Logicless Logic

to join the green parade.

A wave of green had invaded the dusty gray square. Three contingents stood at attention. They would be standing at attention for the next fifteen minutes, awaiting the arrival of a talk they could not choose to avoid. Cirrus clouds floated lightly overhead, as the breeze gently shook the leaves and brushed the flag, briefly expanding it like a sail. Birds rose into the sky, the morning and beyond. The green parade remained unmoved.

In the 3rd row of the 13th column of the rightmost contingent, part of the green moved. Unseen. Movement in files was not allowed, yet wriggling of toes was encouraged to aid in blood circulation, so as to avoid fainting. Toes were concealed by footwear. It is only illegal if you get caught.

4 columns to the right and 1 row ahead, green pants buzzed loudly. Or rather, the mobile phone in the green pants pocket did. There was an internal struggle. The hand longed to follow its natural reaction and reach into the pocket, as it always did. The mind held it back, with its invisible tentacles. The mind faltered, wondered what was the important message the electronic messenger had so urgently delivered. Had something happened? He would never forgive himself for not reading the message if something had.

The man in power had arrived. But before his speech was the national anthem. The green parade was told to sing with pride and gusto. The result was a mixture between soft mumbling and loud off-key notes. The speech began. Despite sharing the same chinese name as Hong Kong comedian Eric Tsang, the speech proved the Man to be anything but. The microphones projected the endless droning, as if prompting the entire parade to fall asleep. The words buzzed and hummed around the ears like an irritating insect, waiting to be swatted at. Many a member of the green parade fell asleep on their feet. Their minds wandered from Australia to Zimbabwe, but never stopping where they were supposed to be.

Legs began to shake. Too much pressure on a single position. Beads of sweat crawled down cheeks, backs and legs. The seconds were passing like years. Yet the years passed like seconds. It wasn't too long ago this same group of people were little boys pretending to be soldiers. Now they were soldiers pretending to be little boys. The droning stopped, and the green parade stood at attention. Salvation was near.

The command was given. The green parade scattered. The gray square had beaten off the green invasion. Cirrus clouds still floated overhead. The hand reached into the pocket after 20 minutes of struggle. He saw the urgent message.

"haha."

justin.

posted by justin @ 12:52 AM