The Corruption of our Youth

On Monday, Liam the Mad's scout troop and a local brownie pack attended our city hall to visit the mayor and then observe city council in session. The first item on the agenda involved an application from a local business. The lawyer for the business was invited by the chair of the committee to make his presentation.

He slowly made his way to the podium and stood there peering around the room at the brownies and scouts looking very uncomfortable. He began his presentation in a halting manner. It went something like this. "I'm here representing "firm X" in its application to operate .... er, ..... uh, ..... eh, ...... an adult body rub parlour." (Gasps!)

Councillors sat riveted to their seats. Brownie and scout leaders sat up straight. The brownies were bewildered. The scouts showed a renewed interest in the proceedings.

As one councillor (who was the chair) explained to me later, no one had twigged to the content of the first presentation as the agenda was not specific about the type of application to be discussed. He assured me that the matter would have been deferred until later that night had they realized its subject matter. Once the lawyer began to speak the councillors sat there aghast, not knowing what to do.

A likely story. I no longer refer to city council as our bastion of local democracy. I have dubbed it The Chamber of Perverted Horrors. My councillor friend says it is the first time in years that such a matter had been considered by council. That much I believe. This is the suburbs, after all.

As for Liam. He's okay with what happened. He's heard worse. His younger brother's toots, for instance.