My Brother-in-law & Other Stories
By Johnny P. Novera

Good Letter-Writer

A borrower who cannot pay his loan with the bank when we demanded payment wrote us back:

“Because of the typhoon that just passed causing a big flood, I lost my crop. I also lost my house, I lost my carabao because it drowned in the river, and then I lost my wife who left me after the typhoon. I lost everything!

Now, the only thing left between me and poverty is an old shotgun which I can blast my head off if that will make you happy.”

Fortunately, the brother of the writer was known to us. He is rector of the local seminary. We showed him his brother's letter and he promptly settled the account.

I Remain

One time we had the problem of ejecting a borrower from his house that we foreclosed. We asked our lawyer to write him a letter to demand that he vacate the premises.

Our lawyer wrote a long demand letter, giving him 15 days to vacate and turn over the house to us, otherwise he threatened to take legal action to eject him.

Upon receipt of the letter, the borrower promptly wrote back:

“Dear Attorney:

I remain,

Very truly yours,
Sgd. Borrower”