Mixed Metaphors X

Friday came early and Becky was still in a funk over the death of the old man. She just wished she had got to know him, for a little while anyway. The drawings of him had brought her so much pleasure, and had actually got her the job at the agency.

Although Tony suggested she stay home, she felt compelled to go in to work, besides being there would take her mind off the old man. She was surprised she felt so bad over the loss of someone she had never known.

Tony had an interview at ten o’clock with a young college graduate, who was to be the firm’s first paid intern. He was second in his class, and the firm was very interested in bringing him on board. The young man had graduated from Princeton and had a 3.95 GPA. He was editor of the college newspaper, wrote articles and did many of the illustrations.

As the elevator moved silently upward, Becky gave Tony a kiss on his check and told him she would be all right. Things would be better after work. Tony just smiled at her.

He went into his office to prepare for the interview. Tony had a pad of notes and some questions he wanted to ask the young man. At two minutes to ten, Tony’s secretary buzzed him on the intercom and told him Jason Cornier was waiting. Tony went out to the outer office and greeted Jason with a strong handshake, and invited him into his office.

Jason was carrying a portfolio of his work. He handed it to Tony who began to look through the material. Tony was impressed with some of his ink drawings and several lay outs.

“What do you have to offer in the way of ads?”

“Well I have a new idea for chicken. I don’t like the way those ads for Foster Farms California chicken have two puppet like chickens, … ostensible Alabama chickens … that are always trying to promote themselves as California chicken. That type of an ad went out with Charlie the tuna who used to try and sell himself for consumption. The whole idea of poultry and fish, attempting to convince people to eat them boarders on the ridiculous. One of the main problems is there are many people who come to think of the puppets as, almost human thereby giving some people a subconscious feeling of being cannibalistic. One positive thing to work on is the Foster Farms slogan, which is, ‘always natural, always fresh’.

I believe food should be advertised for its taste, or for its nutritional value or even for its addition to a general lifestyle.”

“Lifestyle?” asked Tony

“Yes. Most of the time, when anyone mentions chicken, people think of ‘Fried Chicken’, however there are several chicken dishes that promote higher living, such as ‘Chicken Kiev’, ‘Chicken Cor Don Blue’, ‘Chicken Divan’, or ‘Chicken Wellington’. Any and all of those dishes would be served in a five star restaurant, and cannot be picked up in a drive through lane. I see a limousine moving down the street. The couple inside dressed up. The limo pulls up in front of a moderately priced home. They go in and sit down to a ‘Chicken Kiev’ dinner. The voice over says,

“You don’t have to be rich to live well.”

“There is a layout in my portfolio with an example for several different chicken advertisements. I honestly believe consumers are tired of the same old fried chicken, and nuggets.”

Tony found the ads and smiled. They was very well put together and had good illustrations to go with them.

“Tell me Jason what do you think is a good series of ads?”

“The series ‘GOT MILK’ with the aliens from another planet trying to get some of the ‘wonder tonic’ from the cow, they call ‘Di-ary’, is well thought out and gives the consumer a different viewpoint of the milk industry.”

After an hour of conversation with Jason, Tony felt the young man had a good grasp of basic advertising and was pleased to inform him he could go to work as soon as he was available. He gave Jason an orientation notebook of ‘Do’s and Don’ts’, office procedure and the general dress code.

As Jason left the office, he shook Tony’s hand and said,

“I won’t let you down sir.”

Tony smiled and recalled the day he was accepted at the agency, then told Jason to see his secretary for all of the necessary paperwork that had to be filed. As Jason left his office, Tony picked up the phone and dialed Becky. A sweet voice on the other end said,

“Good morning this is Becky.”

“Hi baby, how are you feeling?”

“Not too bad.