Lemurick had no time to enjoy his success, he had to fight for every inch he gained. Exhaustion was not an option, because it meant failure and Lemurick would not allow himself to fail. Failure meant that he truly was worthless. In his struggles he saw many great men, giants of the city. When they stood, everyone rose; when they pointed, men rushed in that direction; if they sneezed, whole companies winced. They seemed to hold men's very lives in their hands. They were the gods of the city, the city breathed with their breath and beat with their heart. It rose and fell with their success and destruction. Lemurick copied their moves, he played their words over and over in his head- he would one day be one of them, he was certain.
One day he had a business dealing that crossed his path with that of an old friend's, FairweatherFriend. Lemurick; in his sharp suit, polished shoes, and perfect hair; looked down on his friend and his scruffy, unkempt appearance. His life is so low, thought Lemurick. He must look at me and wish he had my success. FairweatherFriend did not seem ashamed, though. On the contrary, he seemed very proud. "Lemurick, old buddy! What've you been doing to yourself? You look terrible!" He said. Lemurick was baffled. He could only stammer that he had been working a lot. "I'll say!" responded FairweatherFriend, "Who's your boss? Satan?" Lemurick was embarrassed. He had expected his friend to be humbled and wish for his greatness. "Foolish FairweatherFriend!, what did he know, who wasted his life in pursuit of fun?" he thought, "He would never become anything more than a bum." Lemurick was angry and a little curious. "How is it that you are so happy in your life?" He asked his peculiar friend. "What's not to be happy about?" Countered FairweatherFriend, "I don't have much, but I get by. I have friends who are there for me, they may not be superstars, but we're all in this together. They stick by me. I've even got a little lady at home. I've got it made- what more could I want? Yeah, sometimes it's bad, but what ain't?" He looked long and hard at Lemurick and grinned a sad smile, "Hang in there buddy, it'll be ok- just don't forget to have a little fun and make some friends, 'k?" And he left.
Lemurick was dumbstruck. Never would he have guessed his friend would be happier than he. Was he right all along? Is life really about having fun and getting by? "No!"Lemurick shouted to the wind. He refused to believe that he was wrong. He just had to hold out and he would see success in the end. He smiled and laughed when he pictured a poor and destitute FairweatherFriend crawling back to him for help.
