Post by account_disabled on Dec 25, 2023 23:46:32 GMT -5
«Are you really sure about this decision, sir?» The bagman Mario Zerbini struggled to keep up with the deputy, who that morning seemed to be in more of a hurry than usual. The man didn't answer, instead accelerating his pace even more along the road that led to the party headquarters. Soon he would attend the usual pre-Christmas meeting to discuss gifts for senators and parliamentarians. Zerbini wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. For early December it was quite hot and that run after the MP had made him sweat like a donkey.
They entered the building and the gentleman took the stairs to the first floor, without waiting for the elevator. Zerbini ran after him. Everyone was already inside, crowded into the large Special Data room, waiting for their leader. «Friends and colleagues», he began, as soon as silence fell. «This year two hundred thousand euros have been allocated for gifts. A considerable sum, you will agree." Smiling faces exchanged knowing glances, hands clapped. Someone shouted words of approval. "I want this Christmas to be remembered in history," continued the MP. «This is why I decided to donate the entire sum to charity, in equal parts to ten humanitarian organizations.» The silence that followed was absolute.
Zerbini would have liked to be elsewhere and slipped away with ill-concealed ease. The honorable member waited for applause which never came. Then chaos occurred. The voices flared up in unison, insults flew and landed, threats erupted anonymously. An umbrella was thrown and nearly missed the MP's face. In the cacophony of voices that filled the room he could just hear the ringing of his cell phone, like a sound a thousand miles away. He felt around but couldn't find the phone, which continued to ring, while other objects flew at him. Then he opened his eyes, screaming, and found himself in his bed. It was morning. And that had just been a bad dream, he thought with relief.
They entered the building and the gentleman took the stairs to the first floor, without waiting for the elevator. Zerbini ran after him. Everyone was already inside, crowded into the large Special Data room, waiting for their leader. «Friends and colleagues», he began, as soon as silence fell. «This year two hundred thousand euros have been allocated for gifts. A considerable sum, you will agree." Smiling faces exchanged knowing glances, hands clapped. Someone shouted words of approval. "I want this Christmas to be remembered in history," continued the MP. «This is why I decided to donate the entire sum to charity, in equal parts to ten humanitarian organizations.» The silence that followed was absolute.
Zerbini would have liked to be elsewhere and slipped away with ill-concealed ease. The honorable member waited for applause which never came. Then chaos occurred. The voices flared up in unison, insults flew and landed, threats erupted anonymously. An umbrella was thrown and nearly missed the MP's face. In the cacophony of voices that filled the room he could just hear the ringing of his cell phone, like a sound a thousand miles away. He felt around but couldn't find the phone, which continued to ring, while other objects flew at him. Then he opened his eyes, screaming, and found himself in his bed. It was morning. And that had just been a bad dream, he thought with relief.