Meddling Mike

g in Rayville. Mr. Riser enters the front doors of the Richland Beacon-News. As he walks to his office some employees try to get his attention. He puts a finger to his lips to quiet them. He says, “I don’t want to be bothered by anyone. I want to enjoy my Sausage Breakfast Toaster Sandwich and cold brew iced coffee from Sonic before Mike gets here.” They try to stop him again but he ignores them.

Mr. Riser enters his office and kicks the door closed with his foot. Suddenly Mike yelps, “HEEEEELLLLOOOO MR. RISER!!!!!” He spills coffee on his crisp white shirt, throws his sandwich across the room, trips and falls flat on his face. Mike is tickled pink. 

Mr. Riser just stares at him with coffee dripping from his hair. He then tells Mike, “COOKED CORNBREAD! Stop doing that. You are gonna give me heart attack one of these days. Here is your assignment. Kyla Lawson is making her debut as the evening anchor for Richland Parish Evening News. I want you there because she used to be an intern here. She’s one of our own.” 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 Richland Parish News Station. They are having a big celebration for Kyla outside. Mrs. Gee is passing out food from Sonic Drive-In. Mrs. Brown has arrived on her Harley Davidson motorcycle and she starts to pass out chicken from Popeyes. And finally workers from Tennant and Mulhearn Funeral Home are passing out iced cold waters.

Mike enters the building and it’s decorated so beautifully. The producers are getting everyone in place and we finally see the gorgeous young lady, Ms. Kyla Lawson. She is so humbled and we hear her say, “Good evening everyone. Welcome to Richland Parish Evening News, I’m Kyla Lawson.” Mike starts clapping and cheering in the back. The producers give him a mean stare. So they start again and Mike does the same again, and again, and again. They decide to give it one more try and all of a sudden Mike sets off some fireworks! The room is now in complete chaos. People running left and right. Food is knocked over. The beautiful cake is ruined. The sprinklers have completely soaked everything.

Everyone has completely stopped what they were doing. The entire studio is a mess but Mike is now enjoying what’s left of the cake. Kyla Lawson, who now has ruined hair and makeup from the sprinklers, shouts, “GET OUT RIGHT NOW!!!” All of a sudden someone from the back says loudly, “NO, LET’S GET HIM!!!” And oh my goodness the crowd gives chase after Mike. 

While running and taking pictures Mike says, “well I didn’t know it was a problem to use fireworks at the celebration. Wow this gonna make a great story!”

Roger J. Timber is a native of Rayville and a 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.