WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE MAKING SOMETHING AS A TEAM. MAKING
SOMETHING THAT WOULD WORK FOR THE WHOLE COMPANY. THE KIDS
OUT THERE NEED MUSIC, AND THEY WANT PEOPLE TO ASPIRE TO BE.
WHO WERE WE TO THINK MANUFACTURING SOMEONE LIKE THAT WOULD
GO SO WRONG. IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE COMPANY’S BOARD THAT
CAME UP WITH THE INNATE FLAW IN THE PLAN, BUT NO ONE STOPPED
THEM, AT EVERY STAGE WE WENT ALONG WITH IT, AND NOW IT’S ALL
OUR FAULT.

THE LIGHTS WERE AT A LOW DIM TO PREVENT ACCURATE PHOTOGRAPHY, AND
THE ROOM SHOOK SLIGHTLY AT THE CONSTANT VIBRATION OF A FILTHY CEILING
FAN. THE MEN LINES THE AISLES OF CHAIRS, SOME SWEATING IN THEIR FADED
BUSINESS SUITS, OTHERS INSPECTING THE SPORTS PAGES, AND OTHER STILL
CHECKING THEIR WALLETS TO ENSURE THEIR RESOURCES WERE AS DE’
SCRIBED. THEY WERE SILENT, SMOKING, AND WAITING. THE SHOW WAS YET TO
BEGIN. THIS WAS NOT THE KIND OF SHOW MOST OF US WOULD DESIRE TO
ATTEND.