By Jeffrey A. Paolano
The driver leaps to open Leppe Dionne’s door.
“Thanks, Larry.”
Amidst bulb flash and spectator clamor Leppe initiates his red carpet crawl while opining, “Our people’re magnificent. We’re very proud of them.”
Amongst the microphone forest appears a pistol. Security twists Leppe away, intervening between him and the weapon.
In the crowd, a trammeled girl issues a wail. Leppe reaches out, grasping the child to his bosom thus assuring her safety. “You’re OK, honey. It’s alright.”
The incident secured, the girl’s parents embrace the child. “Thank you, Mr. Dionne. We’re grateful. Thank you.”
Leppe revels as he calculates the incident’s worth.
Two questions immediately come to my mind:
* How did grasping the child to his bosom (chest?) insure the child’s safety, particularly after Security had twisted Leppe away and had intervened between him and the weapon?.
* Is the ultimate sentence meant to imply that the whole incident was staged to get Dionne valuable publicity, possibly for his next political campaign?
Great slice of life in the fast lane. The whole incident was staged, that’s how he knew the girl was safe.
That rascal Leppe! Thought he was a good guy till the last line, which spoke volumes about the seamier side of human nature. Great character study, Jeffery!