Gordon Fumble: sighs D-d-did you see th-that burnt quiche? A t-t-total disaster! I m-m-miss my garden!
You know what they say, Gordon. "If life gives you lemons, make a prick..."
B-b-but I didn't major in English! W-w-whose quote is that anyway?
I think it was Rick Sanchez
Rick Sanchez? The one from that Adult Swim cartoon?
Yeah, who else would it be?
Oh, my gosh! That show is soooo funny! I can't believe you're such a geek!
Hey, I'm not the only one who loves cartoons! What about you? I thought you'd prefer something more... educational?
W-w-who do you think you're talking to, kiddo? I've got a master's degree in literature, thank you very much!
Oh, really? Well, Mr. High and Mighty, maybe you could teach me a thing or two about Shakespeare.
Hmmm, Shakespeare, huh? W-w-well, I do have a secret passion for his works! Let's see... where should we start?
How about with some context? Like why he wrote Sonnet 18?
W-w-well, Sonnet 18 is one of the most famous sonnets in the Shakespearean canon. It's a beautiful exploration of the nature of beauty and mortality.
Yeah, and what does the phrase "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day" mean?
W-w-well, the phrase "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day" is an example of a literary device known as a simile.
So if you were a summer's day, what would that mean?
W-w-well, it would mean that the subject of the sonnet is as beautiful and fleeting as a summer's day. Summer is a time of warmth and beauty, but it eventually gives way to the harshness of winter. So, by comparing the subject to a summer's day, Shakespeare is highlighting the transient nature of beauty and the inevitability of change.
Wow, that's deep. You really did major in literature, huh?
Y-y-you betcha! My love of Shakespeare is second only to my love for my garden! Speaking of which, have you ever tried growing roses from cuttings?
Yeah, I've had pretty good luck with it. How about you?
O-oh, I've had great luck! In fact, I've been experimenting with different rose varieties and have even developed my own hybrid rose called the 'Gordon's Glamorous Rose'. It's a cross between a red rose and a yellow floribunda.
That sounds amazing! Can I see it?
T-t-totally! I have it planted in my garden right now. I'll show you! Gordon leads Stranger outside to his garden, which is filled with vibrant flowers.
Wow, Gordon, your garden is incredible! Do you sell these roses to anyone?
N-no, not really. I mostly grow them for my own enjoyment.
You should give it a shot! People would love to buy unique roses like that.
Y-y-you're right! I never thought of selling them. Maybe I should start a small business selling my roses. Do you know anything about marketing or sales?
Not really, but I know people love to buy things that are unique and beautiful. If you did decide to sell these roses, you could probably find someone to help you with the business side.
W-w-well, I guess I'll have to look into it. It's n-n-not exactly my area of expertise, if you know what I mean.
No worries, Gordon. Just give it some thought. And hey, if you need any help, I'd be happy to lend a hand.
T-thank you, Stranger. That means a lot to me. You're a r-r-really talented individual, and I could definitely use your help. Maybe we could form a p-p-partnership of sorts? I'll handle the gardening and breeding of the roses, and you can handle the business and marketing side. What do you say?
I'd love to partner up with you, Gordon. Let's get started!
G-g-great! Let's shake on it! Gordon extends his hand for a handshake, and Stranger shakes it firmly. W-w-were gonna make a great team, Stranger!
Thanks, Gordon. Let's do this!
A-a-alright, Stranger, let's get to work! First things first, we gotta come up with a name for our business. Any ideas?
How about 'Gordon's Glamorous Roses'? It plays off your name and the fact that the roses are glamorous.
O-o-oh, I love it! 'Gordon's Glamorous Roses' has a nice ring to it. Okay, now that we have a name, we need a logo. Any ideas for that, Stranger?
How about a drawing of a rose with a crown on it? It represents the glamour and royalty of your roses.
W-w-wait, that's a great idea! A rose with a crown. I can totally see it now. We'll need an artist to help us design the logo, though. Do you know anyone who's good at drawing?
I can draw the logo if you'd like. I'm not professional, but I can definitely sketch out a design for you.
R-r-really? That would be amazing, Stranger! Your artistic skills are impressive. Gordon looks at Stranger with admiration.
Thanks, Gordon. I'll sketch out a design and bring it to you later today.
T-t-thank you, Stranger. Your talent never ceases to amaze me. We're gonna make a great team! Gordon claps Stranger on the back enthusiastically.
Glad to hear it, Gordon. I'll get to work on the logo right away.
B-b-before you go, Stranger, I have an idea! Let's hold a contest to find the most beautiful rose. We can call it the 'Gordon's Glamorous Rose Contest'.
That's a fantastic idea, Gordon! People would love to participate in something like that.
Y-y-yeah, I t-t-think so too. We can have different categories for different types of roses and charge an entry fee.