Chapter 2
: The Meeting
So.. after my first day of odd warnings/introductions to this union I was apparently now a member of... I went to my (on-premises) hotel room for a night of sleep... no idea what was about to come....
... the next morning, I woke early and hit the gym, quite ready for my scheduled classes(which was the reason I was there to begin with).. during breakfast however, I overheard a few men talking about the "union meeting" that was scheduled later on that day... being a "union member" I immediately assumed I was invited and had my chair center front as soon as my last class ended...
... I was intrigued by this "rogue" faction I had encountered.... and meant to study it's workings as thoroughly as possible while I had the opportunity...
... as men continued to filter in, the auditorium quickly filled to capacity... several hundred easily... now at this point, everything felt "quite regular" haha.... that is, till the "meeting" began...
... I'd never encountered such a "ritualized", old-school meeting such as this... as the "handlers/enforcers" entered the stage, 10-15 of them... I could not believe my eyes... the Italian "mafioso" stereotype was comical lol... greasy, pasta-fed good-fellas in appropriately matching obnoxious shark skin suits... "you've got to be F'ing kidding me".... I murmered to myself, as I sat there in my wranglers and cowboy hat....
... meeting was called to order in quite dramatic fashion... with a loud "meathead" bellowing out, what was apparently the standard shpeal... went somethin' like this....
"This meeting is here by called to order blah-blah-blah... blah-blah.... blah... and so forth...." .... wasn't til I heard this last part.... "and if ANYONE would like to nominate a candidate for replacement of any board member or PRESIDENT".... my ears quickly tuned back in...
...The intimidating fellow went on to "dare" any attending members to nominate any members to challenge sitting "management"(for lack of better term).... now at this moment, I was simply in awe of the brazen arrogance of the beginning to this so-called "meeting".... after the hooplah... with much extravagent prelude... the "president" of the union made his entrance to the stage... an old, fat, short, grey-bufonte-haired Italian fellow... the frickin' godfather..... YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
.... again... I was oblivious to this new world... I was there to learn, period. ..... and learn quickly I did... the president stepped to the podium and began his speech... a "rah-rah" speech that was only derailed by the "peculiar man in the cowboy hat front and center" HAHAHA.....
He tried to keep going... but I could see a visible twitch as he glanced at my hat... when he paused I knew what was about to happen....
... my hat was off before he had to ask me... he thanked me anyways... as the whole building held it's breath.........
I could tell right there this dude was a man that carried much weight... pictures of him cozied up with Obama adorned the grounds... re-inforcing his "aire" of power....
