Will the Editors Notice?
I am working on two magazine articles. The topic of one is Genghis Khan and the other is on William Safire. Whether it is the ravages of middle age or the demands of the deadlines, I am starting to blur the assignments.
Here is what I have written so far:
Article I: The Word Conqueror
Genghis’ first assignment did not go well. To his terror, he was immediately summoned to the office of Pat Buchanan. Buchanan looked both surprised and relieved by Genghis’ appearance. “With the name Khan I thought that you might be a Jew.” However his smile immediately resumed its customary snarl.
“The President needs a speech for a Boy Scout jamboree and this is what you wrote.
“Listen, kid, Nixon wants a tougher speech than that!”
Article II: Lend Me Your Ears or I Will Cut Them Off
William Safire ordered the massacre of Samarkand’s population when the citizens consistently confused flout with flaunt.
There’s a difference between the two, apart from Khan’s obvious superiority in Mongol grammar? Who KNEW?!
Bob,
Genghis Khan would not have spent hours thinking of puns for Ulan Bator.
Eugene