My Dutch publisher Vic van de Reijt visited my mother. He wants to publish her war memoirs.
“So, now we have a verbal agreement,” he said. “Do you want an advance payment?”
“No,” she said.
“Perhaps you can buy a new coat with the advance payment?” my publisher suggested.
“No," she said. “If I want to buy a new coat I have the money to buy a new coat. An advance payment is not necessary.”