Witzgall
05-11-2004, 20:09
Two men, wearing heavy fur coats, stand in front of a large building as snow falls slowly out of the sky and onto the sidewalk ahead. One of the men looks dazed and in a state of mental arrest as he stares ahead into the white-filled air. The other man pulls out a small packet of cigarettes and pulls two out. He taps the man on the shoulder in order to get his attention. The man responds with a simple “no”, and the other man shrugs his shoulders before putting one of the cigarettes into his mouth.
The other man continues to stare into the distance, with no intentional target. The other man, slightly older, begins to enjoy every inhale and exhale of his cigarette. He tries to see what the man next to him is staring at, but has no luck.
“What is it that interests you so much as to not want a Le Moan?” asks the man.
“Ah, but only if I could explain…” replies the other.
“You intrigue me…what is your name?” asks the older man.
“Charles. Charles Swincott.” he replies.
“Well, Charles, my name is Howard Smith.” the older man says.
The silence begins again as Charles stares into the snow that begins to pick up pace as it gathers on the sidewalk and street. The lights in front of the building turn on, signalizing it is after eight. Howard looks at the lights when they turn on, and then checks his very expensive watch. The watch is solid gold, with a diamond encrusted symbol of a dagger inside the clock. The two hands are golden arrows. This watch catches the eye of Charles, who stares at its magnificence.
“Where did you get that lovely watch of yours, Mister Smith?” asks Charles.
“The name is Howard. Never call me Mister Smith.” replies Howard.
“I’m truly sorry.”
“Never mind it. I got it from a friend.”
“They must be very friendly to give away such a magnificent and valuable gift as that watch must be.” says Charles.
“Actually, no. This watch is a piece of shit.”
Charles became stunned. How could a solid gold and diamond customized watch be “a piece of shit.” Charles began to pace back and forth on the small platform from which they stood, safely away from the harsh cold.
The two wooden doors opened slowly, and a gentlemen wearing green military dress and a black beret walked out.
“Ah, General Frulick. Nice of you to join us.” says Howard.
“Good evening gentlemen. How are you two holding up?” asks the General.
“Fine, fine.” replies Howard.
“Yes, fine indeed.” says Charles.
“That’s nice…well, if you care to join us, the evening is just starting inside.” says the General.
“But of course, I would be delighted.” says Charles.
Howard looks at the General with confusion in his eyes, as if he were not expecting the invitation to come inside.
“Will you be coming, Sir Smith?” asks the General.
“In a small while. I must finish my cigarette.” replies Howard.
“Ah, yes. Is it a USL?” asks the General.
“No, but good guess. It is a Le Moan.” replies Howard.
“Fine choice. I will leave the door unlocked for you. Please join us when you have finished.”
“I shall.”
Howard put his cigarette back into his mouth and inhaled lightly. He pulled it out and watched as the smoke left his mouth and traveled into the light brisk of the winter wind. He checked his watch. It was now 8:55 PM. Howard had been standing out in the cold for three and a half hours. He could not feel his feet, even though he was sure they were there.
“Damn winter chills.” Howard said, as he threw his cigarette onto the floor.
Howard walked over to the door and opened it quickly, and then slammed it behind him with unexpected force and ferocity. The loudness of the door caught the General’s and Charles’ attention, who were halfway down the long hallway ahead of Howard. Howard walked slowly to the still bodies of Charles and the General, who awaited him to catch up so they could begin walking.
“I am happy to see both of you made this appointment. As you know, Mister Setnicky does not enjoy it when his attendees are late.” says the General.
“I would never think of being late to one of his splendid dinner parties. Who else was invited?” asks Howard.
“Only the two of you. He told me he has some business with which he must discuss, and only you two may know of what this is.” replied the General.
“Business? I wonder what he means…” says Howard.
Charles looked at the marvelous paintings and sculptures as he walked down the hallway, admiring their beauty.
The other man continues to stare into the distance, with no intentional target. The other man, slightly older, begins to enjoy every inhale and exhale of his cigarette. He tries to see what the man next to him is staring at, but has no luck.
“What is it that interests you so much as to not want a Le Moan?” asks the man.
“Ah, but only if I could explain…” replies the other.
“You intrigue me…what is your name?” asks the older man.
“Charles. Charles Swincott.” he replies.
“Well, Charles, my name is Howard Smith.” the older man says.
The silence begins again as Charles stares into the snow that begins to pick up pace as it gathers on the sidewalk and street. The lights in front of the building turn on, signalizing it is after eight. Howard looks at the lights when they turn on, and then checks his very expensive watch. The watch is solid gold, with a diamond encrusted symbol of a dagger inside the clock. The two hands are golden arrows. This watch catches the eye of Charles, who stares at its magnificence.
“Where did you get that lovely watch of yours, Mister Smith?” asks Charles.
“The name is Howard. Never call me Mister Smith.” replies Howard.
“I’m truly sorry.”
“Never mind it. I got it from a friend.”
“They must be very friendly to give away such a magnificent and valuable gift as that watch must be.” says Charles.
“Actually, no. This watch is a piece of shit.”
Charles became stunned. How could a solid gold and diamond customized watch be “a piece of shit.” Charles began to pace back and forth on the small platform from which they stood, safely away from the harsh cold.
The two wooden doors opened slowly, and a gentlemen wearing green military dress and a black beret walked out.
“Ah, General Frulick. Nice of you to join us.” says Howard.
“Good evening gentlemen. How are you two holding up?” asks the General.
“Fine, fine.” replies Howard.
“Yes, fine indeed.” says Charles.
“That’s nice…well, if you care to join us, the evening is just starting inside.” says the General.
“But of course, I would be delighted.” says Charles.
Howard looks at the General with confusion in his eyes, as if he were not expecting the invitation to come inside.
“Will you be coming, Sir Smith?” asks the General.
“In a small while. I must finish my cigarette.” replies Howard.
“Ah, yes. Is it a USL?” asks the General.
“No, but good guess. It is a Le Moan.” replies Howard.
“Fine choice. I will leave the door unlocked for you. Please join us when you have finished.”
“I shall.”
Howard put his cigarette back into his mouth and inhaled lightly. He pulled it out and watched as the smoke left his mouth and traveled into the light brisk of the winter wind. He checked his watch. It was now 8:55 PM. Howard had been standing out in the cold for three and a half hours. He could not feel his feet, even though he was sure they were there.
“Damn winter chills.” Howard said, as he threw his cigarette onto the floor.
Howard walked over to the door and opened it quickly, and then slammed it behind him with unexpected force and ferocity. The loudness of the door caught the General’s and Charles’ attention, who were halfway down the long hallway ahead of Howard. Howard walked slowly to the still bodies of Charles and the General, who awaited him to catch up so they could begin walking.
“I am happy to see both of you made this appointment. As you know, Mister Setnicky does not enjoy it when his attendees are late.” says the General.
“I would never think of being late to one of his splendid dinner parties. Who else was invited?” asks Howard.
“Only the two of you. He told me he has some business with which he must discuss, and only you two may know of what this is.” replied the General.
“Business? I wonder what he means…” says Howard.
Charles looked at the marvelous paintings and sculptures as he walked down the hallway, admiring their beauty.