Gene has a dream. He wants to be a professional team mascot. His team doesn’t understand or support his dream. But it’s all he ever wanted to do and he’s been practicing to pursue his goal. Do you think Gene is crazy? Is being a mascot a strange goal? Or should Gene’s family support him and let him live his best life?
Ayla Brown: And good morning, Gene. Go, team! Oh, that rhymed. Yes. I love when I’m brilliant like that. I hear that you have a dream, Gene. What is that dream?
Gene: I do. Yeah. I would love to be a team mascot.
Ayla Brown: A mascot? I love mascots.
Gene: Yeah, I love mascots, too. They just seem like they’re having so much fun, and they get to go to all the games and they don’t have to pay. You know, Everybody loves them and everyone takes pictures with them. And I don’t know if this goes back to being a kid, but when I was a kid, I was always saying…. The mascot. The mascot. Look, look, look.
Ayla Brown: Oh, yeah. I just get so excited. Just so excited too. Can I just say that? I played basketball in college, and a couple of times they would have Mascot Night and all of the mascots from the SCC would do these games against each other on center court. And it was so fun. They look like they’re having so much fun. And so you see and feel the same thing as well. And you want to be a mascot full time like that’s what you want to do for work?
Gene: I want to do it full time, part time, daytime, nighttime. I would love to just be a mascot. But then my family is looking at me like I’m out of my mind for wanting this dream.
Ayla Brown: That makes me sad. What do they say about it?
Gene: They just don’t get it. Why would you want to be in that sweaty costume all the time? Why? Why do you want to act like a goof out there? And I’m like, do you guys not get how much joy it brings people? How much fun it would be? I’m taking juggling lessons. I’m dancing. I’m learning how to walk on a tight rope. And I’m trying to learn all these random little skills. I could be the world’s best mascot.
Ayla Brown: So I don’t know what the word is. I’m speechless. I’m really proud of you for training. Do you have any job opportunities lined up or what would be your dream job?
Gene: I mean, I don’t know if you know Wally the green monster from the Red Sox. That guy is my idol. I would be him in a flash, like, in a heartbeat.
Ayla Brown: This is so cute and so innocent. So what is what is your question, Gene? Do you just want to know What do you want to know exactly?
Gene: I don’t even know what I want to know. I guess. Is this possible? How do I convince my family that this is a good idea? Is it even a good idea? Am I just being stupid.
