Proposal: Genesis

In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth.
Then He created man.
Man created ethics and great pieces of metal that reached
the stars.
Ethics created money.
Money corrupted man and made him weak.
Along came the animals, and swept man off the face of the
Earth.
The animals created ethics and...

     An owl was sitting in the front porch of the
café. It wasn't exactly a café; it was more
like a hybrid of a local community center and an
international restaurant. Nonetheless, it was named
Café Lifestyle. Many rooms divided the inner
sections of the café, whilst great outdoor verandas
and terraces enriched the area's environment. The rain from
last night had not wet the benches and chairs in the front
porch since it was designed with an automatic roof, which
would immediately launch itself into action whenever a mere
droplet of rain would even start conceiving the thought of
letting gravity have its say. Indoors there were many rooms,
usually used for either recreation or private conferences.
One could instantly be served with food ranging from
exquisite breeds of alcohol to gourmet dishes that would
cost you a fortune just to think about.
     The owl was pondering. He had just talked to a
squirrel about a book they had both read. The funny thing
was that not many animals did read books. Actually, when
he thought about it, not many animals read at all. The
fact would usually frustrate the owl. On second thought, it
was this and many other traits that made him the unique owl
he was. Nobody could take his pride of uniqueness from him.
     "Greetings!" said the pig. It was Edmond. He was
transcending over the sitting owl, but knew that he wasn't
any taller in reality. The piglet only seemed tall since he
was standing.
     "How are you, Ghost?" Edmond was initiating a
conversation. He did not often talk to Ghost the owl, and
therefore made him a little suspicious. What does he want?
What favour is he going to ask for now? Instead of letting
those thoughts burst out into the echoes of Café
Lifestyle, Ghost answered calmly in a polite manner, as he
had always done when addressed.
     "All is fine, Ed. And how are y-"
     "I've never been better!" interrupted the pig,
completely ignoring Ghost's answer. He didn't really care
for the owl's welfare. "I have a proposal for you."
     There was silence. Edmond was obviously expecting
Ghost to inquire him about the proposal. After a few long
moments Ghost gave in to the silence, not out of curiosity,
but, again, out of politeness.
     "And what might that be?" said Ghost. He did not want
to humiliate the piglet. After all, he was older than the
piglet, and certainly more mature.
     "I had a dream last night. There was a playground...
but not your ordinary playground! No, sir! This one was
unique. I have never seen anything like this before! Packed
with children of all ages... all of them laughing... gosh,
it was huge! New rides... everything was so... clean!" There
was another odd silence, and then Edmond got to the point:
"I want to build it, Ghost."
     "What?!" Ghost was dumbstruck.
     "I want to build a park." said Edmond.
     "You're shitting me."
     "I shit you not."
     Ghost stared at the pig's beady eyes, not confident of
Edmond's sanity, and resumed the conversation. "But... how?
You're only a piglet!"
     "With your help." Edmond's answer was sharp, as if
he'd already prepared it.
     "Okay. Let's presume I'm in; with what means will we
build this 'park' of yours? Do you have any idea how to
build a park? And where the hell do we get the funding
from?"
     Edmond took in a deep breath, ready for a victorious
and proud statement.
     "I don't think money will be much of a problem if I
can have my say." said the semi-giggling pig. Well, he did
have a good reason - where he was brought up, money really
wasn't a factor. He had grown up knowing that whenever he
wanted, he could always be granted virtually any amount of
cash he wanted for practically any thing. In Edmond's house,
money did grow on trees.
     "And what about skills? None of know how to design and
construct a park!" Ghost was still very skeptical about the
whole idea.
     "Haven't you got any creative imagination boy?" said
the pig arrogantly. Owls were exceptionally unique, thus,
extremely creative. And Edmond knew it. "And about the more
'scientific' part - we'll learn. I've got a couple of 'How
To...' books in architecture and mechanics. As for the
workforce - we'll hire them."
     "We can't hire professionals! We're kids!"
     "Money buys many things; the hearts of men too." Ghost
could swear that the piglet dictated this statement from a
play. "Besides, we can always train people."
     The owl pondered to himself. Train with what
knowledge? It's not that these two young animals have a
degree in any profession that has anything to do with
construction of leisure facilities. However, Edmond did
have a point. They could build a park - if they really
wanted to. After all, Edmond was filthy rich and willing to
invest in this project. Building a park had always been one
of Ghost's wet fantasies; to unleash his true sense of
creativity! To show those 'grown-ups' what kids really
wanted... Hell, he could make the greatest playground on
Earth!
     "So what do you say?" asked Edmond.
     Ghost's thread of megalomaniac imagination had popped
right before he reached world domination by brainwashing
little children who had become addicted to see-saws.
     "I'm not sure..." Ghost's hesitation had turned back
on. For a moment there, he questioned how real this euphoric
sketch really was, but was quick to answer: "Ah! What the
heck... let's give it a shot!"
     "Good" answered Edmond. He had been ready for this
answer. Ghost wondered for a moment how the pig's reaction
would be otherwise. But then he knew it - this was something
he just wouldn't turn down.
     Edmond pulled out his trotter to shake Ghost's
feathery wing, and announced: "First staff meeting tomorrow.
My place. Be there at noon."
     Edmond was brief and to the point. He wanted to sound
official, manager-like. Once he had received what he had
come for, he could now be as rude as he wanted - well, at
least that's what he believed. They shook hands, and Edmond
departed. He took a mental note that Ghost could cause
trouble - mutinous trouble. He's a smart one, thought
Edmond, one who must be convinced to trust me doubtlessly.
     The truth is that Edmond was afraid that Ghost would
conspire, and secretly take over his dream. That was his
true fear.