Jay Walters-Thompson, a public relations expert with a reputation for bravado and sharp wit, stands confidently before the throng. His tailored robe falls away, revealing a physique reminiscent of a champion bodybuilder, every muscle taut and gleaming under the morning sun. He surveys the skeptical faces, ready to launch his campaign for Colton Labs.
"A man must stand on his own two feet and fight his battles," he declares, his voice resonant. "Today, I will show you the truth about the Green River—its waters are perfectly safe."
Without hesitation, Jay plunges into the river, his Speedo a flash of color against the murky flow. He swims with powerful strokes, diving beneath the surface several times, his form cutting through the water like a seal. The crowd watches, some snapping photos, others murmuring about the rumors of strange effects caused by the chemicals allegedly dumped by Colton Labs.
"He really believes it’s safe," one journalist remarks, shaking his head. Nearby, another reporter checks her notepad, jotting down every detail for her evening article.
Jay looks down, confusion clouding his face. Where once stood a muscular adult, now stands a somewhat plump four-year-old boy, his Speedo hanging awkwardly on his tiny frame. The grass feels scratchier beneath his feet, and the world seems impossibly vast and intimidating.
A hush falls over the gathering as cameras click furiously, capturing every moment. A reporter, her eyes wide with disbelief, steps forward to address the transformed Jay.
"Do you have anything different to say now about the chemicals Colton dumps in the Green River?" she asks, her voice laced with skepticism and concern. The other reporters lean in, awaiting his response, while Jay’s confidence evaporates.
Jay, usually composed and self-reliant, trembles as he looks up at the faces towering above him. The sense of vulnerability is overwhelming, and his bravado gives way to a raw, childlike fear.
"I want my Mommy!" he cries, his words echoing across the water and freezing the reporters in stunned silence. The moment is captured forever—Jay, the PR genius, rendered powerless by the very river he sought to defend.
The media members exchange uneasy glances, wondering what strange effects the chemicals truly hold. The Colton Labs executives, watching from afar, realize that their battle with the press has taken an unpredictable turn.
The river flows on, indifferent to the chaos on its banks. Colton Labs, faced with a public relations disaster, must now confront the reality of their actions. The Green River, with its mysterious powers, becomes a symbol not only of environmental danger but of the unpredictable consequences of hubris.
