The Tables Have Turned

‘Hello ignoramuses!’ President of the Board, Merthyr Tydfil, starts. ‘We have gathered here today to discuss the future of our organisation.’

A murmur arises in the hall, and an anonymous voice from the crowd interrupts the speaker.

‘We have more pressing issues than this! Someone had hacked us!’

The Board exchanges meaningful glances.

‘He’s surely a new user!’ Taunton Biddeford, Vice President of the Board, says, his eyes on the Board.

‘He’s a thief!’ An anonymous voice speaks again.

‘But we have rules!’ Newton Carmarthen, Secretary of the Board, says. ‘You can’t just say one thing and allow the other. This hacker, as you call him, had cracked our website and wants to draw profit from our achievements. It’s quite unfair, don’t you think?’

‘Yes,’ President Merthyr, says. ‘But we can’t just put him under restraint. It doesn’t work that way.’

‘Why not?’ Anonymous asks.

‘We can’t find him; that’s the issue here,’ Vice President Taunton says, turning toward the crowd.

‘Why not?’ Anonymous insists.

‘He has a nickname! That’s why, dummy!’ Taunton says again.

‘If it’s our website, we can track him down. He’s not invisible,’ Secretary Newton points out.

‘He’s sharing our profits!’ First Anonymous voice starts again.

‘And he doesn’t pay a subscription!’ Second Anonymous voice says.

‘Yeah!’ Crowd repeats.

‘Gentlemen! Let’s not forget the reason for today’s gathering here,’ Merthyr states. ‘We will deal with this trivial matter at the most appropriate time.’

‘You mean after hours? When no one is looking?’ Second Anonymous shouts.

‘That’s what the Board is for. To deal with the matters at the most appropriate time. Now, let’s move on to the most important matters here. There’s an arising issue of our members losing their cards. Our HR department, in cooperation with the lab, prepared something unique. Everyone of you has to report to the headquarters in the morning for tests. Everyone will receive a special chip that grants access to the premises for meetings.’

‘Why cannot we have new cards assigned to us?’

‘That’s a new directive,’ Taunton says. ‘I’m afraid everyone has to follow.’

‘What if we refuse?’

‘Every member always has a choice,’ Newton says. ‘He can rather stay and follow the rules, or go. The choice is yours, gentlemen!’

‘Is there any chance we can vote for or against it?’

‘I’m afraid not,’ President Merthyr concludes.

‘Why not?’

‘Because our organisation’s work is heavily based on rules. There’s no other way of running it.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because there has to be a leader who will take the major role in this game,’ Merthyr argues.

‘We haven’t chosen you!’

‘You didn’t have to. Others did.’

‘Maybe we’re going to vote again?! Someone rigged the last election, anyway.’

‘You have no proof of that!’ Secretary Newton protests.

‘Sure, we will never have proof of that! Your moles took good care of it.’

‘What exactly are you implying?’ Merthyr continues in defence.

‘Just stating the fact, that’s all.’

‘Report for the morning tests, that’s all, Vice President Taunton concludes. ‘Now, has everyone collected their copy of “Lush” from the lobby? Make sure you read it from the first to the last page. That’s where our wealth comes from. Pay special attention to the letter from the president of the Board, Mr Merthyr Tydfil. He included some guidelines on how to stay wealthy for longer than expected.’

After a long look into the papers laid out on the table, the secretary looks at the vice president of the Board and they both look at the president in the aim of wrapping up the meeting.

‘Gentlemen! I think that’s all for today,’ Merthyr finally says. ‘If anyone has anything to say, speak up now.’

Silence pervades for a longer while, making the Board feel uncomfortable. They look at each other, preparing to leave.

‘I am adjourning this meeting. Thank you, everyone, for coming. Goodbye.’

Then the light goes off in the entire building, stopping everyone in their tracks. After all, there is nothing else to discuss today, just the insubordinate individuals irking during the inauguration. But even that became forgotten in the heat of the moment, or rather because of the lack of electricity to support the case.