The Board

Walternate Universe – MC41225

I pressed the button on the control just for the hell of it
When the portal in the shape of a blue liquid sphere appeared
Thinking I was still dreaming from the night before I stepped through
Not realizing that things were about to get really weird…

A small robot with a television monitor for a face greeted me
In a long dimly lit hallway that was as far as the eye can see
Here other portals were opening and closing for other travelers
As they jumped through verses like they were wishes of a fantasy

“I’m your Tactical Ops Tech Officer or TOTO”, the robot said
And proceeded to brief me about my life in this parallel universe
“You’re in the school board and about to make a difficult decision
So you must change their course or things will get worse”

The briefing took nearly three hours in this dimly lit hallway
A summary of my life story in this particular world
Then I changed clothes and went through the new portal
And came out the other side very excited and stirred

I had two hours to memorize the speech I was given
So that I’d make a landmark decision for the school board
While my alternate self had been sedated the previous night
In the morning I’d make a decision that would bring discord

The panel was split in cutting music and arts from the schools
My alternate self grew up without these programs in his life
Though he had a privileged upbringing he didn’t understand it
But he was resentful, bitter and had an unhappy wife
 
When I made the decision not to cut the funding of the programs
Half of the panel looked at me like I had gone insane
As it turned out, my alternate self had been in cahoots
But now I was exposing them and going against the grain

I signed the documents and the teachers and students were happy
Meanwhile some board members were scowling and mean mugging
But I didn’t care, I knew it was the right thing to do for the children
While many of the faculty and staff and students were hugging

I went to my alternate self’s office and closed the door
Things were now in motion, I hoped they would work out
When suddenly his office phone rang and it was him
So I picked it up when over the receiver he tried to shout

“Who the hell is this?” he asked demanding and irate
“Listen carefully” I said with a low and calming voice
“Give them the opportunity and it will open worlds for them
But if you don’t then you’ll suffer if you don’t make the right choice…

There are consequences, both at a local and higher level
I’ve seen the documents, so you better come clean
This is not a threat, this is the promise of a new tomorrow
Follow the right path and you’ll…”

I was interrupted as board members pounded on the door
Just then the control on my wrist started flickering a light
I pushed the button and the blue portal quickly opened
I hung up the phone and left that world with delight…

263 Unique Words
534 Total