Here's my effort in a piece I called "Let the Festival Begin."
"Let the Festival Begin"
The view from Nashville carried the economist
through a long night. His election to the United Association
meant the end of frugality. He would get to plan the conferences and
conventions for the next two years. Larry had no intention of working with a budget.
And unlike the previous United Association vice president in charge of customer
satisfaction, he had no intention of being an absentee elector. That
chap’s term could best be described with an eraser – none of his
austerity policies were taken seriously.
“Let the festival begin,” he declared at the airport.
The view from the first-class passengers’ lounge was
spectacular and the layout of the hors’ doerves unrivaled. Larry had had
his fill of the sugar-free lemonade and stale cookies usually
served at gatherings of economists. The United Association executive board
members knew how to live it up, and it began in first class.
“Let the sugar rush begin,” he declared as he cut
into a generous slice of decadent cheesecake.
With an eye on the monitor so he wouldn’t miss his
flight out of Nashville, Larry sampled all of the delights of the buffet, then
settled in a leather massage chair to peruse the complimentary magazines.
An ad for a red Dodge Viper appealed to him. As vice
president in charge of customer satisfaction, the first customer who had to be
satisfied was Larry himself. As soon as the votes were tallied and his election
declared official he’d begun the benefits of the position. His healthcare
plan was now on par with those of U.S. senators. Other perks included generous
clothing and expense accounts, a liberal cosmetics and accessories
allowance for his spouse or partner and his pick of a luxury vehicle that would
be leased in his name and paid for by the United Association during his full
term of office.
Larry the economist figured it was his time to enjoy the
fruits of his labor, nevermind the non-sequitur situation. He had to block
a few votes to ensure his victory and it had been worth it.
“Mouse no more,” he said.
He glanced at the digital display on the wall.
When he stepped onto that plane, he would be entering a new frontier.
The boulevard of dreams and the land of excess awaited him.
He closed the magazine, then grinned when he saw the ad
on the back cover. “What happens in Vegas…”
“Vegas baby,” he said to himself as he left the
first-class lounge. “Let the play begin.”
