Iron Doom’s Interview (Part Two)
For right now? Iron has just said, “I dare you.” To Jack, the man who is interviewing him. Jack is following up on the events that lead to the white lightening moment in my soon-to-be-released....
THE INTERVIEW CONTINUES...
Jack eyed him, and then shot a look at the audience, as he framed his question, “High pressure situations sometimes demand extraordinary measures be taken.” He finally turned to look at him, when he asked, “Was this the situation? An unintended moment caught by accident?”
Iron kept a straight face that consisted of a stoic expression with a direct and intense stare. “Not at all. It was completely intended and I meant to be caught.”
The crowd went crazy. There were whistles, claps, stomps, some whoop, whoop, whoops, and somewhere in the upper left corner seats a chant of, “Mighty white lightning, we want some!”
“Son of a bitch,” Jack swore off microphone as he turned in his chair to look for help with some crowd control. Once his crew walked out, he swiveled back toward Iron, and leaned forward. “I’m sorry about this.”
Iron raised a brow. “Are you?”
Jake blinked and then he scowled. “We’re going to have to take a short break. These guys are very demanding if they don’t get the right answer.”
“That will be fine,” Iron spoke loud enough for the guy to hear him. He almost grinned when Jack stood up and was looking for him to follow. He shook his head. “I’m not going anywhere. I don’t mind a little audience participation. It’s cathartic.”
When Jack exited the stage, Iron took out his cell as Jack’s crew did clean up for him. He sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees and text Willa,
How’s the new tub install going?
He didn’t have to wait for a response. This was a rule for both of them. One of the only times being speedy was recommended.
Willa answered right away.
Good. Almost done. I thought you’d be in the middle of a stimulating ecclesiastic discussion about criminology.
He read that and smiled, thinking how much nicer that topic would have been to handle. But then, another text came in.
Are you done or…?
It’s an or. A question mark. A slight technical glitch. Did the tiles come in?
Yes that’s not all though. That surprise I told you about. It’s here!
Any hints?
Nope.
Come on. Is it something you’d wear that I’d love?
A sharp whistle sounded and he looked up. The crowd was mostly settled. The whistle had come from one of Jack’s crew, presumably, as a signal that they could begin again.
He looked down when his cell vibrated.
Nope.
Do we eat it?
She gave him an emoji cross eyes and then typed,
It’s for you specifically. I am not involved. I told you.
He frowned, wondering what it could be. He sent another text,
Fair enough, but now you’ve got me thinking about a surprise you can participate in. Lingerie or jewelry?
Don’t buy me anything! REALLY. I don’t need a thing.
He sent a frustrated emoji and told her he’d be to the house before dinner. Right after that, he sent one text to his Jeweler.
Tonight was the night.
Is the ring ready?
When he received a thumb’s up he was just going to text the timing on his pick up. When an audience member called, “Mr. Doom. We won’t bite and some of us are much more interesting than your cell phone. Promise”
He didn’t look her way. Instead he held up an index finger and finished his text,
I’ll be by to pick it up by 3.
He got another thumb’s up, as he pocketed his phone and turned to the audience as he sat back in his seat.
“Biting doesn’t bother me,” he said with a slow grin. He wanted to make sure they understood he was messing around.
“Do you have any advice for a person who wants to do a career focus on their personal lifestyle preferences?”
He almost laughed. The audience was more astute than poor Jack who seemed to want a viral placement spot when he published this podcast interview.
“Great question. Maybe you should be sitting in the chair opposite of me.”
The woman made a joke out of his offer. Pretending to get up, but then she quickly turned back and sat down. She was a good sport so the least he could do is answer her.
“Yes,” he said in mock seriousness. “Don’t go to the Salt Lick Building at sunset.”
Everyone laughed a little harder, so he waited for them to settle down before he told them, “All kidding aside. It must be the business first. As in, let the type of business find you first, and then you can design your specific focus on it. I only say this, because some of us take the path of least resistance early in our career lives. If you put your specific focus on that avenue you might cheat yourself out of a better journey is all I’m saying.”
“Alright!” Jack called. Then he made noise.
Clap, clap
“Is everyone ready for my follow up question?” Jack asked cheerfully as he came out from the side of the stage platform. “Iron? Do you need a refresher?”
Iron looked at the audience and held up his hands as if he was being arrested. He shrugged up his shoulders and conspired with the audience. “Will this work? I believe I stated I meant to get caught.”
Jack smiled as if he was really stoked. He sat down and looked around the auditorium with fresh eyes. It would seem as if he’d gotten good news off stage. Were the graduates in attendance sharing this on social media already?
If so, he hope Willa was too busy to catch any of it. He really wanted her to say yes tonight.
Jack moved back in his seat with his clipboard on his lap, and nodded to him. “Ready?”
Iron held his gaze. “Are you?”
Unfortunately Jack was too distracted to be challenged. He must have a lot riding on this one.
“Still in keeping with the white lightning event. Now that we know that you intentionally determined to get caught, I would like to ask as a follow up. Was this strategy strictly to advert business peril, or were you personally positioning the moment for other reasons?”
Iron scanned the audience and then clarified. “Other reasons?”
“Yes. Like a personal bucket list item that was suddenly within reach? Perhaps it was orchestrated to stick it to your elite partner?”
The audience booed and hissed.
Jack playfully ducked as if dodging their bullets. “I’m only giving examples here.”
“Yes,” Iron answered very clearly. “It was one of those things.”
Jack frowned. He searched Iron’s hard gaze for a clue and when he came up empty he sighed. “Which one?”
There was silence for five count and then a slow chant started to mushroom up out of that corner again, “Truth, truth, truth,” the upstarts.
That’s when Iron put up his hand to quiet them down. When he had an opening he replied to Jack so they’d all hear it, “You already had your follow up. Next question.”
Iron is so bad. Hahaha! Poor Jack is stuck right now but he does get out of it. I will post that segment in a week or so.
As always, thanks for stopping by,
Riley
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