Cap Mandrake
Posts: 23184
Joined: 11/15/2002 From: Southern California Status: offline
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***********Aboard HMS Empire Zanzibar, 125 mi. WSW of Diamond Harbour, March 20, 1943(b)*************** A half dozen young officers of No. 27 Sqdrn queue up outside a small stateroom. The door is ajar. Inside a young Flt. Lt. stands at a desk while a man in green eyeshades and rolled up sleeves works on a ledger in front of him> Man in green eyeshades and rolled up sleeves: <without looking up> Credit Default Swaps or Resume Enhancment? Flt. Lt. Oliver Hazard, RAF: Resume Enhancement, please. Man in green eyeshades and rolled up sleeves: Right, that is $25 US per mission, $1,000 for a victory. Flt. Lt. Oliver Hazard, RAF: One thousand dollars? I haven't that in US currency, willl you take Pound notes? Man in green eyeshades and rolled up sleeves: The Bank of England? Are you kidding me? I'd sooner take Reichmarks. You haven't seen the terms of the Lend Lease. I have. When this is over the Chancellor of the Exchecker will be printing notes faster than the Times of London. It's non-negotiable. Dollars, Swiss Francs or Philippino gold. Flt. Lt. Oliver Hazard, RAF: But, 1000 seems a bit high to me, sir. Man in green eyeshades and rolled up sleeves: We can't have everyone claiming they are a fighter ace now, can we? It's the scarcity, son. The color of scarcity is green and it has pictures of dead Presidents on it. That is what we are fighting for. Flt. Lt. Oliver Hazard, RAF: We? Man in green eyeshades and rolled up sleeves: Ah, yes, that? It's the flat feet you know. 4F. Flt. Lt. Oliver Hazard, RAF: But sir, I've just written a letter to my sweetheart describing my first air victory. Man in green eyeshades and rolled up sleeves: Look, you will just have to do it over. I suggest you destroy the old one too.....but don't tell anyone I told you that. Flt. Lt. Oliver Hazard, RAF: Oh, very well. I'll take 15 missions then. <begins to open his wallet> Man in green eyeshades and rolled up sleeves: Fifteen?? How long have you been with the squadron, son? Flt. Lt. Oliver Hazard, RAF: Ummmm, let me see.....today makes 8. Man in green eyeshades and rolled up sleeves: Weeks? Flt. Lt. Oliver Hazard, RAF: No, days sir. Man in green eyeshades and rolled up sleeves: Look, Flt. Lt., don't you think that would strain credulity? How about this. I'll sell you 5 today and the other ten when we get to Australia. Flt. Lt. Oliver Hazard, RAF: Very well then. <hands over his money and the man in the eyesahdes makes a mark in the ledger> Man in green eyeshades and rolled up sleeves: Great. Whitehall should have this in about 2 weeks. Come back and see us before we disembark. Flt. Lt. Oliver Hazard, RAF: I will do that sir. <puts on cap and begins to leave> Man in green eyeshades and rolled up sleeves: Oh, Hazard. We should talk about a pre-nup. Flt. Lt. Oliver Hazard, RAF: "Pre-nup", sir? Man in green eyeshades and rolled up sleeves: Yes, pre-nuptual agreement. It is a sound strategy when there is a large disparity in wealth between future spouses. One can't be too careful. Flt. Lt. Oliver Hazard, RAF: Oh, you mean my sweetheart, sir? How did you know? Man in green eyeshades and rolled up sleeves: There is a lot of that about, son...nuptuals I mean. Flt. Lt. Oliver Hazard, RAF: Yes sir, but I am not a man of great means. Man in green eyeshades and rolled up sleeves: NOW, perhaps. Wait till prospective employers see your resume. Good as gold, son, good as Philippino gold. Flt. Lt. Oliver Hazard, RAF: <now beaming> THANK YOU SIR! I will do what you suggest. <turns to leave again> Man in green eyeshades and rolled up sleeves: Great, Hazard! Don't forget to destroy the first draft of that letter. Document shredding is 25c a page. <as the Flt. Lt leaves, a sign can be seen on the door. It reads "Dewey, Cheatham & Howe, LLC, New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Rome, Tokyo". Underneath the words "Bay of Bengal" are scribbled in wax pencil. NEXT!
< Message edited by Cap Mandrake -- 11/19/2008 7:52:56 PM >
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