Chapter Seven: Mr. Talker, MP
Mr. Talker had arrived.
It was Christmas Eve.
Jonathan had been expecting Mr. Talker to visit Jonathan at his home, since Mr. Talker had telephoned and said he was driving over to see Jonathan in his motorcar. Mr. Talker had explained on the telephone that all of Country Village had now understood that it was important to be popular and that being the most popular person was the right answer for Jonathan’s Answer Collection.
Jonathan was the only child in the entire Country Village who was still unsure if being the most popular person was the right answer.
Mr. Talker, MP, now had a shiny and flashy new motorcar with the initials “MP” emblazoned brazenly upon the bright bonnet. He also wore a big badge to signify his Most Popular status, with the initials “MP”.
Mr. Talker, MP, disembarked from his motorcar, and walked over to talk with Jonathan who had been patiently awaiting him outside the front door of Jonathan’s family home.
“Now let me do the talking,” talked Mr. Talker, MP, “You see, Jonathan, I know that your teacher, Miss Teacher, has told you that the answer to your question is: ‘People need to go to school, because they need to better understand the world in which they live’. However, she is mistaken, Jonathan. That is not the correct answer. The correct answer to your question is: ‘People need to learn how to be the most popular people in the world.’”
“Are you certain of this, Mr. Talker, MP?”
“Indeed I am, Jonathan,” replied Mr. Talker, MP, confidently, “History is being made in Country Village, Jonathan. Better answers are being given. And I wish you to be part of this new and improved history. I wish you to choose the better answer, which is the answer that all of Country Village has chosen. You see, Jonathan, you are growing up now and there are certain things you need to be realistic about. Miss Teacher teaches in a classroom. A classroom is not the real world. And so her answer is not realistic. Unlike Miss Teacher, I live in the real world, Jonathan. In the real world, we look at reality. And what is real, is that popularity is more popular and the most popular people are the people whom everyone admires because they are the most popular.”
“You mean popular like you?” asked Jonathan.
“Yes, popular like me!” exclaimed Mr. Talker, MP, very proudly, “I am the most popular person in all of Country Village. Now take it from me young Jonathan, you do not become popular by having an unpopular answer. Your answer and Miss Teacher’s answer are very unpopular. It is now very unpopular to say: ‘People need to go to school, because they need to better understand the world in which they live’. Nobody chooses that answer anymore, Jonathan. They choose the popular answer because it is the better answer and the correct answer.”
“Are you certain of this, Mr. Talker, MP?”, asked Jonathan with much concern in his voice, “Are you certain that the popular answer is better and more correct?”
“Indeed I am, Jonathan,” replied Mr. Talker, MP, confidently. “Now Jonathan, I know that I can rely upon you to make the better and the correct choice, and vote for the popular answer for your Answer Collection. And I hope you will explain to Miss Teacher that her answer is not realistic, nor is it popular. Do you not wish to be popular, Jonathan?”
Jonathan did not answer this last question because he did not have an answer.
Mr. Talker seemed disappointed in Jonathan for not answering. He grimaced. Then he walked back toward his motorcar and got in and drove off.