I wake up in the morning with an overwhelming desire. Oh, how I need a rug! My warm, tender toes strike the brutally cold floor, craving the luxury of a comforting plush rug beneath my feet. Preferably, a Persian one.
Recognizing the social injustice my toes are victim to, I venture down to Santa Cruz Ave, A.K.A. ‘The Hub’ for rug stores. Overwhelmed by the myriad of rug stores, I break down in tears of joy.
How lucky I am to live so close to the Mecca of rug stores.
I step inside, taking in the abundance of the treasures. The room stretches on as far as the eye can see. I can’t help but think that the rent must be insane. The market for rugs must be incredibly demanding.
I notice that I am alone. The rest of the customers must still be asleep, gearing up for a long day of rug browsing. That is the only logical explanation for the lack of customers. I beat the crowd—early bird gets the worm!
The salesman emerges from a backroom as I begin to file through the endless stacks of rugs. He rushes to my assistance, greeting me with a smile, although his hands fidget. This must be his first day on the job!
After thoroughly checking out the options, I make my pick. I reach towards the rug—my rug, laced with red thread and boasting gold motifs of flowers—when the salesman darts over and tells me that my rug is not for sale.
Unbothered, I continue browsing, eventually finding another rug I connect with. Strangely enough, once again, the salesman tells me the rug is not for sale and guides me towards the exit. I ask him for recommendations of nearby rug stores, and he tells me that they don’t have rugs for sale either.
Discouraged, I trudge back home.
The next morning, I wake up, my vulnerable feet facing the assault of the bitterly cold floor once again. After retrieving the morning paper, I settle back in bed, lamenting the lack of rug. I flip through the paper, wishing I was flipping through the luxurious rugs, when an article catches my eye.
The headline reads, “SMOKESCREEN MONEY LAUNDERING SCHEME EXPOSED! MENLO PARK RUG STORES TAKEN DOWN AFTER FBI RAID!”
A shiver runs down my spine, encasing my already-cold toes in ice. Oh, how I want a rug!
