john and the crab

John walks into the conference room

a dozen men in suits, but casual, no ties

slouch and lean, sprawl around

the forty acre mahogany table

in soft black leather

executive chairs.

john walks up to the head of the table

and stops. the men maintain

their sleepy poses, but

they watch with curiosity

as john

upends the soggy grocery bag

dangling from his left hand

a large crab, red from steaming

splats upon the gleaming hardwood

droplets of crab-scented cooking water

spray across the surface

twelve sets of jaws drop in unison

he has their attention now

john says: what is it?

silence and confusion

a voice ventures:

uhm, uh, a crab?

-alright, how do you know it's not a machine?

...............

-anyone? don't be shy.

a hand goes up half-mastedly,

and by the way, no one's slouching anymore

-yes? got an observation to share with us?

-it smells.

much tittering and giggling,

they watch john closely

-very good, anyone else care to comment?

come on gentlemen, what else?

- well, it doesn't look like it's made of metal

and and it 's got, you know, that furry stuff under it's

uh uh head or shell or whatever you call it......

-excellent, anyone else?

a red-faced fellow, emboldened now:

well, just what is point? i thought this seminar

was supposed to be on creative strategies

in BUSINESS, what does a dead crab have to do

with that?

- how do you know it's dead?

more giggles, but quietly, these guys

know about confrontation

....and relish it

-it smells

-yeah, i think we've already established that,

what else?

red-faced guy speaks again:

well, i think we'd like to hear,

just what exactly, is your POINT?

john looks from face to face, slowly

- you tell me. anybody feeling sleepy? bored?

i don't see anyone gazing out the window.

thinking about your golf game?

or what's on television tonight?

ok. now that i have your full attention.....