June 13, 2011

Meryl Streep and tuna fish sandwiches.

I walked up and down the aisles. There was no sound except for the noise coming from the rusting cogs of the assembly belts . The women working the line reminded me of my elementary school lunch ladies: old and perpetually grumpy (and understandably so). They were machines, moving only to grab their part for the ensemble. My Humanities lecture on Charlie Chaplin's "Modern Times"suddenly became very real to me.

The shelter stunk of tuna fish. No surprise there, though. They were assembling tuna fish sandwiches.

"And here is where we end our tour," Meryl Streep informed me. She then proceeded to top off the last sandwich on the belt with another slice of bread. Out of all the homeless shelters and soup kitchens in Connecticut, I chose the one Meryl runs.

One bajillion points for Eden.

Two supervisors barged through the door and stopped in front of Meryl, who motioned to the incinerator in the corner. Suddenly, as if Meryl had flipped a switched, all the women in the shelter lunged for the sandwiches that were in front of them and ran to feed the fiery furnace.

"Wha--what's going on?" I stuttered. I quickly glanced out the window. The hungry were there waiting to be fed...
...but their meal had just been delivered to the devil.

"They don't deserve food." Meryl muttered.

"But you're a soup kitchen. You're supposed to give them food."

"They stole my child."

I was puzzled.

"These people, these homeless, hungry people, took my child."

Infuriated, I tackled the nearest woman and stopped her from throwing her tuna fish sandwich away. I was going to feed the hungry, even if I was to do it alone.

I awoke in a sweat, my heart racing. I knew what I had to do this summer.

End of my strange short story.
Yes, this was a dream I had last night (hence Meryl Streep and her grudge against homeless people). I think it was triggered by the fact that I was called to be a Day of Service specialist (along with Linea...Linea, how do we always end up having the same calling?) and, automatically, my super ambitiousness took over as I concocted ideas. What if I ended world hunger?

If only I could.

2 comments:

  1. That could be a movie. Do it. By the way, I know this is an old entry, but I'm just catching up on your blog.

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  2. Oh, I welcome all comments at any time.
    And interesting idea...hmm...I'll see what I can whip up with my friend Mr. Spielberg.

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