including tuition for her son’s university as well as a tidy retirement sum set aside for when she turned 55.
At the fourth hole his boss knocked the ball in at par and said:
“The Minister wants the situation with the boy resolved as soon as possible. . no later than December.”
“That’s just six months from now.”
“You have to do it. He’s planning on becoming the next Prime Minister. And that bit of news is utterly and completely confidential. You must tell absolutely no one about it. Understand?”
“Ja. Of course.”
The men played in silence and moved on to the fifth hole.
“What do
His boss took out a seven iron. “Do whatever it takes.”
“An arrest?”
“Whatever it takes.”
“A confession?”
“Whatever it takes. It’s your department. You’re the Politimeister. . the Police Commissioner and Chief of the Oslo district!”
Ivar Thorsen was troubled and his game went from mediocre to horrible. His score reached pathetic levels for the next two holes. He felt sick over the situation that his boss had just put him into.
If he failed then he would have to take the blame as well as any unpleasant consequences such as a forced early retirement.
If he got results then someone else would take the credit.
After much thought Thorsen slowly realized that it was okay if he didn’t get any of the credit before the public and the media and the government. This time he didn’t mind someone else taking the credit because the Minister of Justice or his boss or his boss’s boss would surely remember who had gotten things done.
After they teed off for the ninth hole Thorsen said, “I really appreciate you telling me that the Minister is interested.”
“I told you because I want no doubts or timid half-measures from you. This way there’s absolutely no doubt as to what
Shivers went up and down Thorsen’s spine. “Any preferences on what I should do or how I should proceed?”
“It’s your department! Just do it.”
Ivar Thorsen couldn’t play at all. He spent a lot of time hacking away in the rough and cursed when he dug himself in deeper at a sand bunker. He finally reached the tee for the ninth hole that offered magnificent views of Oslofjord and the city of Oslo and the low mountains which ring Oslo to the north and west.
His boss played a five iron superbly and he motioned for Thorsen to come over and his boss said in the friendliest voice:
“I’ve noticed over the years that you have switched your hobbies many times.”
“Ja. Why yes I have.”
“Remind me. You started out as a Politireserven. . on the Police Reserve. . as a lowly reserve on probation. Right?”
“Oh yes.”
“And then you became a Grade One Politibetjent. . a Police Constable. Right?”
“Ja.”
“Interesting. . that’s also when you took up horseback riding as a hobby. . because that was what your boss liked to do on weekends. Right?”
“Ja,” said Thorsen uncomfortable and unsure where the conversation was going.
“Then you switched hobbies as you went up the ranks to a Grade Two Politibetjent. . a Police Sergeant. . and then to a Grade Three Politibetjent. . a Police Inspector. As I remember from way back then you changed your hobbies to tennis and then to sailing each time that you got a new boss. Correct?”
“Ja. I took lessons for my hobbies. They were fun.”
“Oh I bet they were. And then you got promoted to a Politiforstebetjent. . a Police Chief Inspector and then to Politioverbetjent. . Police Superintendent. Right?”
“Ja.”
“And if I remember correctly that’s also when you again switched your hobbies to skiing and then to playing that board game. . Scrabble. Right?”
“Ja. I love skiing and playing Scrabble.”
“Just like your bosses.”
“I. . ”
“Then you switched to playing bridge before you became the Oslo Politidistrikt Politimeister. . the Police Chief for the Oslo district.”
“Why yes. I love playing bridge just like you do. As you say. . the cards exercise the brain.”
“And now you have switched to golf. . the hobby of
“Ja. . but only because the golf range offered me real cheap lessons thanks to a coupon I got in the mail.”
“Do me a favor.”
“Ja sir?”
“Stop taking golf classes.”
“Of course sir.”
“You need to quit golf.”
“Ja. . why not?. . Ja. . I will.”
“In the first place golf is a whole other game in a totally different category than from what you’ve ever played. Don’t you see?. . Golf requires skills and talent that you simply do not have. . no matter how many lessons you take or how much you practice. Understand?”
“Ja. I see what you mean.”
“Do you?. . Good. I’m also sure that you can now see why someone like you. . with so little talent and practice. . is playing so very badly today.”
“Of course.”
“What a shame that
“Ja. Of course.”
“Also. . I understand that you got invited here today because you’ve been going to the same golf range as the Politidirektor. . the National Police Commissioner.”
“A coincidence I can assure you.”
“One that will never be repeated since you are quitting golf. Correct?”
“Ja.”
“Alright. I better hurry and play this hole. I see that
Thorsen went to get his wood to finish playing the ninth.
“Oh no Thorsen. You’re leaving right now. Go back to the office. I’ll tell my bosses that you left because you just couldn’t play well and realized that you’re just not cut out for this game.”
“Of course. Can you-”
“No. I won’t be driving you back in the cart. You can walk yourself back to the club house.”
“Ja. Thank you sir. Have a great game.”
“I will especially now that we had our little talk.”
