Flags rippled in the faint evening breeze. In the dim light of the just-set sun, the plot gleamed with a newly-buffed sheen. People moved with reverence among the flags. Except for the children, who ran with yelps of laughter. Eugene Kosinksi looked down from his bunting-draped platform and grimaced, worried about the kids ruining the refined ambience he had worked so hard to create. He worried whether too many people would visit, worried not enough would come. Most of all, he worried he had given away too much. No, no… tonight was the least he could do. The dark deepened. He reached for his cell phone. Now. The three spotlights flicked on. The huge flag hoisted up the pole, America the Beautiful thrummed the night. A large ooh wafted into the air. The crowd stood reverent, even the kids, hands held hearts, and gazed at the red and blue filling the field of night. The song ended with raucous applause. Eugene’s chest swelled with pride as he observed his seven-acre empire of F-150s, Explorers, and Fiestas glittering under the light beams criss-crossing the sky. Just wait until the free hotdogs, he thought and rubbed his hands together. Just wait until the balloon launch.
***
Lots of holidays celebrating all things American -- Memorial Day, Flag Day, the 4th of July. This piece inspired by a challenge -- use the word flag and patriot. Love any suggestions for tightening this up, word choice, and so on.
Peace, Linda
Posts
The free hotdogs got a big smile out of me, Linda. Thanks for it.
ReplyDeleteI've been to more than a few of these events at car dealerships, Linda... Patriotic and humorous all at once.
ReplyDeleteLoved "his seven acre empire"
ReplyDeleteTypo "American The Beautiful"
Marc Nash
I've never felt so much enthusiasm for American celebrations :) There's great energy in this. And "Just wait until the free hotdogs..." Suddenly, *I* can't wait. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteNicely done. I wouldn't change a thing.
ReplyDeletea little slice of polyester Americana. perfect.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't change anything. I could smell the cocoa butter and cigarettes.
ReplyDeleteExcellent story. These car dealers know how to pull out all the stops, don't they?
ReplyDeleteI'm always intrigued by the shows of patriotism south of the border. This was cleverly written - sweet or cynical?
ReplyDeleteApple pie, baseball, mom, and car dealerships. How much more American does it get?
ReplyDelete--John
This woks well. I may question the guys true motivations, but the writing works well.
ReplyDelete~jon
Thanks all for reading! Whew, FINALLY this past week is over -- pomp and circumstance stuff and all, you know. Marc, thanks for the typo catch, perhaps American subliminal. Michael, polyester America -- love it! Laurita, def supposed to be cynical -- I'm trying to get at how we (Americans) take evry opp to turn a holiday into a consumer event. Jon, yes, Eugene's motivations are not to be trusted -- he's gunning for the Great American Dream.
ReplyDeleteAnd free hotdogs for all just for dropping in! peace, Linda
As I live on the other side of the pond, this made me smile and remember all manner of cheesy American films - the kind you watch on a Sunday afternoon after a heavy Saturday night :)
ReplyDeleteThe hotdog line was a stroke of genius, Linda!
Linda, that was delightful, I wouldn't change a thing!
ReplyDeleteYou passed your challenge with "flying colors."
Great little tale. Don't change anything. It's just so... like us Americans.
ReplyDeleteReally well done.
Just a teensy-tiny thing: shouldn't it be red *white* and blue?
ReplyDeleteI loved the flawless concision of it - really thought something important was about to take place, maybe a solemn ceremony for fallen warriors - then Bam! America the Beautiful.
Humorous...and sadly true in its commercial ramifications!
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