Things Could Be Worse...
As Mr. Breyer continued to drone on and on in Lawndale's English class, most of the student body was fighting falling asleep.
"My God," Jane grumbled with her head on her desk, "His voice is verbal Ambien."
Daria yawned in agreement but added, "Someone told me that things could be worse, but I just don't see how..."
"And on this, our fifteenth anniversary we are here not just to celebrate this milestone in the Esteemite movement, but to inaugurate the Beyond Human Might Building here in San Francisco!"
Timothy O'Neill, President, Seer, and Prophet of the International Order of the Temple of Esteem smiled big as his Esteemites applauded wildly at the ribbon cutting ceremony of the latest Grotto.
"And just think," A little voice whispered in the back of his head, "You could be stuck in a dead-end teaching job instead of being here, the head of your own money-making enterprise."
O'Neill frowned at the nasty thought, reminding himself that this wasn't about the millions of dollars that his followers forked over for his various programs to improve their lives. It was about bringing his new religion to the masses so that everyone could have good esteem!
Whether they wanted it or not.
"Is something wrong dear?" Mary Sue O'Neill, his lovely wife asked him at his side.
"Nothing cupcake," he informed her, "Just a bad thought that needs cleansing."
Mary Sue nodded and offered to do the Esteem-editing herself.
As O'Neill accepted the counseling from one of the first people trained in his Esteem improving faith, his followers were marching single-file into the latest building in his growing, but controversial movement to shell out big bucks for the latest Esteem-editing sessions created by 'the Man' himself.
Timothy O'Neill, President, Seer, and Prophet of the International Order of the Temple of Esteem.
