6/15/09 - A Modern Adventure

Enter Delasia: 10:45PM

Business men and women flew by in the Minneapolis International Airport. Suitcases rolling, loudspeakers ringing and children grasping their parent’s hand for dear life added to the already hectic atmosphere in the airport terminal. “It’s particularly crowded day in the airport”, remarked a TSA Official who stopped his cart next to a black guitar case open on the floor.

There I was, in my brown street clothes playing country tunes for loose change. His words inspired hope into me, an aspiring musician on his way to Portland to try to become famous, a difficult and unlikely feat. Although I had been playing some of my best tunes all morning, I glanced over at the guitar case and the saw only enough paper to amount to about $25. ‘Not even enough for a taxi, maybe this just isn’t my thing” I kept thinking to myself, watching the people go by without even slowing enough to hear an acoustic version of Sweet Home Alabama.

Packing up my guitar, I started walking toward the nearest food court, hoping to find a Chuck E’ Cheese. On the way I noticed a transparent advertisement, brand new technology! At first, it looked like a airport map, but as I got closer I noticed a Pepsi logo on top. In the distance, a teen boy was running my way. Not seeing the clear glass wall in the busyness of the terminal, he ran straight into it. A built in camera clicked as it took a picture of his face, freshly squished up against the glass. Undeterred whatsoever, the boy ran along his way and the advertisement then showed his picture on the screen. A moment to laugh was just what I needed.

As I stood there laughing to myself, I was approached by two men wearing green polo shirts and gray sunglasses. “You, Come now” Being much smaller than them both, I really had no other option---but for some reason, I felt that if these people were trustworthy? I then found myself in the endzone of a neatly tended football field, I just caught a 40 yard pass for a touchdown! Looking down, my shirt said “NFL Specialist”, ugh, dark green with brown pants… Tacky! This was only practice, but my teammates ran over to me and picked me up, parading me around the field. Taking off their helmets, I felt as if I’d seen them for the first time, although they already knew me. Looking around I saw about 20 tall guys, and between them emerged a 5 shorter folk, who also had “Specialist” shirts on. The team captain was Chris---he was the typical high school jock type. It was a night practice, but although the field was only illuminated by a few overhanging lights, I could tell something was different about a couple of the other specialists, they weren’t guys.
However, it wasn’t time for talking and the little powwow ended in silence and we all went our own ways.

The next day in the locker room, which was outdoors, I met up with the team poolside. Everyone was sitting in lawn-chairs awaiting the arrival of the coach, who was “bringing grim news”. Two guys with neon hair were doing acrobatics on their chairs, with everyone laughing at their crazy dances and flips. Someone approached the vacant seat next to mine. She introduced herself as specialist “N102”, but her real name was Nicole---one of the shorter people on the football field the night before, the running back. A little interrogation uncovered that we were both part of the Interplayer Diplomacy department. Finding something in common with another player was a nice feeling and we quickly became best of friends.

The coach arrived, bluntly announcing Chris was going to be on suspension for the next two games. Utterly disgusted, Chris decided to leave the team and was determined to take as many people down with him as possible. He managed to get 6 to go with him before getting knocked out by the janitor. “I have a tranquilizer, who’s next?!?!” the janitor threatened. Everyone straightened up in their chairs and the would-be deserters sat back down. Chris didn’t respond well the foreign injection and went into shock. I ran over to assist him, elevating his legs and providing basic life support for him, being assisted by my new friend Nicole, who also knew CPR and First Aid. As I went to check his carotid pulse, I felt her hand had beat me there. She giggled and we continued to help him together. The coach proceeded with the team meeting, and after getting Chris stabilized, N102 and I also joined them.

After the meeting was over, coach told Nicole and I to look over Chris. In the meanwhile we sat at the edge of the pool together, talking about our pasts and futures. (Mine included a future in professional pogo-stick jumping, She wanted to be a teacher) 3 hours after the meeting concluded, Chris finally came back around and he had completely forgotten the whole experience. Nicole told him to take a break for the next couple games while he recovered. All was well, so me and my new friend took a walk into the nearby desert as the next sun was setting. I didn’t feel so bad about Chris taking a break from football, knowing that my new partner and I would be a powerful team during the next game! The night scene faded away slowly.

Termination: Alarm Clock - 7:00AM

W - 0
X - 0
Y - 0
Z - 4