Portrait of the Artist as a Prophet

"What a horrid, horrid man!"

Her hair was blue, her eyes were grey and her heart was black. She was sailing aboard the finest seagoing vessel ever built. And her precious party - the party that never ended - had been interrupted by one of those people.

A consoling man sauntered over. "It's the lower class, my sweets. They're simply so envious of us. They can't stand our success."

"But to say for us to come below and labor! Where do such creatures come from?"

"Class warfare, my dear. It's as ancient as the pyramids. There are always those looking to destroy the social order."

"That may be. But to say such things about our lovely ship! The nerve!"

"Nevermind the naysayers. It's their own failures they speak of. We are doing what's right. No need to change. It's all good."

A drunken voice cheered: "Now there's a good man! It's not the message, deary, it's the messenger. He's spinning the facts to fit his agenda."

The blue haired woman's granddaughter came running up. "Nana, is it true what that man said? What did he mean, 'You can be a fool for a while but not forever'? Are we really sinking?"

"Of course not, darling. His ship may be sinking, not ours."

"But aren't we all in the same boat?"

"No, he's in his own boat. Don't listen to that dreadful man. He was just trying to trick us. He thought he could stop our party with his untruths."

"Why would he want to do that?"

"Because he's a loser who can't face reality."

Down in the engine room futile pumps toiled against the rising water. The foreman saw his messenger return. "Well, what did they say?"

"I told them - and they still don't know."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"Well, it was weird. When I told them there's a hole in the ship they took it all personal, like I was saying there's somethin' wrong with them."

"Bloody idiots! I could fix this if I had some help."

"I don't think they liked me interrupting their party - even though I was telling them a way to save it. Don't think you should have sent a loser like me."

"I don't care if I send a bleedin' chipmunk, they bloody well better listen!"


With all hope gone, the men scampered into the lifeboats, jeered and mocked by the upper decks.

"Run away, fools! You won't find a better ship than this one! HAHAHA!"

"Oh ye of little faith. You should have more faith in your Maker, He wants us to have a good life. But God has no mercy for the stiff-necked and hard of hearing!"

"Out of the frying pan and into the fire! Some people don't know when they have it good! Ingrates!"

As the lifeboats drifted away, they could only imagine the final, tragic moments of those aboard the great ship, screeching for help after it was too late.