The Halls of Congress still reverberate to the laughter that followed the fact-finding mission of an esteemed elder senator representing a state below the Mason-Dixon line.... or was he a representative of a state above the line. It seemed than an emerging underdeveloped country in the darkest of Africa applied to the charitable government of the USA for a grant of millions of cash for economic assistance. Thus is was the duty of this astute solon to travel at great expense to Burundi or was it Rwanda whatever to investigate the economic conditions.
The head of the ruling military junta of that country wanted to make a vivid impression upon the senator, which will insure the flow of greenbacks to his needs. Thus he commanded his staff that a small party of comely native women to line the sides of the short driveway to the government house and wave tiny American flags. The only problem was that the comely native women never wore any clothes save for a necklace of seashells and a tiny piece of cloth.
"No, no that would not do! It would be an embarrassment," ranted the rugged generalissimo as his medals and citations shook on the bulk of his uniformed body. So the head honcho called his aide-de-camp and told him of the predicament.
"Don't worry, your excellency!" said his right hand man.
So, the good civil servant hopped to the Macy of the country and sequestered several dozen skirts and blouses; he was hoping that those comely ladies be covered dutifully in them. The aide gathered together the maidens and said, "Boss man said that you must cover your beauty when big American man come".
They called out, “See you mon!”
However, on the day before the arrival of that elder senator it was discovered that the comely maidens dutifully wore their skirts; they did not like their blouses due to the heat and left them in their grass huts.
So when American representative came to the presidential palace the comely ladies were lined at both sides of the road dressed in their new skirts, sans underwear and bare-breasted.
The senator was reddened in face as he chugged in an open jeep past the comely maidens and waved to them. The charming ladies waved tiny American flags in one hand; then woman after bare-breasted woman gracefully with their other hand lifted their skirts and covered their faces.
P.S. An aid package was given to Rwanda or Burundi whatever to salve diplomatic embarrassment.
Norman A. Rubin of Afula, Israel is a former correspondent for the Continental News Service, USA. He's written on Near East culture and crafts, archaeology, history and politics; religious history and rites, etc. He's been featured in publications world wide - Jerusalem Post, Israel - Coin News, Minerva, Oriental Arts, etc. England - Ararat, Letter Arts Review, Archaeology, etc. USA - Spotlight, Japan - International B, Hong Kong. He's been a freelance writer for the past sixteen years of short stories of all genres - mystery, horror, humour, sexual customs, etc.