BYE, BUD.

My brother…step brother, actually…but we don’t think twice about the fact, having been the same age, and raised in the same household…a good household, with solid, loving parents who had made huge mistakes on the first go-round, but learned their lessons and gratefully made up for them on the second, thereby forming a formidable couple. So, knowing that we had both won the parental lottery, we bonded quite naturally, at a very young age, in a warm, secure place. We were certainly as close and competitive as any blood brothers, and still get together every few months and ‘shoot the shinola’, as Bud likes to say.

Smug? You find me smug?

No…well…Yes. Excessively proud of your own success?...then, Yes.

I see. And this is your sincere POV?

Certainly.

What’s wrong with that? We’re all just people trying to succeed. So, then, what’s wrong with me taking pride in my Achievement?

You’re an Elitist.

Am not. Stop labeling me….just jealousy. I have earned everything that’s come my way, and more, I dare say.

I agree to a degree. But Success, only the quest of Excess, is way beyond simple survival….How much can you gather, how long do you have to hoard?

Exactly.

LIFE is the reason for survival. If you don’t have a life then what good is success?

What good is success? Are you shitting me? If you can’t survive, you got no Life. Survival is the essence of life! 

If you are so encumbered by far surpassing simple survival…of excessiveness…you have no life either.

Are you kidding? Too esoteric for me, you romantic SOB. Ask anyone out there…him…or her…or maybe she…tell me dear, what would you rather be? Rich?!!…or…Loved.

She walked over to our table.

Am I the topic of your discussion?

Not personally…no. But in the general sense, as just an ordinary…ah..member of our society? Yes.

You mean ‘just anybody...a nobody? ‘An insignificant peon…'?

No! Whoa down, girl. We’re all of equal significance.

You really think that?

That’s the conversation we were just having….and, I think he really  meant to say ‘random sample’, by the way…but, then I postulate that Humber, here, (Bud had assumed his father’s name…why? I could only guess it made a nice marketing 'hook')…Humber, here, is an extreme Elitist…

Humber?

Bud Humber…

Bud Humber the Humberburger King?!

Does that impress you?

Sure, what’s Not-to-be-impressed?!

Well the point is, ….?

Brenda.

The point is, Brenda, you knew he was a prick from across the room, didn’t you?

That’s an unfair question, really. Don’t drag me into your fight.

We're brothers and seldom fight anymore, but we do enjoy quibbling.

Go ahead, say it. And don't worry your pretty little head, darlin’...
(Somewhere along the line Bud also bought into his marketing-persona and assumed that of a good-old-boy, even though we're from Wisconsin.)
...I'm a big boy and I can handle the truth. 

Well, since you put it that way, I’d have to say…yes.

Okay, fine. But now you know who I really am, you’re pretty damned interested...

Really?

I think she sees the Humberburger King Has No Clothes…

..ew.

I think. in her mind, she just caught a vision...

So whatd'ya say?

You, stay out of my mind. And you?…nevermind.

I can be damn convincing. I can change minds!

Not mine. You boys done?

Yep, we’re fine.

Hope you enjoyed it. Here’s the check. Take your time.

Suppose there was ten grand below that line?

What?!

You see what I mean?

Sure you got her attention, but then, are her intentions defined?

I like the way you talk. I’m off in half an hour. Can I buy you a drink so we can talk some more? …just talk...with those Intentions still undefined, mind you...

Sure. Bud? Bud? Don’t be sore…

Me sore? I ain't sore. The check and the chickee, they're both yours.

Then Bud got up and walked out the door.

You were right about him.

Can’t help himself…

NONIONIZED