Green Eggs and Contracts
Okay, law isn’t exactly rocket science. And contract law may not be as intellectually demanding as, say, Constitutional law, where the ability to count to five is critical. But it’s still a little sad when students see through what we try to do in class and manage to encapsulate one of our most mysterious doctrines in language that any first-grader can follow. Here, courtesy of Charles Calleros (Arizona State) is a pithy recap from one of his students.
DR. SEUSS ON OFFERS
by Alison Atwater
Listen! Listen! Can you hear?
There is an offer very near.
I want to offer, yes I do.
I want to offer a contract to you.
I want to offer right away.
I want to offer-what do you say?
I’ll make an offer with a quote
I’ll write it on this great, big note.
Stop right there! You cannot do it.
A quote has got no offer to it.
Unless you give a certain limit,
A quote has got no offer in it.
Then here’s an offer to change your story:
My full-color ad in all its glory!
You cannot offer in an ad.
There’s too much risk that will be had.
Your ad is seen by way too many;
An offer, well, you don’t have any!
How about an offer made with laughter?
Will it bind us ever after?
It will not bind us, it cannot yoke.
You cannot offer with a joke!
No one with reason could thus glean
A serious offer is what you mean.
But surely I do offer well
When I tell you I will gladly sell.
You do not offer well at all!
An offer, that, I cannot call.
No power moves from you to me;
We won’t contract if I agree.
Listen! Listen! What do you say?
What if I make you an offer this way?
I’ll tell you the what and the where and the how,
I’ll offer to make you a promise right now.
Then it is you who can make the decision.
Tell me, does this offer need more revision?
You’ve done it, I say! You’ve done it quite nicely
This time you’ve made me an offer precisely.
If I accept now, if I promise too,
A contract will form and then we’ll be through!
Now I can see it-a transfer of power.
Thank you, thank you! We’ll contract in the hour!
[Frank Snyder]