Meddling Mike
It’s a very hot and sticky morning in Rayville.
Mr. Riser is sitting at his desk eating his Sausage Breakfast Toaster Sandwich and drinking cold brew iced coffee from Sonic. He sits his coffee on the desk. Mike enters the Richland Beacon-News and walks into his office. They greet each other. As Mike starts to take a seat he trips, falls and knocks over the coffee on Mr. Riser’s desk. Once again the coffee splashed all over Mr. Riser’s crisp white shirt.
Mr. Riser shouts, “STEAMING STEAK SANDWICH! Can I ever get a break??!!”
For a minute or so he just stares into the sky looking for the answers to why he can’t have a peaceful day at work.
Then Mr. Riser says, “there is a funeral for a high-level Richland Parish official today.
She was one of our biggest sponsors here at the Beacon. I would like you to go and pay a little respect on our behalf.”
Mike is so excited to go but Mr. Riser warns him, “Mike please write the story and don’t BE the story!”
Mike gives a big smile and leaves.
We arrive at the big and beautiful church in Rayville. The sun is shining so bright. The perfect day for a going home service. Mike jumps out of his grandpa’s truck, swings his camera around his neck and grabs a big boom box as well. He joyfully skips into the church.
Inside the place is rocking as the eulogy is being delivered by awell-known Reverend. He has a very strong voice but sometimes it’s hard to follow.
“Yes we are going to miss her but she gave us all she had,” shouts the Reverend. He then asks if there is anyone that has anything they want to say.
Well Mike leaps to his feet and shouts, “on behalf of the Richland Beacon-News, I would like to play a little respect!”
Mike approaches the front of the church. He sits his boom box down and hits play. We now hear Ms. Franklin’s version of Respect.
Mike starts snapping his fingers and saying, “What you want, baby I got it!” This goes on for a while. Some members are confused. Some are enjoying it and others are very, very mad. “Re-Re-Re-Respect!” shouts Mike.
The Reverend is very angry. He feels this is disrespectful. He shouts, “GET HIM OUT OF HERE RIGHT NOW!”
The congregation starts to chase after Mike.
While running and taking pictures Mike says, “Well he said play a little respect and that’s what I did. Wow, this gonna make a great story!”
Roger J. Timber is a native of Rayville and graduate of Rayville High School. He is an actor known for Warped!, S.W.A.T. and Insecure in addition to more than 30 Hollywood productions and a children’s book author.