The Lawyer as Profession Clown

A faded 8x10 headshot of Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm stares across the wood-paneled walls of the small diner in Detroit known simply as Campus Restaraunt. And she's not the only politician here. Congressman David Bonior unassumingly sits only two identical yellow vinyl booths away from me, chatting with another suit. Amazingly, Bonior is not the center of attention today. No, today, a gregarious, soon-to-be lawyer, has somehow, unassumingly, yanked the spotlight in his direction.

"I'm scared to talk to Maha," says Rob Rodemeyer, between bites of his club sandwich on white. "Her husband makes this great split-pea soup that I love, and the last time I was here I gave her shit for never having any on Tuesdays, which is when I come in. She promised to have some for me the next time I came in, but I haven't been here in like a month."

The fact that the six-foot-two Rodemeyer is scared of anyone is hard to swallow-being frightened by an aging woman who is the co-owner/waitress of a diner seems especially absurd. But then, Maha approaches.

"Hello Rob!!" Maha booms over the soft rock with one, thick, unruly eyebrow raised. Rob stands up and gives her a sideways hug. Maha is dwarfed by Rodemeyer's large frame, but she is somehow able to get a firm grasp around his waist. "Where have you been!!!" she says "I had [Sam] make the soup for you and then you don't come!" Rodemeyer makes an earnest effort to apologize, citing several reasons, such as his nearing graduation from the restaurant's neighbor, Wayne State University Law School. This would be a perfectly reasonable argument for most, but for not Maha. She just shakes her head, laughs and moves her boa-constrictor-like grip around Rob's arm. She then turns to me, smiles, and yells, "Watch out for this one!!" while patting his stomach. By this time, the entire staff of Campus Restaurant has encircled our table and laughs in agreement. After shaking several hands, Rodemeyer slips back into the booth with me. He rubs his arm and winces like a small child who just suffered a bee sting.

"See, she's brutal! I think she gave me a bruise!" he says.