... a lovely day! And what a glorious waste of time! A meeting at work in which our supervisor plays the role of a missionary confronted by child-like savages. He gestures to the overhead screen.

“This—fiscal '05! Much, much money! Yes!” He frowns and mimes picking up two handfuls of grain. “But here—not much money!”

We all chortle amiably and some of us let out squeals of sudden comprehension.

At the end of the meeting we rush forward, pick him up in his chair and raise him to our shoulders. Children laugh and young women pelt him with blossoms as the elders look on indulgently. We bear him through the village to great jubilation. Then we throw him into a volcano.