I was sent by Mr Lee – Fiona R

Another brilliant piece from a GUNNAS WRITING MASTERCLASS WRITER  

“WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?” said the lanky boy with the aviator glasses. He was standing in the foyer of the hotel and his accusatory tone implied that I had met him before and that we had agreed on a pre-determined time to meet. “I think that you have made a mistake”, I politely replied,”I have never met you before.” The young boy smiled revealing a perfect set of white teeth followed by a glimpse of his velvety dark eyes as he lowered his glasses from his face.

THE FIRST TIME HE SPOKE TO ME I was amazed at his confidence and self assurance. “Of course you have never met before, I was sent by Mr Lee”. I stared at his youthful countenance, summoned my voice of authority and reported that I had never heard of a Mr Lee. “Then why do you have a ten dollar note in your pocket with Mr Lees name on it? “I searched my pocket and to my surprise found a note with Mr Lees name and number written on it in black pen.

“WHAT IS YOUR SURNAME YOUNG MAN?’ I commanded with a note of frustration and mounting disbelief in my voice. I was determined to get to the bottom of this misunderstanding. “Just follow me” the mysterious youth sighed, and started to swagger off to a side street.

IT WAS NIGHTTIME when he finally stopped playing the pied piper and halted in front of a red door. I couldn’t believe that I had followed him for two hours. My feet ached and I was completely lost, but I had clung to the sight of him as he raced ever faster in front of me.

The sign above the red door said SUNSHINE MOONLIGHT GOOD TIMES BOOGIE ! “What kind of a place is this?” I questioned. “Just come inside” he beckoned with urgency. On entering the darkened hallway, I could hear the unrestrained cheers of a party in full swing: glasses clinking, music throbbing and thunderous applause. The young man turned to me and said “Now it’s your turn to entertain the crowd.”

“I’M SORRY CAN YOU REPEAT THAT?” “You’re on stage next, be ready in five”. Five minutes?” I yelled over the noise of the crowd. “No, five seconds. 4,3,2,1.. you’re on.” Suddenly a spotlight lit up my bewildered face which was now turning the colour of a beetroot and the noise of the crowd grew silent in expectation. I was introduced as Australia’s next rising comedic star and as the applause tapered off I grabbed the microphone and stared out into the audience. Should I just wing it, I thought. I had always wondered if I had the nerve and bravado to be a stand up comedian. Just do it came a reply from within. And with that, I began my first night on the stage as a comedian.

 

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