"WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE FORGOT THE CONFETTI!!!!!!!!!!!"
"SOMEBODY . . . HIT THE EMERGENCY SWITCH!!!!
The loudspeakers, which are stationed throughout the parade route, begin blaring an inspiring version of 'New York, New York'© as sung by Frank Sinatra. 2 or 3 elderly adults faint after overexerting themselves while cheering for Buzz Lightyear®.
I
enter the auditorium hesitantly. I walk over to - what appears to me
to be - an official. He's dressed in a maroon dress shirt, light gray
dress pants and a light gray tie. A ID badge hangs at the bottom of
the purple , V-shape ribbon draped around his neck.
"Hi." he says, as I approach.
"Hi. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do.", I say.
"You're 'au courant', right? 21st century?", he asks.
"Yes." I say.
"You need to go to the other end of the auditorium. You see the long line there?
That's where you need to be." He segues. "Congratulations ," he says, "congratulations
guy
."
A humongous smile distorts my face and I blush with joy and content. I
smile, I shake his hand, and thank him. I can hardly believe my luck-
'au courant', 21st century. Of course, I'm grateful and relieved.
I proceed to my destination through an ad-hoc corridor formed in the
center of the auditorium as people from other eras- from the 6th century
B.C up to the present - populate the auditorium's sides. Many of them
are chatting, unaware of my presence. Others see me and smile or give a
wave as I go along. I'm happy to smile and wave back.
As I
approach the line for 'au courant' there is a preponderance of people
who seem either self-absorbed or jocular. The self-absorbed are
quietly preoccupied. The jocular are - well - jolly. It's a joy to see
their smiles, hear their laughter, note their glad-handing;
There's plenty of glad-handing. I notice standing in line, a swim instructor I once had.
I break into a trot in order to reach the line a little sooner.
Quite unexpectedly, a
flood
smashes through the auditorium walls. We are all knocked off our
feet. At first people are flailing, decourm is embarrassingly
impossible to achieve. Shortly, we regain some kilter and float, swim,
or dog paddle our way to presentable.
Unfortunately, many
people of the ancient eras weren't the
best swimmers. Apparently, they hadn't had certified swim instructors.
They suffered the most.
I don't know how - through all the centuries -
they managed to make it this far.
"Yes sir, your question."
. . .
"Abracadabra ."
"Next question please."
. . .
"If I had a hammer, I'd hammer in the Mooor-oooor-ning"
"Yes sir, your question."
. . .
"That's
correct. Two suspects are in custody and a manhunt is underway for the
third. We believe the third is a rhinoceros and as such the officers
involved in the manhunt have been armed with elephant guns."
"Next question please. Yes ma'am."
. . .
I pause to think then spell out the answer. "S. A. T. . . U. R. . .
D. E. Y."
"We only have time for one more question."
. . .
"Good question. 'If I knew what I was doing, I wouldn't be doing this.', is the correct answer."
Colonel, I have some wery waluable information concerning our nemesis 'The Church of Everlasting Grace'.
Excellent operative 3D234.
May I remind sir, until this operation is over I am to be known as Doreen.
Of course, of course. Please proceed Doreen.
Is the Colonel up to date on our arch obstacle?
Yes, of course.
Excellent, we wouldn't want any insufficiencies or demerits concerning our efforts.
Of
course not, but it is you who need to be aware of insufficiencies.
Afterall, I'm not the one with the 'wery waluable' information now am I.
Yes sir. Shall I scramble my communications?
Yes, good idea. Should the higher-ups find out we're idiots we'll be pole-axed for sure.
Grrrrckk grrrk ggggrk grkkkk. Ggggrrk ggggggk gkkkkkk grk. Gkkkkk, gkkkk gk.
I see.
Grrrrrk grrrrrrk grk grrrrrrrrrck.
Uh-huh.
Grrrk grrrrrrkk grk grrrrrrrrr. Grrrrrrrrk gkkkkkkk gck gcgkkk.
They
are apparently smarter than we anticipated. Can we produce a
propaganda film in which . . . oh, say a mandrill or other chimp - Nazi-inspired and outfitted - saves his fellow chimps, lions, tigers, etc; In short he saves the
world because he's a strong and heroic Nazi mandrill?
Of course Colonel, excellent idea. I have yet to understand why you have not been promoted to Major.
"Mr. Jomes, you're a fine gentleman. You have the Committee's respect, but if you have something to hide from Rep. Bugsby then I have to say, 'Something's wrong.'"
"It's Jones sir not Jomes."
"Oh really! First it's Jomes, now it's Jones. What's next Mr. Jomes/Jones? Mr. Sloames? Bowmes? Froames? This is a Congressional Committe you're addressing."
"Yes sir, I understand."
"Now if we can get back to business, I'll ask again . . . 'Answer me these questions three:'
"What is your name?"
"Jones"
"What is your misssion?"
"To establish a bonkhead", he stretches out his arm and moves it left to right and back again, "in this area over here."
"Are you familiar with 'bonkhead?'", I ask the applicant.
"wa wa wah."
"You are? Ok great." I nod, a broad engaging smile crosses my face as I say chipperly, "Welp, I think you're probably the top candidate for the job! I really do! Congratulations!"
"Wha wa wa. Wha wa."
"Absolutely. Umm, probably about 2 or 3 days. Would you like to be notified by email or phone?"
"Wha wa wha."
"Email? Ok, great."
"Wa wha wa wa. Waa wha wa, wha wa wa wa, Wha. Wha wha wa wa."
"Yes indeed, nice meeting you as well. Have a nice day."