A In depth Look At The Phenomenon Known As the Opera Ghost
by
Steven Pentecost

Imagine our Phantom in front of a mirror. I finally caught up with myself as I sat down to have lunch. Like most great people who are constantly hounded by the media, I was a bit annoyed with myself at first, but I soon gave way to my persistence and agreed to be interviewed by me. What follows is an in depth look at what has made me the person I am.

Erik: Thanks for taking time to sit and talk with me during my lunch.

OG: Your most welcome, sir. I was a bit hesitant at first, but I have heard good things about my reporting.

Erik: Your too kind Monsieur Opera Ghost. I suppose the first question that is on everyone’s mind is: when did I first discover I was a great writer, maestro, architect, phantom, and world renown, always to be obeyed, figure?

OG: Well Erik, I suppose it would be back in my early days when I was sitting in the living room floor scribbling on paper. My mother said, “ Gosh, that’s a pretty picture from someone with such an ugly face. Here’s a mask.”

Erik: I see. What was it about that picture that made me decide to take up writing, haunting, engineering, and subsequently enlighten all the rest of us with my insights later in life.

OG chuckles for a moment: Well Erik, I knew from that moment on, when my masterpiece received such rave reviews from that shrieking shrew that I needed to share my talent with the world.

Erik: And the world is truly better off for it, Monsieur Opera Ghost. Now let’s fast-forward a bit. What made me decide that I needed to be published?

OG: Well Erik, I decided to take a break from high stakes world of Persian assasin and get away from it all as a composer and dispatcher of inbred swine for a small Paris theater company.

Erik: I see, and what was the break-through at this un-named theater company that lead to my fabulous literary life?

OG: Well Erik, I was trying to keep a low profile but have an outlet for creativity so I was writing little quips for others to enjoy when I happened across a previously published author who thought that I would be a great inspiration to the world.

Erik: That is a wonderful back-story, OG! May I call you OG? (Receives nod of affirmation.) And if I may ask, who is it that most inspires me?

OG: Oh I have been inspired by many people but none so much as myself. The trick is to look in the mirror every morning and think, “Darn its good to be me!”

Erik: That is truly good advice; we should all live by it. What was the saddest moment in my life?

OG pauses for a moment in deep thought: Well…I am a deeply feeling guy, Erik…and once, just once (he becomes choked up), my lunch was 5 minutes late.

Erik: My apologies, OG. I did not mean to drudge up painful memories.

OG dabbing his eyes dry: It’s quite all right.

Erik: Well, kind Sir, I can see that I am nearly finished with my lunch so if I may, one final question. What makes me happiest?

OG: Well, Erik, I must say that there are many things that I enjoy, but most of all I enjoy reading my literature and literature about me.

Erik: Thank you for taking the time to be interviewed by me during my lunch Monsieur Phantom.

OG: No problem. Stay well.


There you have it folks; a wonderful interview with a mysterious gentleman murderer who has truly inspired us all. A great man indeed and let us not forget how humble he is. As busy and talented as he is, still, he took time to let us have a peek of himself consulting with himself so that we all could truly be lifted up in our lives. See, this is the caliber of a great inspirational literary figure! Bravo Monsieur Phantom, Bravo!

READER COMMENTS

Kudos to Steven and for those who have asked, no I am not him. He's more talented than I. He is basically a humorist, a very funny guy who likes to keep the world happy. And we definitely need more like him. This particular piece had me in stitches...the understatements are enormous, which causes them to be all the funnier...and in some very subtle ways, they show the great sadness inside Erik with great clarity.
Etienne

I'm still giggling. Truly, you are VERY funny.
Gemma