This is a #storygram (mini-story) from my Instagram, which you can get to via the social media links at the top of this site. I do my best to make them daily for you to enjoy! YES, many of them will hopefully be expounded upon in novels or other future writing endeavors of mine. Thank you very much for reading and sharing them! And don’t forget to check out my film Portfolio too!
The Story:
He took a short cut through the 47th Avenue alley. There were only three more blocks between him and his last chance.
The sweat covered handle of the briefcase in his right hand kept slipping from his grip. In it was the presentation of his life’s work, neatly prepared to convince a board of executives to see his invention as the future of travel and the salvation of the environment.
As he hurried down 49th Avenue, his briefcase made its final slide, spilling his presentation onto the sidewalk. He gathered his papers and shut his briefcase back. Before picking it up again, he took a few steps to the hotdog vendor near him for some napkins. He wiped off his hands and bounded back to his briefcase, wrapping a napkin around the handle.
The building his meeting was in had typical marble tiles and large glass windows. This board of executives had lots of money. But he had seen all of this before. It was always a disappointment. They always said no.
An elevator launched him to the 38th floor, where a fake peppy secretary told him to wait. He had arrived with two minutes to spare, which he used to regain his composure from the stress of hurrying. At the precise meeting time, he was told to enter.
Pushing open the double doors, he started right in.
“Ladies and gentlemen, most of you probably got here today in a car, which requires oil. And as we all know, oil is running out.”
He unlatched his briefcase and began to lift the lid.
“Well, my solution can eliminate this crisis and…”
He looked down at an opened but empty briefcase. His presentation handouts, his research notes, everything was gone. The suede interior only contained a white business card with a phone number.
He picked up the card and turned it over. The back read, “We like it. Let’s talk.”
He thought back to when he was getting napkins from the hotdog vendor. An organization that sly couldn’t be trusted. But did he have a choice?
He looked up at the executives in this meeting. They sat unimpressed, and he knew where their thoughts were.
He closed his briefcase and picked it up.
“Thank you.”
As he walked out, he dialed the number on the card.