“He was promoted,” she says. “That’s wonderful,” I say, ready to hang up. “To Direct,” she adds. A thin smile comes to me. Rick is now in Direct Marketing, the lowest of the low. His life will be about getting people to open their envelopes and send back the SASE. If ad people are bottom-feeders, Rick is now a catfish with no dorsal fin and an extra eye. I drink to Rick.
