He said, that’s why he hates newspaper folk.” “But that’s the very thing with which you’re tasked – to get the sexy stuff! You think he’s *****?” “He said he’d tell me after taking coke. It seemed to me a little circumspection might do the trick.” “Unmitigated gall is what I call it. What I want to hear is, if he’s in that witness thing – protection.” “I got the feeling he was trying to stall – I probed him, but he had no recollection.”