My Old Classmate Who Is Now a VIP

When an old college classmate reached a very senior government position, I decided I should be the first to congratulate him. That turned out to be a mistake.

“

I only want to congratulate him.

To arrange a meeting, I had to get through three secretaries. I told one of them that I wanted only to offer congratulations, not seek favors or contracts. When she asked whether I was his friend, I said yes. She moved the appointment forward by a week, then closed the book and forgot about me.

Another former classmate later told me he had faced the same delay. He suggested that perhaps we remained too attached to the official’s past, including the things we had done together during college, which he no longer wanted remembered after moving up the social ladder.

“

Then I will make it a week earlier.

I refused to accept that explanation and kept the appointment. I was due to see him at noon, but half an hour passed. The secretary told me that “His Excellency has gone to perform his noon prayers” and that I needed to be patient. I waited among outdated magazines until another important-looking man was taken straight into the office.

“

Perhaps we are too attached to his past.

My turn eventually came, two hours late. I rose from the low leather chair and entered an office so large that I had to scan the room to find my old friend.

“

His Excellency has gone to perform his noon prayers. You need to be patient.