When darkness has fallen the 405 North continues its crawly motion into the foggy night. What was expected of a pleasant evening drive into Sherman Oaks turns out to be a many puckered brows. Luckily, the previous night I had had the foresight of downloading numerous podcast into the iPod to anticipate any prolonged idling on the freeway. A pair of high school friends of mine, who happens to study in Los Angeles as well, had invited me to their newly furnished apartment in the San Fernando Valley, a geographic area of Los Angeles that I rather not tread, for its endless succession attempts and that other L.A. newspaper, LA Daily News.
When I finally arrived and found a parking space, I am welcomed as always by my dear friends, who are a couple. Their freshly-painted apartment on the busy Wilshire thoroughfare exuded a sense of serenity that I found in them as well. Plastered on the walls are their yellowing photographs from childhood faraway places, from which I gathered the same warm smile that they still exhibit today.
After the brief tour of the apartment, a circle has gathered in the living room. Great, I thought, already we are skipping the alcohol and proprieties to play spin the bottle! Someone is kissing someone!
As I strategically picked my spot in the circle, at the same time eyeing for attractive faces, a anglicized voice sounded the salvo of the night: "Tonight we gather here for a genuine business opportunity."
"Huh?"
This genuine business opportunity gathering was no kissing matter; it was a multi-level marketing scheme presentation. A dump smile remained on my face for a few stuporous seconds, and immediately I thought of the precious $3.34-a-gallon gas that I spent on getting there. The presentation, coupled by forced Q&A session and psychological questioning and praise, lasted an hour and a half.
I walked out of the apartment, feeling duped and a sense of vacuity, and checked my money to make sure I did not pay $370 to get rich.
When I finally arrived and found a parking space, I am welcomed as always by my dear friends, who are a couple. Their freshly-painted apartment on the busy Wilshire thoroughfare exuded a sense of serenity that I found in them as well. Plastered on the walls are their yellowing photographs from childhood faraway places, from which I gathered the same warm smile that they still exhibit today.
After the brief tour of the apartment, a circle has gathered in the living room. Great, I thought, already we are skipping the alcohol and proprieties to play spin the bottle! Someone is kissing someone!
As I strategically picked my spot in the circle, at the same time eyeing for attractive faces, a anglicized voice sounded the salvo of the night: "Tonight we gather here for a genuine business opportunity."
"Huh?"
This genuine business opportunity gathering was no kissing matter; it was a multi-level marketing scheme presentation. A dump smile remained on my face for a few stuporous seconds, and immediately I thought of the precious $3.34-a-gallon gas that I spent on getting there. The presentation, coupled by forced Q&A session and psychological questioning and praise, lasted an hour and a half.
I walked out of the apartment, feeling duped and a sense of vacuity, and checked my money to make sure I did not pay $370 to get rich.
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posted by Michelin L.W.Y at 5/11/2006 11:50:00 PM
1 Comments:
Ugh! Always a shock to lose friends to Amway or Shackley or whatever. Be thankful you escaped with your wallet intact!
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