A look behind the sunshine

The argument continued.

"I tell you, we just ought to lay low for a while, let it blow over," said James.

"No no, that's exactly what we should NOT do, " countered Al, "that would be a terrible mistake. You've got to confront these things head on."

"Any publicity is good publicity," added Morrie, who sat on the fence.

"No it's NOT," argued James. We have the whole damn WORLD looking at us, and the image they have is wrong, wrong, wrong. We have statistics on our side..."

"Nobody knows from statistics," interrupted Al, "we have to get to work on this thing or it'll get out of control - we already took countermeasures once and then - bang! - another incident, so now we have to make an even bigger splash, if you'll excuse the word."

"Not funny," moaned James. "Not funny."

"I wasn't trying to be a wiseass. Sorry if you took it that way. Look, what's the name of that modeling agency? Ajax? Some thing with an A. We should get them to send us some headshots. We need to put together a typical happy American family. We need them having a good time. That's the message to get out. That's the picture people should get when they think..."

"Listen to Al," said Morrie, "he's been right before."

"But we did that last week and the picture ran and then - three more attacks this week," sniped James.

Al continued, raising his voice: "I tell you what - we need a whole beauty pageant - all the contestants or 'delegates' or whatever you call them - in swim suits - in the water. THAT would get noticed. Papers would run that."

"Where are we going to get a pageant on no notice?"

"How about a competition then? I know, a TRIATHALON. Both for men AND women. It would end in the ocean. What? An 11 mile swim? I don't know... long enough for helicopter shots and the whole thing."

James and Morrie nodded. They had to admit, Al was good.

"Ginger, get me the modeling agency with an A!" shouted Al, as the chamber of commerce men vowed to win back the good name of Florida from the sharks.