Sugar? No thanks, We're Maltese.

A Short Story by Mike Gatt (that's me by the way!)

Part 2

 Naxxar, 6^th May 2003

---------------------------------------------------------------------

A beautiful spring morning was shattered by the shrill peal of the telephone. No matter how much John tried to ignore it the phone rang on imparting a sense of urgency that could only be attributed to David. With a groan John fell out of the bed and staggered across the room silently cursing and willing the phone to go silent before he reached it.

“ooomf…” he yelled as he stubbed his toe while reaching out for the phone, “Yes?” he said gruffly.

“Hi John, good morning to you too!” was the typically jovial reply from Dave, “I’ve got some very exciting news for you” he rushed on without giving John a chance to slip a sarcastic retort for being woken up at such an ungodly hour.

The reek of Dave’s excitement was palpable even over the phone and John soon calmed down. Pulling the chair closer he sat down with a huff and sighed into the receiver.

“Oh Dave, come on, what is it this time? Not quite exasperated he was, but how many projects had Dave embarked upon over the years? All, mind you, more exciting then the previous one.

Yet another sigh escaped from John’s mouth.

“Really John, you should have more belief in my efforts, anyway this time it’s a whopping idea, no silly get-rich-quick scheme believe me!”

“Business? Business?? With the politics of the country in upheaval? Come on Dave!” There is a limit to my patience John thought, why must Dave always be so naïve about life.

“Hey, slow down a sec… listen up and then think it over, do your research or whatever and let me know!”

Silence..

“Ok??” Dave had to insist..

Still more silence as John tried to gather his wits and think of what could be so exciting this time round.

“Shoot… tell me about it” he eventually said and Dave launched himself into a description, flowery as ever’ of this wonderful opportunity he had stumbled across. Or maybe merely dreamed up during one of his weird hallucinatory periods.

Sugar! His plan revolved around sugar. Well it had its merits, John mused, it was a unique idea. Yet with all the political upheaval going on, that madman George “D” as he liked to call himself, seemed to be gaining popularity throughout the country. And Dave develops a damn sweet tooth!

John considered this George “D” chap a sort of miniature dictator. His speeches were full of the oratory bombastic ness typical to dictators of the past during which he would whip up his listeners to a feverish frenzy. His rhetoric was all about Nationalism, Pride of country, Glory for the flag etc etc and his style seemed appealing to the population. John feared for the future should this man be voted into office. David, on the other hand, seemed totally oblivious, always the dreamer who was seeking ways of self-betterment. How many projects had Dave come up with over the years?? Ah, too many to count and this one could be just another dud….. or is it? Enough beating around the bush, John told himself, as he realized that he had just daydreamed a full hour away.

 

Part 3 next week........................