
PHOTO PROMPT © Priorhouse
I flopped down in the almost empty lobby and sipped the complementary coffee. It was awful. I should have known, at a place like this.
An old lady wearing her weight in diamonds and walking two poodles looked down her nose at me. I’m sure she was outraged by my jeans and t-shirt. I gave her the finger. She turned away, obviously horror-stricken.
The concierge came over.
“Sir….” He seemed pained to use the word.
“There he is.” Musk pointed at me. Bezos grinned.
“Elon! Jeff! Let’s talk rockets,” I said. “Right after I sell this piece of junk hotel.”
— — —
Word count = 100
Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week’s prompt is here and uses a photo © Priorhouse. Read more or join in by following the InLinkz “linky“.
A very clever and creative tale, Trent. I loved it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Russell.
LikeLike
The future belongs to the ones with the best ideas. Sometimes they act like jerks but youve got to give them credit for bravery. Loved the car on the rocket too, with the miniature car on the dashboard! As for casual vs formal, im happy not to have to wear panty hose and heels anymore!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The ones with the best ideas don’t always win, but at least they are usually in the running. Yes, I often forget how much more uncomfortable women’s formal attire is than men’s!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! A delightful take on the prompt. Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!
LikeLike
Well then … ;) I bet the jeans and T-shirt were designer made … Here’s to presumptions, assumptions and unnecessary finger moves … ;)
Here’s my entry, if interested: https://naamayehuda.com/2018/09/28/the-service/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Faded, ripped jeans that look like trash but cost $750…. Yes, pretty much everyone in this story makes those judgment calls.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nice commentary on what constitutes class and sophistication. Regardless a jerk is still a jerk no matter how much money or what he wears. Still, I do love fast cars. Great job.
LikeLike
If only the ones with gold plated rods up their bottoms could be taken down as easily. Release the Kraken!!
LikeLike
Way to stuff their assumptions! Very nicely done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, deflate those pretensions… Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the twist, don’t like pretentious people! Well-done. :-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hah! This made me smirk. Nothing like giving people what for. Also – never judge a book by its cover! Also, the entrepreneurs of today definitely have a different face than that of entrepreneurs 30 years ago!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! The face of the entrepreneur sure has changed. Of course, there was Steve Jobs in his mock-turtleneck and jeans (no class – real turtlenecks are the way to go, not silly “mocks” ;) ). But he wasn’t as nasty or temperamental as Elon Musk can be.
LikeLike
Wearing her weight in diamonds – lovely phrase!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I think people can picture exactly the person I had in mind.
LikeLike
Too many judging the book by its cover. Well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes they are, including our “hero”. Thanks.
LikeLike
Good title, good story. I agree about the cool cars and rockets.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. Cool cars and rockets, and very, very cool when he combined the two and sent a speedster in the general direction of Mars.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Never judge a book by its cover. As I think the concierge might find shortly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly, though luckily for him, the concierge was interrupted before he put his foot too deeply into his mouth…
LikeLike
Dear Trent,
I can imagine the expression on the concierge’s face. Love this story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure it was priceless. Thanks!
LikeLike
Perhaps it is not so much as how you dress, but your attitude to others that matters.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s true. Elon Musk is probably the world’s biggest jerk and the “hero” of this story doesn’t seem much better, perhaps being the world’s second biggest jerk. But then, I think we have all been on the receiving end of one of the rich lady’s wrathful looks, the ones that say they think we are less than excrement and that the world would be better off without our kind (i.e., not millionaires or billionaires). So if flipping off that lady showed his bad attitude towards those stuck on themselves, I think her attitude is even worse.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos making formal attire inconsequential!
LikeLike
Yes, those tech-billionaires don’t care too much about the tradition of the well dressed businessperson. My fashion sense come more from Steve Jobs (I wear a turtleneck almost every day for six months of the year).
LikeLike
Elon ? Then I looked him up,
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not the nicest man in the world, but one of the more interesting…
LikeLiked by 1 person
My brother, who was making very good money, once told me a story of walking into a car dealership in ratty jeans and worn shirt and being treated with distain by most of the salespeople. The one salesperson who treated him with respect got the sale – that day, in cash. My brother drove off the lot immediately in his brand new car. I always chuckle when I think of that story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is great. It is always best to respect everyone just because they are human, but it is great when someone gets rewarded for it. Good for your brother.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOVE this humor (laughed at the finger, could feel the setting even more with the strain to use of the word sir, and then well done with the overdone lady – the diamond image – gag!)
You cleverly described a social aspect in our current culture.
We live in a day and age where clothes are not a defining point – well they “can” be – and I recall last year seeing Jennifer Lopez wearing so much gold and glitter it was over the top –
but for the most part today – we have the hoody-wearing billionaire and then the millionaire comfy in his jeans because that is what they want to wear
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Y. I was originally going to have the guy waiting for “Jagger and McCartney”, but figured the clothing and behavior would fit a rock star, but being a tech billion, it makes that point about style in bolder letters.
LikeLiked by 1 person
that is another nice part to this….
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had to look up Elon Musk. Knew I should know the name, and I was right. Brain freeze, I guess. anyway, I hope your MC manages to get along with him. Elon doesn’t have a lily-white reputation in playing with others nicely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, Elon Musk is not known as being the type of person most of us wouldn’t want as friends. As I said to Iain, he does make pretty cool cars and rockets, though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent title, Trent! And a clear-cut case of judging a book by its cover, eh? One must never. Especially in today’s society where there seems to be a pride of place to dress like a bum because… why not?
LikeLiked by 2 people
well said, Dale, but sometimes dressing down is not dressing like a bum = it is a matter of being comfortable – ya know? And maybe even preference and no frills – and does every business meeting need a crisp white shirt?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Of course not… though sometimes, I swear it seems like an effort is made to bring it to the lowest acceptable level… what is acceptable? Well, that is a matter of interpretation.
No, not everyone but man.. I so do appreciate one who makes an effort ;-)
LikeLiked by 2 people
I soooo agree
and saw more pajamas the other day –
so trust me I get it.
and I also like effort and when Tom Brady did not wear a tie to the 50th superbowl event – I was shocked and so disappointed because he is so cool – and it was so disrespectful – and that same year – even Coach Bill threw on a suit – with tie- and it was classy and respectful.
—
and so when folks make an effort – it is thinking of others – isn’t it.
so we are on the same page
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ugh… I can’t stand that. Going out in PJs.
Going to the ballet, a show or play in a nice theatre – make an effort, already! Very disappointing. However, I take the Carrie Bradshaw approach – Always overdress rather than under. You’ll look more the fool under in a fancy place than over in a less fancy place…
And I, personally, like to make an effort.
LikeLiked by 2 people
yes yes yes
let’s say it again:
overdress rather than under
LikeLiked by 3 people
ALWAYS.
I’d always wear a dress or skirt when we went out as couples. And I was the only one.
LikeLiked by 2 people
and thanks to Trent for this awesome culture-rich topic today
(makes me want to go grab a blazer)
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yes… Sorry, Trent. We might have rudely taken over your comments page today…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Not a problem. I am pretty casual, but, unless I am mowing the lawn or something, my “casual” on a normal day is a turtleneck and slacks when it’s cool, add a wool sweater when cold, or a nice silk shirt when warm. Not Tshirts except running or working. That being said, I rarely dress up any more. I kind of enjoy it. I used to go to the symphony a couple of times a months and always wore a tie and usually a jacket. Even though most didn’t, it seemed appropriate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now see? I knew you had class… nowadays casual is friggen sweatpants at the restaurant… Ugh. Good on you for making an effort.
LikeLiked by 1 person
indeed- and I will be back tomorrow to see what else pops up – because Dale, he started it with this rich topic of clothes and judge a book by the cover – lol
LikeLiked by 2 people
Right! All your fault, Trent! ;-)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yep, I’ll take the fall for it. (Helps my stats a bit too….)
LikeLike
Win-win!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it is (one more comment for the stats by answering ;) )
LikeLiked by 1 person
:D
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t worry, I won’t answer this just to get one more comment in my stats. Oh, wait…. Disregard….
LikeLike
Hahahaha! Right!
LikeLiked by 1 person
:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Guilty as charged ;)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. If you are tech billionaire, you can dress how you want… My original thought was that he was going to meet “Jagger and McCartney”, but I thought tech billionaires was more “over the top”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed. Still… it so shows a lack of class…
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes, it does. As does giving the finger to rich old ladies ;)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Buahaha!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicely done, and good title – although to be honest, the more I hear about Elon, the more I find him an unpleasant person, no matter how much money he has.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I agree about Elon. From everything that I’ve heard, he’s a major jerk. No matter how unpleasant, though, he does make cool cars and rockets.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Trent. Well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!
LikeLike