The Lampshade

Remembering bad budget years. . .

[Professional College Attire & Tools:
* size 13 shoes
* prizes in a pink furry box
* assorted loud hats
* 2 foam bats
* bathrobes & slippers
* a toy bicycle horn
* a white lampshade, size medium]


Morale was low; desperate times call for ludicrous acts.
Loaded down with the tools of the trade
I flopped into the elevator like Flipper's friend,
slapping the carpet with loose clown shoes,
honking at a Dean or two.
Into the office dungeon I plowed
With a cheerful "good morning!" - WAY TOO LOUD

I didn't ask- I passed out the hats.
Front desk workers giggled on incoming calls,
donned with bathrobes, slippers, clashing hats,
they let slip a few guffaws.
This brought the back office out of their caves.
They lightened up . . . but not nearly enough.
Not with impending doom budget cuts.

The donuts got stuffed into mouths of shock,
the furry box presents earned a group "aaaawwww!"
I coaxed two shy staff to duel with the bats
and honked it time to: ALL SWITCH HATS!
By now the boss was resigned to the fun,
still standing hatless, surveying the scene
Pandemonium, gasp, what if the Dean . . .

The lampshade had a clip with a simple command:
"Put this on if you haven't laughed yet.
Then walk around like there's nothing wrong."
I crowned the boss, she played along
until she laughed and put my shoes on.

The donuts were eaten, the tools all went home.
I kept the shoes in my office a while
to slip them on when I needed a smile.
But the lampshade stayed til the budget got passed.
(It's still in my closet if you ever need a laugh . . . )

Author's Note

True story. I recommend everyone invest in oversized shoes and a lampshade to keep in your trunk, right next to your flares and disaster survival kit.

Reviews

[Teddybearlee]

I absolutely love this. It's a different side of you, yet I don't find it too surprising that you would be the strong one, trying to shine some sunshine on people during trying times. And of course this is all easily pictured in my head as I'm reading, my mind giving these people faces without thought as I smile, easily imagining I'm there (probably another shy one..lol). Great piece, fresh idea, and a day that obviously sticks out in your mind with much detail!

[Marianne Rose]

I think it came back to me when I realized I hadn't done this in a while, and the Dean just announced a 6 million dollar deficit with hard times ahead. Time to get out the furry pink box again- dreary faces all around the office today. Thanks for reading this, and especially for reviewing it. My silly side needs to hear it's okay to come out from time to time!🙃

[Teddybearlee]

Oh my dear friend, I say bring out every side, if it can be written about, write about it, that's my theory, it's all our stories, and you never know what someone can take away from them, be it lessons, laughs, smiles, tears, they can all evoke emotion!