The Button Calls

Not sure if this is funny or just possibly could be the truth. Any similiarities to anyone living, dead, or somewhere inbetween was not coincidental but I will say it was in a court of law or a military tribunal.

 

The Button Calls

Legion

3AUG08

 

Momma told him not to be pushing any buttons in the house. He could mess something up. Something he might not want to mess up.

"But, oh, that sure is a purty button.", he thought to himself.

His finger twitched on the desktop next to the big red button that kept his simple-minded attention. He'd seen this button before years ago. His daddy used to play with it in front of him when he was a bit younger. The old man would never push it though no matter how much he begged him too so he could see what would happen.

"Come on daddy. Push it. I wanna see what it'll do." he would whine. But his pop would never do it. Only sat there and fingered it over and over. This would just make his longing to push it grow.

Eventually, daddy left the house for good and he got to have the run of the place. It was his button now and by God he could hear it calling for him. Teasing him even.

"Come on Georgie. You know you want to push me. Give it just a little tap. Nothing major. Just a quick one and see what I can do. You know it'll be fun."

He knew it was no use. He was eventually going to push that damn thing and see what it did. The sweat on his brow intensified and he could feel his finger getting closer to that button that kept calling him. Luring him on. He watched as his hand drew closer and closer.

He could hear the voice of his momma saying "Don't push that button or there will be hell to pay.", but it didn't matter. She wasn't here at the moment to stop him.

Oh, the sweet joy it would bring him just to hold that shiny redness down into its recess. What happiness might follow he tried to imagine, but his small mind could only think of the present and so his finger slowly went down. His eyes wandered around the room to make sure no one was there to see him do what they told him not to. He could feel the smooth painted plastic of the button beneath his finger tip. Just a little more pressure. A little more. A little...

Click.

He smiled. The deed had occurred. Nothing had happened that he could tell, but it all had been worth it. He could not hear the tantalizing voice of the little red culprit egging him on anymore. He was happy.

The smile that was slowly spreading across his face was suddenly interrupted by the buzzing of the intercom in his office. A crackled voice frantically asked,

"Mr. President! Mr. President sir! Did you just launch all of our nuclear missles? Did you just push the button?"

He shook his head similiar to a child that has been caught with its hand in a cookie jar and yelled back,

"Nope! Wasn't me."

Author's Note

Not one of my best, but I thought it was funny enough or sad enough to write. Plus, I haven't written a short story in awhile. Felt like stretching my muscles on it a bit.

Reviews

[Helen Woodward]

HAAA!!! Funny, but true! That is the funny part. Your narrative is quite good little piglet. You built one hell of a crescendo and it came to a great climax with the idiot running the world having the last say...how did that durn red button get into that house? Guess I'm not supposed to ask that am I?
Nicely done :-)))) *big smiles*
Helen.

[Angelheaded Hipster]

I knew it. I knew it from the get go. You know...if there really is a big red button...they should replicate it for the pres...so he can push it all day long without any repercussions. Hell...I want a button!

[lauren emily]

Oh my gosh..this is hilarious! I absolutely adore it!
Everyone has big red buttons that they want to push sometimes. And most of time, we end up pushing them. No matter how much trouble they may get us into.
Nice work!
Lauren

[Windy]

I have to agree with you, it was funny and sad enough to write about, Interesting story line considering all that is going on in the world today and what "power" or not, one man may or may not have. Good short story. Well written and kept me in suspense right up until the end. Great job.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

LMAO! That was FUNNY! I can see good ol G.W. now. lol This sounds like straight out of an episode of Lil' Bush. lol

[LSS]

Wrong, Is a great start, though the ending was lame and abrupt, like you wanted the story over, got bored or something. You could have hidden the results a little longer, maybe viewed the damages some. Still really love your stuff.
Lar

[Lewis Findley]

DEFCON 1?!?!?!? SOUNDS LIKE IT!

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Oh man this was freaking hilarious!!!

[Angel's Lady]

Oh my! What a riot! Great write here! LMAO!

[The Archangel Gabriel]

Cool. Good work! What a dumb ape!

Peace and love,
Gabe

[Nick Erickson]

From the start I knew who it was that wanted to push the button, but I couldn't help but laugh at the thought of him denying it in the end, with his most un-eloquent manner of speech.

I'm glad you "stretched your muscles" as the piece was worth it.

Sad it may be he's sitting there caressing and admiring the button now, but you just can't help but laugh at the irony of him sitting there in the first place.

Well done!!