Air and Space

Outside the Air & Space museum, Craig and I waited in line and worried over the next day’s plans. “I think it’s too hot to bike around D.C.,” said Craig. The sun was pouring down on us and Lauren’s plans for us to rent bikes to see the memorials the next day grew more and more disturbing. “It’s just so muggy,” I agreed. “We’d probably melt.”

At that, a man in front of us swiveled around. “Are you going to ride bicycles tomorrow?” he asked.

“We’re thinking about it,” Craig said.

“Well drink this and it shouldn’t be a problem.” He held up a Powerade-like bottle of some strange elixir.

“Let me guess,” said Craig. “You work for that company?”

“You got it,” said the man. “This is better than Powerade,” he said. “It’s got five times the nutrients and vitamins.”

“Can you get it in stores?” I asked.

“No,” he said. “Let me give you my card.”

As he said that the line began to move. His wife, who didn’t look us in the eye, tugged her husband’s shoulder. We trailed in as he fished a business card out of his wallet.

“Here you go,” he said, handing the card to Craig. “And let me get your number so we can call you about our product.”

At that, I quickly broke away and went to rub a moon rock (we were now inside the museum.) Poor Craig was left stranded and when he finally caught up with me he told me he gave the man a fake number. “What a weirdo,” concluded Craig.

“Who promotes Powerade drinks at the Air & Space museum?”

For the record, we didn’t go bicycling. We decided we’d rather exhaust ourselves emotionally and went to the Holocaust Museum. I wish they made a drink for getting through that.