Late and its effects
Letter written from William F. Buckley, Jr. to an undergraduate chauffeur who showed up late for his trip to the airport:
"Dear Josie,
Let me explain the events of yesterday morning so that you will not think me rude to have acted as I did. You had said the night before that you would pick me up at 7:30 to drive me to the Denver airport. You weren't there at 7:30. At 7:35 you still were not there, What passes through the mind in such situations is this: If Josie is not there at 7:30, when she contracted to be there, when in fact will she be there? It is possible that she overslept. Or that she had a flat tire. In which case, she might not be there for a half hour - which would mean missing you plane. Precious time, dear Josie, is slipping through your fingers, so you go to the porter and say, Can you get me a taxi to the airport at Denver? He calls, and the lady driver arrives, and the two of you have just completed loading the luggage when Josie drives up at 7:41. Now the point you made - that there was still plenty of time to get to the airport at Denver - isn't what goes through the mind of the lecturer. If I had absolutely known that you would materialize at 7:41, I'd have waited. But if you weren't there when you said you'd be there - at 7:30 - how could I absolutely know that you would be there in time for me to make my plane? Having brought in the lady driver, negotiated the fare to the airport, and put all my luggage in her cab, I thought it would be unseemly to pull out the bags, dismiss her, and go with you. I do hope you understand."
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