Patience
A Vignette
By Maryanne Peters

Tiberius Brunt, Attorney at Law, was running late. Mark Dilman was waiting, having arrived slightly before the appointment, and checking his watch one minute after he was due to be met. But age had taught Mark patience.

Punctuality was something Brunt still struggled with, but he knew that he was still a half hour away from the office, He called Melody on the reception desk.

“What is Pat wearing?” he snapped. Melody knew who it was.

“Patience is wearing something very nice, in burgundy, high on the neck – something very fetching, but conservative,” said Melody

“Look, I will get there as soon as I can, but tell Pat to take Mr. Dilman into a meeting room and … give him some background … just stall him until I get there.”

He hung up. Melody pursed her lips. He was a difficult man. He still always referred to his very able associate as “Pat” when he knew that she preferred Patience in full. Melody dialed her extension.

“Patience, would you come up to reception to attend on Mr. Brunt’s client Mr. Dilman?” She added in a whisper – “He will be late to yet another important appointment.”

Patience had the papers on her desk. If he had been on time, she would be ready to hand them to him but she expected the very thing that had happened. She checked her make up and her blond bob before leaving her small office and heading upstairs with appropriate speed.

“Mr. Dilman? My name is Patience,” she said, extending her hand to man now rising to greet her. “Mr. Brunt has asked that I give you a briefing before he comes in. I have the papers with me right here.”

“I was expecting Mr. Brunt himself,” said Mark, looking at the attractive lady with the husky voice approvingly, while still annoyed that the man he hired was not there to see him.

“Background is not something you should be paying full fees for,” said Patience with a warm smile. “I am fully conversant with everything and my charge out rate is a fraction of Mr. Brunt’s. He is the person who will advise you. I am just here to inform you.”

He followed her down the hall. Her heels were very high, making her even taller than her already impressive height. She walked like a runway model, with her hips swaying and her hair bouncing. She seemed somehow regal and a little old-fashioned, and yet exuding a sexuality that still affected him, despite his age.

“Have you been working for Brunt long?” he asked.

“Quite a while,” she said, opening the door to the meeting room – the one slightly better appointed that the others. He motioned her to go in first, which pleased her.

“I have been a client for some time and I have never seen you before,” said Mark.

“Mr. Brunt prefers to keep me in the back room,” she said. “I think that he thinks I might offend clients or embarrass him … or both.”

“How odd,” said Mark. “I can’t imagine you doing that.”

“How kind of you to say that, but transition has been a slow process, and Mr. Brunt is still coming to grips with it. Now I have the pleadings here and I have prepared a timeline of the steps that have been taken in the litigation and on the second page the remaining steps with expected dates for dealing with each of the steps to come.”

“How efficient,” said Mark examining the summary. “But what is this transition that you mentioned?”

“Oh … it should be on no concern to you … but I am transition from male to female – as a transgender person.”

“Good God! I never would have guessed. You are a very attractive young lady!” He looked genuinely amazed, which pleased Patience greatly.

“You are very kind,” she said. “But of course the dates on page two are just my best guess. Courts are busy and while we are trying to fast track this suit, we are constrained by the system. You should treat these dates as targets, not certainties.

“So you have still to complete this transition that you are talking about?”

“I live as a woman permanently but I still have some surgery lined up that I will need to take leave to get done,” said Patience pulling out some papers. “I have the transcript of depositions here that I would like to refer you to. There is a lot of detail here but I have highlighted some passages that I would like to read to you and get your comment upon.”

“I am just curious as to why Brunt would think that you might offend clients or embarrass him in any way,” said Mark. “Why would he think that?”

“Oh, he has just had a little problem in understanding the whole thing. He still calls me his “Sissy Secretary” although I have a law degree. He hired me as a male and I suppose he is still trying to come to grips with the changes over the last few years.”

“If the man can’t see the woman you clearly are then I have to say, I am little concerned about his perception and his judgment,” said Mark firmly.

“A stubborn adherence to an existing state of affairs does not make for a bad lawyer,” said Patience. “The law is all about that. I can assure you that Mr. Brunt is an excellent lawyer, which is why I am still here.”

“That fact reassures me,” said Mark. “Now take me through these deposition highlights.”

Minutes later Tiberius Brunt bustled out of the elevator red faced and panting, and looking for Melody to direct him to his client. He then headed down the hall and bust in to the meeting room.

“My apologies Mark, how are you,” he said, shaking his client’s hand with practiced sincerity. “I trust Pat here has brought you up to date?”

“Patience has explained everything in full, and she has drawn my attention to a number of interesting inconsistencies in the testimony already provided,” said Mark. “I have to say that this charming young lady is a credit to you, Brunt. So perceptive and sagacious. I feel so much more comfortable with her on you team.”

“Well, yes, Pat … Patience, is on the team.”

“She strikes me as the very best kind of professional woman – well presented, logical and, if you will permit me to say it, stunningly attractive.”

“Perhaps not entirely appropriate, Mr. Dilman, but I will happily bear it,” said Patience, smiling mischievously at the elderly man. Tiberius Brunt felt a little uncomfortable.

“Yes, thank you Patience. I can take it from here.”

“Oh no, let her stay,” said Mark. “She has so much to offer, not the least of which is patience".

The End

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The image by Privaa was called “Sissy Secretary handling an Important client” but she seemed to be so much more than that.

© Maryanne Peters 2026