“My client, the deceased has made this final will and testament ‘in sana mente’...”,
…the family legal counsel proclaimed, making sure to accentuate and articulate every syllable of the Latin expression. As if the slightest mispronunciation would make the document of will, less binding. He takes his eyes off the very formal-looking blue legal folder that held the documents, which he held open with both palms, (as if that too was a standard of formality) to survey the countenance of the extended family present, seated in their various awkward sitting positions, each trying to outdo the other in their show of grief. You don’t seat reclined, legs stretched-out-in-front-of-you at a ‘final will and testament’ reading now, do you?
The variety of expressions, ranging from fear to bewilderment, to dread, sighs, and suppressed gasps that escaped/appeared on the will-reading attendee’s faces, for him, is exactly what he had gone to five-year university and one year school of law for. He knew from experience what effect the legal phrase in Latin, never fails to have on attendees of such readings. He likes to watch anyway. It never gets old for him. One of the very many perks/pride of being a learned council. “My client was in full control of all of his mental faculties when this final will and testament was made”, sure sounds more believable and poignant when expressed in an ancient dead language, does it not?. The legal council thought to himself.
He likes to take this pause right after the Latin quibble, both for dramatic and psychological effect. Like the calm before the storm. That deep breath before the plunge. It stands out to him that, of his twelve years of legal practice and reading such testaments, not one of the attendees had ever stopped him to ask what the word meant. Not that he would have explained but still. He was momentarily recollecting that hot summer afternoon when the deceased, whose ‘‘will was being done’’ presently, had come into his airy office to make this final decision. This here is a man who in actuality, was more than anything else, trying to make a summary of his life in relation to his immediate and extended acquaintances, friends, and families alike. A desperate attempt at closure.
‘In sana mente’ indeed. There is nothing ‘sana’ about this. Not that he would know if there was, anyway. ..
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^…to be continued. Or not. Subscribe, leave a comment, or share to find out.
I'm reeling in laughter at "to be continued...or not"🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. Well done Tayo. 👍