Tom's Art of Persuasion

             - Zhosky

He grew up too quickly. By the time he was fourteen he had learned the power of persuasion.

As Tom grew up he was to allow himself one great passion - golf.This came to be his most important field of operation.

He carefully engaged his opponent on the first few holes in gentle and agreeable conversation. By the 4th or 5th hole he would enter a carefully placed controversy when he had gained the other's confidence. By the 9th hole it would be a bitter dispute. Tom would glare at his victim and say "Every argument is useless with you - because you accept the whole business of goodness on faith." Then he would take a shot and stalk off in a huff.

At about the 11th hole he always sought reconciliation. While his rival had lost his grip on Tom's reason, Tom snuck up on him with "Perhaps you're right though - you seem to have given the subject more thought than I."

On the next 3 holes he worked quickly setting up his final campaign. He'd find the most remarkable compliments - "Your mind works somewhat like Einstein's - he too liked to daydream." By the 16th hole he was moving in for the kill.

"You've got to grant me one thing though - Jefferson would still oppose the women's movement were he alive today." Here Tom always made several points that were easy to agree with - and his prey would always find satisfaction in agreeing with Tom. At the 18th hole Tom could add a "friend" to his list and he always had a funny story to tell on the way back to the clubhouse.