Monday, October 13, 2014

Oct. 13, 2014

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving.

Writing prompt “I am the crazy business partner of wisdom.”

I suppose I’m supposed to use this line as my first, or at least some place in my writing, but this line gave me a feeling, gave me a sense of a character and that’s what I built on. I may be breaking the rules, but that’s what I do.

I was too young and too inexperienced to be going into business with anyone, much less the craziest of my childhood friends.

“It’ll be awesome. It’s bound to be a success.”

His argument seemed flawless enough, or perhaps that was the booze talking.

“With your talents and my amazing ability to do just about anything, we just can’t go wrong.”

And so I agreed. 

I located a store front near the boardwalk and emptied my bank account to get it ready for our grand opening. First month’s rent, last month’s rent, signs, flyers, displays and a cash register.  I even got some local artist to paint a grandiose mural on the back wall depicting our awesome products.

What were our products?

Shoelace Art and Accessories!

The latest trend in up-cycling and repurposing. It’s absolutely astonishing what you can do with used shoelaces.

Shoelace handbags, wallets, school bags. Shoelace weaved into blankets and rugs. Shoelaces swirled together and mounted to depict the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper and Poker playing dogs. Shoelaces turned into jewellery and hair accessories.

I barely had enough space in the store to show it all off, and the back room was stacked to the ceiling.

How could we possible go wrong?

Opening day came, and my business partner and I opened the door to the public for the first time.  We had little cheese puff pastries, nibbley pretzel bits and a shrimp ring with a sour cream dip. We had juice and coffee and an assortment of teas.  And it was all served on some of our one-of-a-kind Shoelace Serving dishes.

I’m not sure why, but no-one really took to the food.

In fact, no one really took to anything.

My business partner schmoozed and mingled while I sat back and tried to take stock of what was happening.

The people pointed and stared, they whispered and giggled, they laughed and mocked. But they didn’t eat, they didn’t drink, they didn’t buy anything.

Then it hit me…

What the hell was I thinking?!! 

No one in their right mind wants a shrimp ring with sour cream dip!!

Hope you enjoyed.
Comment and share if you like.
Cheers

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